ooring of the dock. He tripped
backward, and went with a splash into the lake.

CHAPTER XVI.

PERCY HEARS SOMETHING.

Ralph was not much alarmed when Percy Paget went over and disappeared
beneath the waters of the lake. He knew the young aristocrat could swim.
Moreover, the end of the rowboat was within easy reach.

Percy let out one yell, and then went under. The yell was not one of fright
over his safety, but over the thought that all of his elegant clothing
would be wet through and through.

He made a great splashing when he came up, and soon grasped the gunwale of
his boat.

"You rascal!" he spluttered. "Just wait till I settle with you!"

"It's your own fault that you went overboard," retorted Ralph. "I sincerely
hope that it cures your fiery temper."

"Don't talk to me!"

"All right, I won't," and without another word Ralph walked off, leaving
Percy to get out of his predicament as best he could.

The young aristocrat was fearfully angry when he at last drew himself out
of the lake. His hat had floated off, and he was compelled to row away from
shore for it. By the time he came back Ralph had disappeared.

"I'll fix him for that!" muttered the young bully, hotly. "I'll fix him,
see if I don't!"

It made Percy doubly angry to think that Ralph had been so richly rewarded
for stopping the runaway team. Percy thought a good deal of Julia
Carrington, and he fondly hoped that the young and beautiful girl regarded
him with equal favor. He would have been disagreeably surprised had he
known the exact truth.

Percy had rowed over to Eastport, intending to call at Mr. Dunham's
sporting goods store for a new fishing-rod with which to go fishing up the
lake. But now he was out of the humor for this, and, instead of landing
again, he turned back toward Westville.

It was a bright, sunshiny day, and by spreading out his coat on the seats,
he soon had it fairly dry. He also pressed the water from his cap and from
his vest and trousers as best he could.

"Yes, sir, I'll get square with him, just as sure as my name is Percy
Paget," he muttered over and over to himself.

Percy was just about to tie up at one of the little wharves some distance
above the bridge, when he espied two young ladies walking along the shore.
They were Julia Carrington and her intimate friend, Carrie Baker.

"Good-morning!" cried Percy, raising his cap with what he imagined was a
decidedly graceful flourish.

"Good-morning, Mr