"There you go again! Displaying your lack of manners!" objected Fred. "Why don't you wait in patience and dignity, as I do."
"Well, wouldn't that melt your collar button!" remarked Bricktop. "Where's the glass case they took you out of, Fred?"
"Manners?" asked Dick, as he approached Fred from the side. "Excuse me, but there's something sticking out there."
As he spoke he slyly extended his foot, and, a moment later Fred measured his length on the carpet of soft, pine needles of the woods.
"Goodness me! Did you fall?" asked Dick, as he looked down, in apparent surprise at his chum. "How careless of you."
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Bill. "Come here, Fred, and I'll pick you up."
Fred arose, smiling rather sheepishly, but not at all angry. He brushed off his clothes, and joined in the laugh that followed.
"It's your turn next," observed the young millionaire. "I'll have to keep my weather eye open, Fred."
"All right," said the lad who had been tripped.
"Well, Hannibal—Alphabet—Jones; art ready for the gathering of the clans who hunger after the flesh-pots of Egypt?" asked Dick.