“If you’ll assure me that the money is not there—”
Teddy swung around from the other side of the boat and ducked him.
Alex went to the motors and set them in motion. Then he called to the cub. Teddy was having the time of his life playing with the angry and half-drowned deputy, and did not respond.
Alex put the boat in motion and called back to the cub:
“Go it, old top! If you want to drown, stick out there!”
The boys had acquired such a habit of talking to the bear as if he were a human being that Teddy actually understood a good many things that were said to him. Still, it was not the words but the departure of the boat which now brought him away from the officer.
King followed the cub as he swam toward the boat. The boy motioned him to remain away, and added that if he wanted to save his strength he might as well head for the nearest shore, which was something like half a mile away at that point.
“But I can’t swim that far!” came back from the water.
Alex threw out a life preserver and shouted back:
“Float down, then, and kick in as you go along!”