e there was a pond
of water, in which some gold-fish were swimming. The gold-fish caught
his eye and he paused to watch them as they darted about.

He was leaning over, looking into the pond, when some boys came along
on a run. One boy shoved another and he fell up against Sammy. As a
consequence the country lad lost his balance and went into the pond
with a loud splash.

"Save me!" he spluttered. "I can't swim!"

"Wade out; it's only up to your middle!" sang out a man, and arising,
Sammy did as directed. He was covered with mud and slime and presented
anything but a nice appearance.

"This is the wust yet!" he muttered, and felt half like crying. "I
ain't going to stay here no more--I'm goin' straight fer hum!"

CHAPTER XI

RANDY TO THE RESCUE

The next day Randy went over to the Borden farm to finish up his work
there. To his astonishment Sammy was on hand and apparently eager to go
to work.

"Well, how was the celebration, Sammy?" asked our hero.

"No good."

"That's too bad."

"After this I'm a-goin' to stay to hum on the Fourth," went on Sammy,
as he began to fork over the hay vigorously. "I ain't goin' to no city
to be skinned."

"Did they skin you?"

"Jest about. A feller robbed me an' I was pushed into a duck pond."

"That's too bad."

"If I hadn't a-had my train ticket I'd had to walk home," went on
Sammy. "As it was, I had to borrow fifteen cents on the stage, to pay
fer thet ride. No more city celebrations fer me. I kin have all I want
right here at Riverport." And then Sammy related his adventures in
detail, to which our hero listened with much secret amusement.

Over at the Thompson place the ground had been plowed up in part, and
as soon as he left Jerry Borden Randy set to work in earnest to plant
late vegetables. For what our hero had done for the Bordens he was paid
in vegetables, and also received a rooster and four hens. This gave the
Thompsons their own eggs, for which the lady of the cottage was
thankful.

Randy was at work early one morning, when Jack appeared.

"Hullo, at it already?" sang out Jack. "I thought I'd find you still in
bed."

"I prefer to work when the sun is not so hot," answered Randy. "But
what brings you out at such an hour as this?"

"I've got news."

"What is it?"

"We are going to move to Albany."

"When?"

"The first of next week."

"I'll be sorry to miss you, Jack."

"And I'll be sorry to leave you, Randy. But I came over for some