Harrison burst out laughing: “Fancy me fighting with a little cock-sparrow like you! I should like to see myself!”
Willie was about to burst out again, but a friendly hand was laid on his arm, and his friend Philip said, gently, “Come away, Will; no fighting about such a trifle as that, lad.”
“What a peppery little chap!” called out Walter as Willie turned away with his friend. “Pepper and sop! Ugh! what a nasty mess!”
The boys followed out their plan, and got their holiday, all except Willie and Philip and several little fellows who had taken no interest in the matter.
School over, the two boys rushed off in the hope that they might be in time to see something. They were too late, however, for the performances were just coming to an end when they arrived, so they started for a stroll through the beautiful park, which was not often open to the public.
“Why, there are our fellows!” said Philip as they suddenly came in sight of a group of boys on the edge of the magnificent lake.
“What are they up to? They’re very busy about something!” exclaimed Willie.
“Let’s go and see,” Philip said, in reply.
As they came nearer they could tell that the boys were gesticulating and shouting to something in the water.
“It can’t be one of them gone in and lost his depth,” said Willie, anxiously.