"Say, we've got to douse that fellow," said Reddy.

"You're right; he needs a wash," said Jim. "Let's sneak up behind him and
chuck him in."

They landed a little ways up the stream behind a large bush and then crept
down stealthily on their victim. But Dutchy had his suspicions aroused and
saw them coming. He scrambled out of the tree in a jiffy and tore off into
the woods as fast as his legs could carry him.



Swimming on a Plank.

[Illustration: Fig. 86. Swimming on a Plank.]

We didn't expect to see him again that afternoon, for the pace he was
leading should have carried him miles in no time; but while he couldn't
swim, Dutchy had his own ideas of fun on the water. It was about twenty
minutes later that we saw him coming down-stream lying full length on one
of the 2-inch planks taken from the bridge wreck. He was paddling himself
along with arms and legs hung over the sides of the plank. We all gave him
a cheer, and then started out to have some fun with him. We tried to pull
him off his raft, but he stuck on like a leech. It was only when we made
his craft turn turtle that Dutchy got his head under water. But it wasn't
a moment before he scrambled back on top again, gasping and sputtering to
get the water out of his nose and mouth.

Uncle Ed all this time had been sunning himself on the bank, when suddenly