“An old army buddy of mine owns that camp,” Russ told them. “He won’t be up until the hunting season.”
As Lars maneuvered the launch expertly alongside the dock, Russ leaped out and gave the mooring line a few turns around a piling. He lent a hand to each of the boys in turn as they stepped up on the gunwale and hopped gingerly across to the wooden platform.
“These packs throw you off balance,” Quiz grumbled, heading gratefully for solid land.
They all laughed as Prince, who was leaning far out over the bow watching the fish dart about in the clear water, lost his footing and went tumbling into the lake. He surfaced and went streaking for shore like a seal. The big dog scrambled out of the lake a few feet away from Quiz and shook himself vigorously, sending the spray flying in all directions.
“Hey!” Quiz complained, stumbling backward. “Somebody turn off the sprinkler system.”
“Now, you won’t have to take a bath tonight,” Jerry kidded him.
When he was through shaking, Prince sat down on the bank and watched them with his head cocked to one side.
“I think he wants to go with us,” Sandy suggested.
“Take him along,” Lars said. “The exercise will do him good.”
“Good idea,” Russ agreed. “All right, boy, you can come with us if you want to.”