MS

"Confound that fellow Teall!"

This angry expression slipped past Hi's lips unguardedly.

By this time Dick Prescott was on shore. His quick, keen glances
took in the patent fact that some one had removed all the discarded
clothing from sight.

"So Ted Teall was around here, and you knew that he was going
to take our clothing?" demanded Dick, flashing a searching look
at Hi Martin.

When too late, Hi Martin saw how he had put his foot into the
mess by his indignant exclamation.

"And, knowing that Teall was going to slip away with our clothing,"
Dick went on, "you went into the water and lured us away to the
lower end of the pond. That was what you did to us, was it, Martin?"

Hi shook his head, then opened his mouth to utter an indignant
denial.

"Don't try to fool us," advised Dick bitterly. "Martin, you may
have thought it funny, but it was a mean trick to serve us, and
I am glad that Teall has shown you how little he likes you."

Under ordinary circumstances Ted might have left Hi Martin's clothes
behind. It had been Hi's impolitic remark about "mucker schools" that
had decided Ted to take away Hi's belongings as well.

"That Teall is a dirty sneak," cried Hi.

"He was simply a comical genius as long as he took only our clothes,"
Dick retorted. "But now that your things are gone as well, it's
a mean, low-down bit of business."

"Martin," observed Tom Reade dramatically, "thine own ox is gored."

"Talking won't bring back any duds," grunted Harry Hazelton.
"Teall can't have gotten very far with such a load. Let's rush
after him."

"You lead the way, then, son," suggested Dick, "and instead of
following you, we'll wait here until you bring the things back."

"I wonder which way he went?" puzzled Hazelton.

"Probably straight to the road," smiled Dick grimly. "That's
the shortest cut, and the road isn't far from here."

"But I can't go near the road in this---this---fix," sputtered
Harry, looking down at his wet, glistening skin.

"Exactly," nodded Prescott. "Nor can any of us go. That's the
joke. Like it? Ha, ha, ha!"

Dick's laugh had anything but a merry sound. None of the boys
had a truly jovial look, nor was it to be expected of them. Tom
was solemn as an owl, Harry fussy; Dan was grinning in a sickly
sort of way, as was Dave Darrin. Greg Holmes, utterly silent,
stood with his fists clenched, thinking how he would like to be
able at this moment to pounce upon Ted Teall.

"It's an