Just now, however, he craved help against Prescott more than anything else.
"All right," urged Ted.

"You decoy that crowd away from here for a few minutes, and maybe I won't do a thing to them!" "I'll see what I can do for you," returned Martin, going down to the edge of the pond.
"How's the water, fellows ?" called Hi.
"Fine," returned Dick with enthusiasm.
"Room enough in the pond for another ?" Hi asked.
"Surely.

Come on in." "I believe I will," Hi answered, seating himself and fumbling at his shoe-lacings.
A couple of minutes later Hi dived from the log and swam out to the other boys.
"Are you fellows any good on swimming distances ?" Martin asked, as, with lazy stroke, he joined Dick & Co.

The North Grammar boy was an expert swimmer and proud of it.
"I guess we can swim a little way," Prescott replied.

"I don't remember that we ever swam any measured courses." "Can you swim down to that old elm ?" asked Hi, indicating a tree at the further end of the pond.
"We ought to," smiled Dick.
"Come along, then," invited Hi, starting with a side stroke.
Dick & Co.