“Why, isn’t it a fact that he went in after the dog? I saw him dive right after the poor thing when it fell overboard. It was a mighty brave attempt at rescue, I should say—especially when we all know that Purt swims about as good as a stone fence.”
“Some hero, Purt is,” agreed Billy Long, chuckling.
“And didn’t he make that dive gracefully?” demanded Reddy, bursting with laughter to think how he had shot the dude overboard by a sly twist of the wheel on the Duchess.
Purt was really ashamed of his present appearance. He felt it necessary to excuse it to the girls.
“Weally,” he said, when he came ashore, “I am not pwesentible; but I hope you ladies understand that it was an unavoidable accident.”
“I don’t know about that,” said Laura, gravely.
“Oh! I assure you, Miss Belding,” Purt hastened to say, “I had no intention of going overboard—weally!” 82
“So you were not actually trying to rescue the dog?” demanded Jess.
“That howwible cweature!” gasped Purt, in disgust. “I would fling him from the tallest cliff there is—could I safely do so.”
“And not try to dive after him—eh?” chuckled Bobby.