CHAPTER IX.
HI MARTIN TRIES TO MAKE TERMS "Confound that fellow Teall!" This angry expression slipped past Hi's lips unguardedly.
By this time Dick Prescott was on shore.

His quick, keen glances took in the patent fact that some one had removed all the discarded clothing from sight.
"So Ted Teall was around here, and you knew that he was going to take our clothing ?" demanded Dick, flashing a searching look at Hi Martin.
When too late, Hi Martin saw how he had put his foot into the mess by his indignant exclamation.
"And, knowing that Teall was going to slip away with our clothing," Dick went on, "you went into the water and lured us away to the lower end of the pond.

That was what you did to us, was it, Martin ?" Hi shook his head, then opened his mouth to utter an indignant denial.
"Don't try to fool us," advised Dick bitterly.

"Martin, you may have thought it funny, but it was a mean trick to serve us, and I am glad that Teall has shown you how little he likes you." Under ordinary circumstances Ted might have left Hi Martin's clothes behind.

It had been Hi's impolitic remark about "mucker schools" that had decided Ted to take away Hi's belongings as well.
"That Teall is a dirty sneak," cried Hi.
"He was simply a comical genius as long as he took only our clothes," Dick retorted.