“We caught them,” said Merry; “now, if you want some for breakfast, clean them and cook them.” “I don’t know much about cleaning fish,” said the big Yale man. “I’d rather catch them.” “So had I,” nodded Diamond; “but I didn’t catch them, so I am willing to clean my share.” “Und I vill cook them,” said Hans. “I pet more as eight or nine uf dose veesh can ead me this morning. I vos awful hongry since I took dot path.” Some of the fish were taken from the string and laid out to be admired. “There is a fellow that will weigh more than two pounds,” said Jack, pointing out a handsome perch. “And here is one larger than that,” said Merry. “It’s simply wonderful!” grunted Bruce. “Look at the difference between that big fellow and this one.” He picked up one of the smallest fish. Hans could not keep his eyes off the perch, although he was hastening to dress. He crowded in with the others as he drew on his trousers and drew his suspenders up over his shoulders. “Oh! I do lofe peautiful veesh,” he gurgled. “They vos goot food to ead your prain vor. I alvays ead veesh ven I can got them.” “That explains why you have such a remarkable brain,” observed Browning, as he dropped the small perch down the Dutch lad’s back, thrusting it inside the collar of his shirt, which was not buttoned. As the cold, clammy fish slipped down his back, Hans gave a wild howl and leaped into the air, giving a twist of his body and making a frantic effort to reach over his shoulder and catch hold of the perch. “Wow!” he whooped. “Vot id vos, aind id? Hellup. Vos I struck lightnin’s py? Ye-e-e-ow! Got dot out uf my pack off! Kvick! Shimminy Gristmas! I pet zwei tollars dot vos a snake grawlin’ your pack down! Take it avay!” He nearly turned himself wrongside out in his convulsive efforts. The fish slipped still farther down his back and finally got into the left leg of his trousers. “Ye-e-e-eh!” squealed the fat Dutch lad, dancing around the room on his right foot and kicking out with the other. “Dot snake peen comin’ down your drowsers legs! Got a club und kill me kvick! Don’d let me got avay!” The boys had seen Browning’s act, and they were convulsed with laughter at the antics of the frightened Dutch lad. “Keep still, Hans,” said Frank. “If it is a snake, you will make him bite you all the quicker by hopping around that way.” “You can’t kept still!” shouted Hans. “Dot snake is grawling der leg uf my drowsers town alretty! I vos so coldt efry dime I touch myseluf to him dot it gives you der shifers! Oh? Wow! Ye-ow!” Then Hans gave a great wiggle and kick, and out dropped the little fish onto the floor. The Dutch lad gasped in astonishment and stared at the fish. “Vos dot der snake?” he muttered, huskily, his face very pale, despite his exertions. “Vale, dot peen der vunniest snake you efer seen!” “It must be a water snake,” said Merriwell, laughing. “Vot you vant to knew is how dot veesh got down der pack uf my neck. I don’t seen some vings on heem.”