“Yes, be careful, Herc,” roared Ned. “The goat! He——”
But there was no time to add more. The goat’s lowered head suddenly collided with Herc’s anatomy, and amidst a roar of yells and shouts the red-headed boy was impelled in a flying leap off the gangway and into the water.
“Wow! Blue Lightning’s struck!” shouted the tars.
“Gracious, he went through the air like a thirteen-inch shell!”
“A regular human sky-rocket!”
Herc rose sputtering and puffing and struck out for the boats. There was no use in being mad, so he only laughed as he was helped on board.
“Better change your uniform,” advised Ned.
“What for? I’ll soon dry out in this hot sun. Say, you fellows missed a nice swim; that water felt fine,” said Herc, putting the best face he could on his ludicrous accident.
“Well, I’d prefer to go into it in some less strenuous way,” laughed Ned; “the way you took your dive looked as if you’d been shot out of a gun.”
“It felt like it, too,” grinned Herc. “Come here, Blue Lightning, I’ve a good mind to administer a licking to you.”