to jerk his line, and he brought it up with such
force that the chubfish on his hook slapped Harry right in the face!

"Look out!" called Harry, trying to dodge the flapping fish. "Put your
catch down. He's a good one, but I don't care about having him kiss me
that way again."

All the boys laughed at Bert, who was a green fisherman they said. The
fish was really a very nice plump chub and weighed more than a pound.
He floundered around in the basket and flapped his tail wildly trying
to get away from them.

"I've got one," called Tom next, at the same moment pulling his line
and bringing up a pretty little sunfish. Now "sunnies" are not
considered good eating, so Tom's catch did not come up to Bert's, but
it was put in the basket just the same.

"I'm going out on the springboard," August Stout announced, stepping
cautiously out on the board from which good swimmers dived.

"You know you can't swim, August," said Harry, "and if you get a catch
and jerk it you'll tumble in."

"Oh! I'll be all right," August answered, lying down flat on the narrow
springboard and dropping his line.

For a time all the boys lay watching for a bite. No one spoke, for
sometimes they say fish are very sensitive to sound and go in another
direction if they hear a voice.

It was a beautiful July day, and perhaps the boys were a little lazy.
At any rate, they all became so quiet the little woodpeckers on the
trees went on with their work pecking at the tree bark as if no human
being was in sight.

Suddenly there was a big splash!

"August!" yelled all the boys at once, for indeed August was gone from
the springboard.

"Quick!" called Harry to his companions. "He can't swim!"

The next minute the boy in the water came to the top and threw up his
arm. But no one was near enough to reach it.

"Strike out, August!" yelled Bert. "We're coming," and one boy after
the other dropped in the water now, having thrown off their heavy
clothing.

"Oh, where is he?" screamed Bert in terror, for no movement on the
water's surface showed them where August was.

"Here!" cried Tom Mason, who was quite a distance out. "Here he is!
Help! come quick!"

No need to urge the boys to hasten, for all realized the danger their
companion was in.

"Don't pull down, August," went on Tom. "Try to help yourself, or
you'll pull me under." Harry had around his neck a strong piece of rope
he picked up as he made a dive into the water.

"Take hold of this,"