“Almost a dead heat,” laughed Rob, “I——But hullo, what’s all this?”
Above them came a roar of sliding gravel and stones that sounded like an avalanche. In the midst of it was Tubby, his rotund form dashing forward at a great rate. His legs were flashing like the pistons of a racing locomotive as he plunged down the hillside.
“Here, stop! stop!” shouted Rob, “you’ll be in the lake in a minute!”
But the warning came too late. Tubby’s heavy weight could not be checked so easily. Faster he went, and faster, striving in vain to stop himself.
“He’s gone!” yelled Merritt the next instant, as a splash announced that Tubby had plunged into the lake water.
In a flash the fat boy was on the surface. But he was “dead game,” and while his comrades shouted with laughter he swam about, puffing like a big porpoise.
“Come on in, the water’s fine,” he exclaimed.
“Even with your uniform on?” jeered Hiram.
“Sure! Oh-ouch! what’s that?”
The fat boy had perceived a queer-looking head suddenly obtrude from the water close to him. It was evident that he was not the only one to enjoy an evening swim that day. A big water snake was sharing his involuntary bath with him.