fellows any good on swimming distances?" Martin asked,
as, with lazy stroke, he joined Dick & Co. The North Grammar
boy was an expert swimmer and proud of it.

"I guess we can swim a little way," Prescott replied. "I don't
remember that we ever swam any measured courses."

"Can you swim down to that old elm?" asked Hi, indicating a tree
at the further end of the pond.

"We ought to," smiled Dick.

"Come along, then," invited Hi, starting with a side stroke.

Dick & Co. started in irregular fashion, Darrin and Reade soon
spurting on ahead of Martin.

"How long can you tread water?" inquired Hi, after they had reached
the neighborhood of the elm.

This sport is always interesting to boys who are good swimmers.
Forthwith some endurance tests at treading were started. Then
Hi showed them all a few "stunts" in the water, some of which
Dick & Co. could duplicate easily, and some which they could not.

Thus the minutes slipped by. Hi, for once in his life, went out
of his way to be entertaining to Central Grammar boys. But, at
last, he muttered to himself:

"I guess Teall has had plenty of time for his tricks. If he hasn't,
then all afternoon wouldn't he time enough."

"Hello, Hi," called Dick. "Where are you going?"

"Back to dress," Martin replied. "I've been in long enough."

"I guess we all have," Dick nodded, himself turning back. His
chums followed.

"I don't know whether I'll dress or not," remarked Tom Reade,
as he shot ahead of the others. "If I find I don't want to dress,
then I'll just sit on the bank and dry my skin before going in
again."

Continuing his spurt, Tom kept on until be reached the log from
which the first diving had been done. He waded ashore, looked
about in some bewilderment, and then called over the water:

"Say, fellows, just where was it that we left our clothes?"

"Why, barely a dozen feet back of the log," Dick called from the
water.

"Hardly ten feet from where my clothes lie," added Hi Martin,
his face solemn, but with an inward chuckle over the rage of six
boys that he knew was soon to follow.

"But where are your clothes, Martin?" asked Tom, staring about
him. "Where is anybody's clothes?"

The look in Hi's face changed rapidly. He took a few swift, strong
strokes that bore him to shore.

Then, indeed, Martin's wrath and disgust knew no bounds. For
his clothing was as invisible as that of the Central Grammar boys.

Chapter IX

HI MARTIN TRIES TO MAKE TER