professor.

"Of course he has," agreed Walter. "The clerk found water for them
and they were saved," added Tad, laughing immoderately.

"Did he?" demanded Chunky eyeing them soulfully.

"Yes, of course he did. You ought to remember the story. You have
told it often enough."

"How did he save them?"

"He had a fountain pen, of course, silly! Have you forgotten your own
story?" scoffed Tad.

"He didn't have anything of the sort. This was another clerk. This
one had a watch."

Stacy glanced around expectantly. Not a face was smiling. All were
as solemn as owls.

"He had a watch," nodded Rector.

"He had a watch," added Tad.

"I wonder if the watch was running?" piped Walter.

"No, it was stagnant," retorted Stacy.

"Young gentlemen, for the sake of bringing a long-winded discussion to
a close, I will offer myself as---as what you call a 'mark.' What had
the watch to do with their thirst?" asked the professor gazing sternly
at Stacy.

The boys shouted.

"Come down with the answer, Chunky."

"The watch had a spring in it," answered the fat boy solemnly.

"I think it's going to snow," observed Tad consulting the skies
reflectively.

"Yes, the air is very chill," returned Ned Rector solemnly. "Shouldn't
be surprised if some one perished in this outfit."

CHAPTER XV

MAKING A STARTLING DISCOVERY

Stacy Brown looked from one to the other of his companions in disgust.

"Ho, ho! ho, ho!" he exploded. "Hard luck when a fellow's company is
so thick that he has to laugh at his own jokes. Ho, ho, ho! Ha, ha,
ha! It is to smile, but nobody smiles. You make me tired."

"As I have already observed, I think it is going to rain," said Tad.

"Must be getting warmer, then. A minute ago you said it was going to
snow. It's my private opinion that you don't know what you think.
Ned doesn't know any more. The professor is the only one in the
outfit who has a sense of humor. _He_ knows when it's time to laugh.
Ha, ha!"

Professor Zepplin was smiling broadly. Stacy's joke was just dawning
upon the professor. But Tad's mind at that juncture was in another
direction. The lad had raised his head in a listening attitude, his
glance fixed keenly on the other side of the camp ground.

"Did you see something?" whispered Walter.

Tad shook his head.

"You heard something?"

"Never mind. Go on with the fun. Get Chunky to tell you when it is
time to laugh."

About this time Stacy got up