Frank Merriwell's Catch — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

43 tainly 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 sttng upon thei. The large . fish were arranged onthe outside of the strings, so they made a handsome show- ing. Taking care of the canoe and dip- ping the fish in the water, so they again glistened like silver, the boys started toward the cottage which they were uc- cupying on the point. There was a path to the cottage, and this they followed. the wide door of the cottage was seen standing wide open, and Bruce Brown- ing 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 beill, sure. Just think what a horrible thing it is to put wet water right onto a person’s skin.’ ‘“Wot’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 ondt 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.” ) “Wale, dot vasn’s no skin off you - somevere, vos id? der?” Then Frank and Bart mounted the steps and walked into the cottage, carry- .ing the handsome fish they had caught. Vot peen der mad- Make the acquaintance ef “Texas,” the “Wild asd Woolley” West Point plobe in The Half-Holiday. As they approached, TIP TOP WEEKLY. There were cries of astonishment and surprise from the three lads. Ve 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 nie this morning. What sport you must have had!? ‘“We caught them,’’ said Merry; “now, 1f you want some for breakfast, clean them and cook them.’’ ‘T 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. “TY 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 wese taken from the string and laid out to be admired. “There is a fellow that will weigh more than two pounds,’’ said Jack, point- ing 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 sus- penders up over his shoulders, ‘““Oh, Ido lofe peautiful veesh!’? he td GOnnllGooo (GLO SS (CO)