ch the
unfortunate Nick clung so desperately, and was dragging the floundering
fat boy in, hand over hand.

"Hold on, George--not so fast I tell you! I'm full up now with this
nasty yellow water, and can't stand any more. Easy, George! Oh, if I
only had my wings on right now, what a chance to try 'em out!"

In this ridiculous fashion the flapping boy-fish gave vent to his
mingled feelings of reproach and regret as he found himself hauled
close in to the side of the drifting _Wireless_, until the skipper
managed to get his fingers twisted in the abundant scalplock of his
boat-mate.

"Why, he's got a life preserver on! He couldn't have drowned if he
tried!" exclaimed Josh, as he leaned over the side of the big roomy
_Comfort_; an act that did not seem to disturb her stability one bit.

"Course I have!" spluttered the dangling Nick, ever ready to take up
cudgels with this adversary, no matter what his condition. "Course I
have," he repeated. "Think me crazy to sail in this cranky message
boat without insurance against a spill? I guess not. And you see what
a wise head Nick has, fellows! Why, hang it, I'd just about been
drowned this time if it hadn't been for this hunky-dory life preserver!"

"That's so," said Jack, warmly. "And you're a wise boy, all right,
Buster. Just as long as you ride in that speed machine you keep close
to that cork affair. You never know when you'll need it."

"That's so," grunted Nick, as he ejected a quart or so of water which
had gotten into his mouth and stomach. "Ugh! get me aboard, please. I
feel wet!"

"Glory! hear that, would ye?" roared Jimmie. "Sure he looks it, too,
by the same token. But it will nade the hull caboodle of us to lift
Buster aboard, for what wid all the wather he's gulped down he must
weigh a ton, so he do."

"Say, he certainly changed his mind, and concluded that the walking was
good, after all!" exclaimed Herb, as he lent a hand toward raising the
young elephant.

"Yes," remarked George, who had really been badly frightened, but now
tried to hide his feelings by a little joshing, "and I don't think it's
a bit fair for your own crew to mutiny that way, and turn against the
skipper."

"What's that?" gasped Nick, half way over the side; "who mutinied?"

"Why, the evidence is all against you, Hippo," returned his boatmate.
"Didn't you see him, boys, holding on to a rope, and trying his level
best to keep the dandy little _Wireless_ from getting