Harry seized a young tree that grew on the very edge of the bank, and as
soon as Tony managed to flop himself near enough, Harry leaned over and
took hold of his outstretched hand and gave him a jerk forward with all
his strength. Over went Tony, splash on his face in the water, and Harry
came very near going in head-foremost on top of him. But he recovered
himself, and, not having loosed his grip of Tony's hand, he succeeded,
with a mighty effort, in dragging the turkey-hunter's head out of the
water; and, after a desperate struggle with the mud, Tony managed to get
on his feet again.

"I don't know," said he, blowing the water out of his mouth and shaking
his dripping head, "but what I'd 'most as lieve be shot as ducked that
way. Don't you jerk so hard again. Hold steady, and let me pull."

Harry took a still firmer grasp of the tree and "held steady," while
Tony gradually worked his feet through the sticky mud until he reached
the bank, and then he laboriously clambered on shore.

"How did it happen?" said Harry. "How did you get in the water?"

"Boat upsot," said Tony, seating himself, all dripping with water and
mud, upon the bank.

"Why, you came near being drowned," said Harry, anxiously.

"No I didn't," answered Tony, pulling a big bunch of weeds and rubbing
his legs with them "I kin swim well enough, but a fellar has a rough
time in the water with big boots on and his pockets full o' buck-shot."