too great a
start? I'm going to offer that as a protest if I miss getting the
silver Dixie cup."

"Huh!"

That was all Nick could get out, for just then with a grand heave all
around his comrades managed to raise him over the gunwale of the speed
launch, so that he came down on the after deck with a squash, streams
of water running off his saturated garments.

"There's only one thing to do," remarked Jack, "and that's to make a
fresh start when Buster gets into some dry clothes. So hurry up, old
fellow."

"However did you come to do it, Pudding?" demanded Herb, as the three
boats kept company drifting on the current of the river.

"Well, I hardly know," grinned the other, as he started to leisurely
undress. "I saw a coil of rope slipping overboard, and remember
bending down to grab it. Guess the frisky little craft must have given
a kick just about then. Next thing I knew I was in the drink, and
swallowing more water than was good for me."

"But you grabbed the rope all right, it seems!" remarked Josh,
sarcastically.

"Looks like it," admitted the other readily; "and I held on, too. My
dad always did say I was a great fellow to keep my grip once I got it.
There's only one thing I'm sorry about."

"Now just quit that right where you are," remarked George. "What do
you take me for, a phonograph with a blank record? Forget about those
silly wings that were going to make a swimmer out of you. A few more
duckings like this at the end of a rope and you'll be a boss paddler."

"Oh! do you think so, George! Perhaps, then, once in a while you
wouldn't mind tying a rope under my arms and letting me drop,
easy-like, off the stern here, to learn the strokes. I wouldn't care
very much, if I always had this good old cork thing on."

"You get out!" snorted George, who never knew when his companion was
serious or joking, since his pudgy face was always set in a broad
smile. "What d'ye take me for, hey? Think this is an excursion to
teach fellows who won't try it on at home, how to swim? You've got
another think coming then. Hurry up and get into some dry clothes now.
We want to be off."

"Oh! start just when you feel like it; I'm going to take my time. Now
quit joshing me. I'm too full for utterance," and to prove the truth
of his assertion Nick bent over the side to eject another quart of
water he had been forced to swallow, much against his will.

So presently Jack gave the word and again the three bo