The lad threw off his hat, vest, shoes, and stockings, so that only his
shirt and trousers remained, and then took a header, his whole being
thrilling with pleasure as the cold water closed around him.
"Take care of my clothes!" he called to Nellie, "and I'll bring the raft
over to you."
As there was no immediate hurry, the situation of his sister being quite
comfortable, the lad could not resist the temptation to disport himself
awhile in the cool, refreshing element. He sank until his bare feet
touched the pebbly bottom, and then shot upward with a bound; then he
went over backward, floundered, and tumbled about like a porpoise.
"Nick," called his sister, "you had better hurry and get that raft, for
I cannot see it now."
This startled the lad, but when he found he could not see Nellie either,
he understood that it was on account of the overshadowing gloom that had
fallen still lower; at the same time the disturbance of the atmosphere
had caused a strong wind to blow across the pond, and it was doubtless
this which had started the mass of pine logs from the land, and was now
bearing it away from where it lay when discovered by the girl.
"Are you comfortable there?" called out Nick to his sister.
"Yes, but don't wait too long, for it is growing warm, and I think the
fire is close to me."
The lad felt he had done wrong in idling his time, and he bent all his
energies toward swimming to the raft, which, under any circumstances
could not be far off.
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