you didn't call me
that! Here it is. Now let's see. 'Anthropoid, somewhat like a human
being in form or other characteristics'! Something like---- You wait
till I get you in the tank again! 'Something like a human being'! For
two cents I'd lay you on the bed and spank you with that tennis racket!"

"I've got two cents that say you can't do it," replied Don.

"Well, I could if there wasn't so much of you," grumbled Tim. "Now shut
up and let me stuff awhile. Horace has been eyeing me in a way I don't
like lately. How's your German going?"

"Not very well. It's a silly language, I think. But I guess I'll get the
hang of it after awhile. What I want to know is why they can't make
their letters the way we do."

"Because they're afraid someone might be able to read the plaguy stuff.
Tell you what we'll do, Don."

"What'll we do?"

"We'll go for a swim in the tank after study. Will you?"

Don winked slowly. "Not after that threat, thanks."

"I won't touch you, honest to goodness, Don! Did you learn to swim any
better this Summer?"

"Where would I learn?" asked the other. "There's no place to swim out my
way, unless it's the river."

"Well, don't the rivers in Kansas contain water?"

"Yes, sometimes! Winter, usually. If you'll promise not to grab me when
I'm not looking I'll go. I hate the taste of that tank water, Tim."

"You ought to know how to swim, old man. Never mind, Mr. Conklin will
get hold of you this Winter and beat it into you."

"I can swim now," replied Don indignantly.

"Oh, yes, you can swim like a hunk of lead! The last time I saw you try
it you did five strokes and then got so elated that you nearly drowned
yourself trying to cheer! I could teach you in three lessons if you'd
let me."

"Much obliged, but nothing doing, Timmy. I'd as lief drown by myself as
have you hold my head under water."

"That was just a joke, Don. I won't ever do it again. I wanted you to
get used to the water, you see."

"I don't mind getting used to it outside, but I hate to fill up with it,
Tim. It tastes very nasty. You may be a good teacher, but I don't like
your methods."

"Well, we'll go and have a dip, anyway," laughed Tim. "It'll set us up
and refresh us after our arduous stuffing."

"If you don't cut out the chatter there won't be any stuffing," warned
Don. "It's almost half-past now. And I've got three solid pages of this
rot to do. Dry up, like a good pal."

CHAPTER VI

THE SEARCH OF ADVENTUR