Part 22 (1/2)

CHAPTER XVI.

PERCY HEARS SOMETHING.

Ralph was not much alarmed when Percy Paget went over and disappeared beneath the waters of the lake. He knew the young aristocrat could swim.

Moreover, the end of the rowboat was within easy reach.

Percy let out one yell, and then went under. The yell was not one of fright over his safety, but over the thought that all of his elegant clothing would be wet through and through.

He made a great splas.h.i.+ng when he came up, and soon grasped the gunwale of his boat.

”You rascal!” he spluttered. ”Just wait till I settle with you!”

”It's your own fault that you went overboard,” retorted Ralph. ”I sincerely hope that it cures your fiery temper.”

”Don't talk to me!”

”All right, I won't,” and without another word Ralph walked off, leaving Percy to get out of his predicament as best he could.

The young aristocrat was fearfully angry when he at last drew himself out of the lake. His hat had floated off, and he was compelled to row away from sh.o.r.e for it. By the time he came back Ralph had disappeared.

”I'll fix him for that!” muttered the young bully, hotly. ”I'll fix him, see if I don't!”

It made Percy doubly angry to think that Ralph had been so richly rewarded for stopping the runaway team. Percy thought a good deal of Julia Carrington, and he fondly hoped that the young and beautiful girl regarded him with equal favor. He would have been disagreeably surprised had he known the exact truth.

Percy had rowed over to Eastport, intending to call at Mr. Dunham's sporting goods store for a new fis.h.i.+ng-rod with which to go fis.h.i.+ng up the lake. But now he was out of the humor for this, and, instead of landing again, he turned back toward Westville.

It was a bright, suns.h.i.+ny day, and by spreading out his coat on the seats, he soon had it fairly dry. He also pressed the water from his cap and from his vest and trousers as best he could.

”Yes, sir, I'll get square with him, just as sure as my name is Percy Paget,” he muttered over and over to himself.

Percy was just about to tie up at one of the little wharves some distance above the bridge, when he espied two young ladies walking along the sh.o.r.e.

They were Julia Carrington and her intimate friend, Carrie Baker.

”Good-morning!” cried Percy, raising his cap with what he imagined was a decidedly graceful flourish.

”Good-morning, Mr. Paget,” returned Carrie Baker, coldly, while Julia Carrington merely bowed.

”I trust you are quite over the excitement of a couple of mornings ago,”

went on the rich young man, to Julia.

”Oh, yes,” she returned, shortly.

”I guess I got the worst of that,” went on Percy. ”I got pitched out in double-quick order, didn't I?”

”Indeed! I fancied you jumped out,” rejoined Julia, stiffly.

”What! do you suppose I would jump, and leave you and your mother to your fate?” demanded the young aristocrat, in well-a.s.sumed surprise. ”Oh, no, Julia! You ought to know me better than that.”