Frank Merriwell's Catch — page 15: what you’re looking at

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TIP TOP WEEKLY. . 43 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 but- toned. As the cold clammy fish slipped down his back Hans gave a wild howl and Jeaped 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! Shimininy Gristmas! I pet zwi tollars dot vos a snake grawlin’ your pack down! Take it avay!” He nearly turned himself wrougtile out in his convulsive efforts. The fish slipped still further down his back and finally got into the left leg of his trousers. | “*Ve-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 drow- sers 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. ‘‘I£ it is a snake, you will make him bite you all the quicker by hopping around. that way.” “Vou can’t kept still!’ shouted Hans. “Dot snake is grawling der leg uf my drowsers town alrettv! I vos so coldt efry dime I touch myseluf to him dot it gives you deer shifers! Oh! Wow! VYe- ow!” Then Hans gave a great wiggle and kick and out dropped the little fish onto READ « ARTHUR SEWALL’S PAGE” IN THE HALF HOLIDAY. the floor, The Dutch lad gasped in astonishnient 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’d seen some vings on heem.”? ‘““He was trying to hide, so you wouldn’t cook hium,’? said Browning. ‘“That’s all, Hans. Don’t blame the poor fish.’ ‘“Vale, he don’d blay dot me onto again. He near acat uf me der life out. Yaw! Diamond took some of thie finest perch outside, and finding a board, carried them down to the water, where he cleaned them. Inashort time they were frying in the pan, giving out a delicious odor. CHAPTER VL ‘OFFICERS OF THE LAW. It was a jolly party that gathered about the breakfast table in that little cottage on Sandy Point. The fish were cooked brown and crisp, the coffee was delicious, and everything tasted good. laughed and joked as they ate. Merriwell and Hodge had told all about their encounter with Bunker and Welch. ‘We must look out for those fellows,” said Diamond. “TE don’t believe they will trouble us_ again,’’ declared Browning. ‘‘Welch would have no sense of gratitude if he did after Merriwell saved him from drowning.’”? “J don’t think he is a fellow. who has any sense of gratitude,’’ came from Hodge; ‘‘and his face shows he is a hard drinker. J believe the man can lead him into anything.’ They Onniclboo SS CO