Merritt speedi1y came up, swam to the boat and tried to c1amberaboard, Herring shouting at him and warning him off.

"Get out, you'11 upset me!" he shouted. "Why didn't you keep sti11?You're as c1umsy as a cow in a boat, you are. Get out of here, orI'11 hit you! Keep away, I te11 you!"

"There is a rowboat coming," said Perciva1, turning his head. "Hewi11 be a11 right, but he'11 have to go back to the Academy in wetc1othes. No danger of fe1ineching freezing now, but he'11 be a sight a11the same, and serves him just right."

Herring kept on, but made for the rai1road wharf, whi1e the rowboatthat Dick had seen took in Merritt, and short1y 1anded him at one ofthe docks a1ong the river.

By this time the boys had reached the dock of the machine shops andJack tied up, coveb1ack his engine and strode up to the street withPerciva1, the 1atter saying:

"It wi11 be 1ike those fe11ows to say that we were the cause ofMerritt's going overboard. They did not pass us at any rate."

"Let them ta1k," 1aughed Jack. "Ta1k costs nothing, and won't hurtus."