"Dom, you vos choking."

"No, I'm not choking," answered Tom. "My breath is regular."

"You know vot I mean."

"Oh, pull in the catch!" cried Fred, impatiently.

"That's the talk!" added Sam. "Say, Hans, you've got something big that's sure."

Slowly but steadily the German youth reeled in, until his bait was within a few feet of the boat. Then from the water came something long and dark and slimy.

"It's a water snake!" yelled Tom.

"Oh my! safe me, somepody!" screamed Hans, and fell back in fright and came close to falling overboard. "Cut der line! Ton't let him pite me!"

"It's no snake!" said Sam, quickly. "But what is it?"

"I'll soon know," answered d.i.c.k, and pulled in on the line a little more.

Then the object came alongside the boat and the boys set up a shout.

"A piece of old rope!"

"With a knot for a snake's head!"

"And a rock at the other end. This must have been used by somebody for an anchor."

"That's it!"

"Say, vos you sure dot ain't no vater snake?" asked Hans, timidly. He had crawled to the bow of the boat, as far from the line as possible.

"See for yourself, Hans," answered d.i.c.k.

Hans went forward cautiously and his eyes opened in wonder. Then a sickly grin spread over his round face.

"Huh! Dot's a fine fish, ain't he? Say, Sam, vos you goin' to fry him in putter oder in lard alretty?" And at this quaint query all the other boys set up a hearty laugh.

"Guess you'd better give up fishing now," said d.i.c.k, after the merriment was over. "We've got enough for supper, and the best thing we can do is to reach the end of the lake and fix up our camp for the night. We want everything in first-cla.s.s shape, so that if a storm comes our things won't get soaked."

"Oh, don't say storm!" cried Fred. "I don't want to see rain."

"We are bound to get some, Fred, sooner or later."

The fishing outfits were put away, and once more the boat moved over the bosom of the lake. They had pa.s.sed three other boats and saw one camp on the north sh.o.r.e.

"Hope we find the Point deserted," said d.i.c.k.

"So do I," answered Tom. "We want to camp all by ourselves this time."

It was not long before they came in sight of the sh.o.r.e and the rocky Point. Not a soul was in sight. They brought the boat around to a little cove and all leaped ash.o.r.e. Near at hand was the remains of a campfire, but it looked a week or more old.

"n.o.body here," said d.i.c.k.

"What an ideal spot for camping!" was Fred's comment, as he gazed around.

And he was right. The sh.o.r.e sloped gently down to the water's edge, and was backed up by a patch of woods. Among the trees were some rocks, and between them a spring of clear, cold water. Not far off was the cove, where the sailboat could be tied up.

"Well, what's the first thing to do?" questioned Tom.

"Cut poles for the tent, and also cut some firewood," answered d.i.c.k.

"Bring out the hatchets, fellows!"

Two hatchets had been brought along, and all hands were soon at work, getting the camp into shape and starting a fire. d.i.c.k selected the poles for the tent and cut them down and trimmed them. Fred built the fire, and Sam cleaned the fish. Then everybody took a hand at raising the tent and fastening it down tightly with pegs. A trench was dug at the rear of the canvas covering, so that if it rained the water would run off towards the lake. The tent was a large one, and in the rear they stored their extra clothing and food. Then they cut down boughs for bedding and got out their blankets.

"The water is boiling," announced Fred, who had put a kettle on some sticks over the fire.

"Well, now the tent is fixed, we'll have supper," said d.i.c.k, who had been made leader. "I reckon we are all hungry enough."

"I know I am," said Sam.

"I d.i.n.k I could eat a leetle," said Hans, winking one eye laboriously.

"Want a piece of fried water snake, Hans?" asked Tom, dryly.

"No, Dom, I dake a steak from dot Pluibusterduster," answered the German youth, with a grin.

Sam knew how to fry fish to perfection, and soon an appetizing odor filled the air. Fred made the coffee, and boiled some potatoes. They had brought along some fresh bread and cut slices from one of the loaves.

They also had a few cookies, made by Mrs. Rover.

"Say, this is the best fish I ever tasted!" cried d.i.c.k, when they were eating.

"So I say!" added Fred. "Sam, if you don't mind, I'll take another piece."

"It's the fresh air that tunes up a fellow's appet.i.te," remarked Tom.

"Stay out a month and you'll want to eat like a horse."

"Nothing the matter with my appet.i.te at any time," murmured Sam. "Oh, Hans, what's the matter?" he demanded, as he saw the German lad throw his head into the air.

"He's choking!" exclaimed d.i.c.k, leaping up in alarm.

"It-it vo-vos ch-chust a fi-fish pone!" gasped Hans. "He got in mine neck sidevays alretty!"

"Better be careful after this," cautioned d.i.c.k. "Here, swallow a piece of dry bread. That will help to carry it down." And it did, and then Hans felt better.

As night came on the boys prepared their beds and then gathered around the campfire and talked, and told stories. All were in the best of humor, and they talked of their old schooldays at Putnam Hall, and of the jokes played on the other boys, and on Josiah Crabtree, and on Peleg Snuggers, the general utility man.

"Those were certainly great days," said Fred, almost sadly. "I wish they could come back."

"Well, we've got to look ahead, not backwards," answered d.i.c.k.