hange places.
Over you get, now, or else it's a ducking for yours, my boy," and Josh
advanced in a warlike manner on the fat youth.

So, sighing like a martyr, Nick felt compelled to clamber into the
speed boat.

"You ought to have one for your own sweet self," declared George, as he
grasped the gunnel to keep from being tossed overboard, for Nick
careened the boat dreadfully upon climbing in. "Why, you just don't
know how fine the old _Wireless_ acted on the way over, with only me
aboard."

"I wish I did have a boat, as big as a house," declared Nick. "I'm
wasting away to a mere shadow trying to keep my balance in this wedge.
If I forget to breathe with both lungs at the same time he tells me I'm
upsetting the equilibrium of the blessed thing. I feel most all the
time like I'm the acrobat in the circus trying to stand on one toe on
top of a flagpole."

After they had tied up, Herb was dispatched for the mail, while Jack
went to buy a few provisions. Nick bombarded him with such a fearful
list of things he wanted him to purchase that Jack had to thrust his
fingers in his ears.

"What do you take me for, Nick, a dray horse?" he laughed. "I'd have
to be, to carry the load you'd want. I've got a list of things we must
have, and that's all I'll promise to lug down here. If you want
anything else, you'll have to go after it yourself."

"All right, I'll do that," said Nick, promptly.

"Sure; and please tell me where you expect to stow all that truck?"
demanded George, immediately, with a frown. "Not aboard the
_Wireless_, I promise you, my boy. She's got all she can carry in
hauling you around, without a sack of potatoes, a ham, and all that
truck you mentioned. Hire a float, and perhaps we'll tow it behind us."

Nick said not another word, being completely squelched, as Josh put it.

Leaving Norfolk, they started up the broad Elizabeth River, meaning to
take the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, which had long ago been cut
through the Great Dismal Swamp and connected with Currituck Sound, that
noted ducking place where so many large gun clubs have their
headquarters.

Entering this canal, they moved along steadily through the balance of
the afternoon. On all sides lay the most interesting sights; for the
moss hung heavily on the dismal-looking trees, and the boys thought
they had never seen a more depressing picture than was now presented to
their gaze.

"Say, Jack, do we get out of this place tonight