Just as the canoe touched the sand there was a whoop from the woods, and Hans Dunnerwust, stripped of the last rag of clothing, came bursting into view, made a wild run for the water, as if he were to plunge in headlong, stopped short when his toes were wet, and backed off, lifting his feet into the air and shaking them. “Shimminy Gristmas!” he gurgled. “Dot peen a narrow escapes. Dot vawter peen too vet vor you to took a path indo, ain’d id? Vot peen der use to took a path, anyvay? Id gits a veller all ofer vet, und id vos drouple to dry yourseluf. Yaw. I dook a path ven I vos ad Vardale, for der horneds shased me der prook indo. Dot peen goot enough to last you till next summer. Oxcuse me.” And then, with great gravity, not even looking at Frank and Bart, he turned about, walked up the beach and disappeared into the bushes. “Well,” laughed Merry, “Hans certainly came very near taking a voluntary bath that time. He stopped just in time.” “Browning has been guying him again,” said Bart. “I heard him ask Hans yesterday if this was not his year to take a bath.” Frank cut some forked branches from the bushes near, and soon the white perch were strung upon them. The large fish were arranged on the outside of the strings, so they made a handsome showing. Taking care of the canoe and dipping the fish in the water, so they again glistened like silver, the boys started toward the cottage, which they were occupying on the point. There was a path to the cottage, and this they followed. As they approached, the door of the cottage was seen standing wide open, and Bruce Browning was heard laughing heartily within. Diamond was carrying in an armful of wood. “Ha! ha! ha!” roared Bruce. “You are in danger, Hans, for you say you got your toes wet. You’ll be ill, sure. Just think what a horrible thing it is to put wet water right onto a person’s skin.” “Vot’s der madder mit you!” squawked the voice of Hans. “You und Shack peen oud und done dot a liddle vile ago, don’d id? You kept bokin’ vun ad me till I got me my glothing oudt und vent oudt to took a path, but I vound der vawter too vet this mornings.” “Oh, yes; the water is wet. I never saw a Dutchman who wasn’t afraid of real wet water. They don’t even want to drink it.” “Vale, dot vasn’t no skin off you somevere, vos id? Vot peen der madder?” Then Frank and Bart mounted the steps and walked into the cottage, carrying the handsome fish they had caught. There were cries of astonishment and surprise from the three lads. “Ye gods!” burst from Browning. “What have you been doing, fellows?” “Catching fish,” laughed Frank. “Veesh?” squawked Hans, who was putting on his shirt. “Vale, I should said so! Vere vos dose veesh caught you?” “By Jove!” exclaimed Diamond, his eyes shining. “Those are beauties! I didn’t suppose there were such fish in this lake.” “Nor I,” groaned Browning. “If I had, I’d turned out when Merriwell called me this morning. What sport you must have had!”