All of a sudden, splash, Hervey was in the creek, swimming for dear life. We all stood on the shore watching him. “A marathon race with a fish,” Bert shouted.
“Follow your leader,” I yelled at Hervey.
“Leave it to me,” Hervey spluttered, “I’ll get him.”
Down the creek we could see a stick bobbing. Pretty soon Hervey caught up with it and grabbed it.
“Hurrah!” we all shouted.
“I tell you what let’s do,” Pee-wee said.
“Animal Cracker,” I said, “a boy scout is supposed to be polite. He’s not supposed to kill a brother scout. But if you make any suggestions or promise us any more eats you’re going to die a horrible death.”
“Was I to blame because it was made of wood?” he shouted at me.
“I’ve tasted tougher ducks than that,” Warde said.
“Let bygones be bygones,” Garry said. “Thank goodness we’ve got our fish back. It was a narrow escape.”
“I’d like to know——” the kid began.
“You don’t need to know, it’s all right,” I said.
“You’re so smart——” he started again.
“We’re so smart,” I told him, “that we——”
“Will you let me speak?” he screamed.
“No, what is it?” I said.
“My shirt fell in the water and we haven’t got any matches,” he said. “So what good is the fish? I’ve been trying to tell you that for five minutes.”
I didn’t say anything, I just lay down on the ground. The rest of them did the same. “Follow your leader,” Garry groaned.
“This is too much,” I said; “let me die in peace.”
“What’s the matter?” Hervey asked, climbing out of the water with the precious fish.
“Oh nothing,” I said, “except Pee-wee’s shirt fell in the water over at the other end of the bridge and we haven’t got any matches. Don’t worry, they’ll find our bodies here; lie down, it’s all ove............