“Now, will you not come forth?” cried Wilhelm. “Only kneeling before each of us can you receive the separate articles of your dress, so that you may again appear as a civilized European.” And saying this he divided the clothes among the others; each one held an article in his hand.
“Leave such jokes!” cried Otto with singular earnestness. “Lay down the clothes, and retire!”
“Aye, that we will, presently,” returned Wilhelm. “You are a fine fellow! You cannot swim, you say. Now, if you should not kneel”—
“Retire!” cried Otto, “or I will swim out into the stream, and not return again!”
“That might be original enough,” answered Wilhelm. “Swim forth, or come and kneel here!”
“Wilhelm!” cried Otto, with an affecting sigh, and in a moment swam forth with quick strokes.
“There he shoots away,” said one of the party. “How he cuts the waves! He is a splendid swimmer!”
Smiling they gazed over the expanse; Otto swam even farther out.
“But where will he swim to?” exclaimed, somewhat gravely, one of the spectators. “He will certainly lose his strength before he returns the same distance.”
They unmoored the boat. Otto swam far out at sea; with quick strokes of the oars they rowed after him.