The boys had seen Browning’s act, and they were convulsed with laughter at the antics of the frightened Dutch lad.
“Keep still, Hans,” said Frank. “If it is a snake, you will make him bite you all the quicker by hopping around that way.”
“You can’t kept still!” shouted Hans. “Dot snake is grawling der leg uf my drowsers town alretty! I vos so coldt efry dime I touch myseluf to him dot it gives you der shifers! Oh? Wow! Ye-ow!”
Then Hans gave a great wiggle and kick, and out dropped the little fish onto the floor. The Dutch lad gasped in astonishment and stared at the fish.
“Vos dot der snake?” he muttered, huskily, his face very pale, despite his exertions. “Vale, dot peen der vunniest snake you efer seen!”
“It must be a water snake,” said Merriwell, laughing.
“Vot you vant to knew is how dot veesh got down der pack uf my neck. I don’t seen some vings on heem.”
“He was trying to hide, so you wouldn’t cook him,” said Browning. “That’s all, Hans. Don’t blame the poor fish.”
“Vale, he don’d blay dot me onto again. He near scat uf me der life out. Yaw!”
Diamond took some of the finest perch outside, and, finding a board, carried them down to the water, where he cleaned them. In a short time they were frying in the pan, giving out a delicious odor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a jolly party that gathered about the breakfast table in that little cottage on Sandy Point. The fish were cooked brown and crisp, the coffee was delicious, and everything tasted good. They laughed and joked as they ate.
Merriwell and Hodge had told all about their encounter with Bunker and Welch.
“We must look out for those fellows,” said Diamond.
“I don’t believe they will trouble us again,” declared Browning. “Welch would have no sense of gratitude if he did after Merriwell saved him from drowning.”
“I don’t think he is a fellow who has any sense of gratitude,” came from Hodge; “and his face shows he is a hard drinker. I believe the man can lead him into anything.”
“Oh! I don’t know about that,” said Frank. “He did not take any part in Bunker’s attempted attack on us after I got him out of the water. That shows——”
“Nothing,” cut in Bart. “He was pretty well used up, and he did not have the nerve to take any part in that little affair. I think that fellow is thoroughly bad.”