ed, as he dipped one
foot. "I wish I'd brought a towel."

"Yah! what does a fellow want with a towel? You soon gets dry if you
run about. Going to walk across!"

"I can't," said Dexter; "it's too deep."

"Well, then, swim. I could swim that with one hand tied behind."

"I couldn't," said Dexter, hesitating, for it was no pleasant task to
plunge into the little gliding river at midnight, and with all dark
around.

"Now then! Look alive! Don't make a splash."

"Oh!"

"What's the matter?"

"It is cold."

"Yah! Then, get back to bed with you, and let me go alone."

"I'm coming as fast as I can," said Dexter, as he lowered himself into
the stream, and then rapidly climbed out again, as the cold water caused
a sudden catching of the breath; and a nervous shrinking from trusting
himself in the dark river made him draw right away from the edge.

"Why, you ain't swimming," said Bob. "Here, look sharp! Why, you ain't
in!"

"N-no, not yet," said Dexter, shivering.

"There's a coward!" sneered Bob.

"I'm not a coward, but it seems so dark and horrible to-night, and as if
something might lay hold of you."

"Yes, you are a regular coward," sneered Bob. "There, jump in, or I'll
shy stones at yer till you do."

Dexter did not speak, but tumbled all of a heap on the short turf,
shrinking more and more from his task.

"I shall have to go without you," said Bob.

"I can't help it," said Dexter, in a low, tremulous whisper. "It's too
horrid to get in there and swim across in the dark."

"No, it ain't. I'd do it in a minute. There, jump in."

"No," said Dexter sadly. "I must give it up."

"What, yer won't do it!"

"I can't," said Dexter sadly. "We must try some other way. I'm going
to dress again. Oh!"

"What's the matter now!"

"My clothes!" _Splash_! _Rush_!

Dexter had rapidly lowered himself into the black deep stream and was
swimming hard and fast, for as he rose and sought for his garments he
suddenly recalled the fact that he had turned the box into a tiny barge,
laden it with his clothes, and placed them in the river, while now, as
he went to take them out, he found that the stream had borne the box
away, and it was going down toward the sea.

"Try if you can see them, Bob," said Dexter, as he panted and struggled
on through the water.

"See what?"

"My clothes. They're floating down the river."

Bob uttered a low chuckling laugh, and trotted along by the edge of the
river