Ferd proceeded to walk right over the fat youth on his way for more fuel and that effectually aroused the lad. "Hey--you! what are you about?" yawned Tubby. "Can't you find another place to walk on but _me_, Ferd Roberts?" "I've got to walk _some_where," quoth Ferd. "Why! you're all wet," gasped Tubby. "And so are you, Dave! And those other fellows--I declare!" "Wake up and do something, Tubby," commanded Dave. "We want to get a tent up, There's been an accident, and Bessie Lavine is wetter than any of us. Let's have your knife." "My--my knife?" yawned Tubby, rolling over slowly to reach into his breeches pocket. This was too good a chance for Ferd to resist. Tubby was rolling near the edge of the bank as Ferd came back with his arms full of broken branches. Ferd put his foot against Tubby's back and pushed with all his might. "Hi! Stop that! Ugh!" Tubby rolled over once--he rolled over twice; then, with many ejaculations and bumps rolled completely down the slope, amid the laughter of the boys and girls above him. Tubby missed the canoes--by good luck--and rolled with a splash into a shallow pool at the river's edge. "You mean thing!" he yelled, getting up with some alacrity and shaking his fist at Ferd. "I--I'm all wet." "So are we, Tubby," Dave said. "You belong to our lodge now. Come on up here with that knife of yours. Didn't I tell you I wanted to use it?" The other boys were scurrying after stakes and blankets, while the girls fed the fire till it roared high, and Bessie stood in the heat of the flames. "What do you think of the boys _now_, Bess?" Frank Cameron whispered in the victim's ear. "Some good--at times--eh?" "Now, don't worry her, Frank," commanded Mina, the tender-hearted. "The poor, dear girl! See--she's just as wet as she can possibly be." "Oh, and wasn't I scared!" gasped Bess, honestly. "When that bank went down I thought I was right on my way through to China! I did, indeed." "I was so thankful Dave was there," said Wyn Mallory, thoughtfully. "You see, Dave is one of those dependable boys." "I've got to admit it," gasped Bess. "He's some good. Why! he caught me just as I was slipping off that tree. I _can't_ thank him!" "Never mind," said Wyn, cheerfully. "It is decided, I guess, that the boys may be of some use to us this summer, after all." "That's so, if we're all going to run the risk of drowning," Grace Hedges observed. "I am going to learn to swim better," declared Bess. "I'll just put my t--time all in on _that_. But, oh, girls! I am so wet!" "Tent's ready, ladies!" shouted Dave Shepard. "Make her take her clothing off, Wyn. We fellows will get the professor and go over to the other side of the island for a swim. Ferd and I have got to strip off and wring out our trousers, anyway. And I reckon Tubby is some wet." "That's all right," grumbled the fat youth, waddling after his mates. "I'll pay Ferd out for that--you see!"