fire a pistol at them if they didn't stop and then they, got scared
and dropped the clothing in a ditch."

"And who do you think they were?" asked Snap.

"Ham Spink and Carl Dudder."

"Why, they aren't home from boarding school yet!" cried Shep.

"I don't care, that's what I think," said Giant, sturdily. "I know
just how those fellows look and walk. Of course I didn't see their
faces, but I am pretty sure they were Ham and Carl."

"They may have gotten home during the last day or two," said Snap,
slowly, "and it would be just like them to lay around waiting to
play some mean trick on us. If they had gotten off with our clothing
we'd have been in a fine pickle truly!"

"That's right---worse than with the ram," answered the doctor's son,
and then he and Snap told of what had occurred on the other side
of the river.

"Too bad you lost those strawberries," sighed Whopper. "I like
strawberries so much I could eat about-----"

"A million platesful," finished Snap, with a grin.

"No, I was going to say a spoonful or two," said Whopper, and
then Snap groaned.