At the end of that time he plunged splashingly into the
lake, at a depth of something like eight feet of water.
"Good!" applauded the Master, as the Mistress gasped aloud in not
wholly sorrowful surprise and as Lad ambled gayly down the lawn
for a closer view of this highly diverting sight. "Good! I hope
he ruins every stitch he has on; and then gets rheumatism and
tonsilitis. He--"
The Master's babbling jaw fell slack; and the pleased grin faded
from his face.
Wefers had come to the surface, after his ducking. He was fully
three yards beyond the dock and as far from his drifting scow.
And he was doing all manner of sensational things with his lanky
arms and legs and body. In brief, he was doing everything except
swim.
It was this phenomenon which had wiped away the Master's grin of
pure happiness.
Any man may fall into the water, and may present a most ludicrous
spectacle in doing so. But, on the instant he comes to the
surface, his very first motions will show whether or not he is a
swimmer. It had not occurred to the Master that anyone reared in
the North Jersey lake-country should not have at least enough
knowledge of swimming to carry him a few yards.
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