He was under the bank, at a point where the current had washed away a large portion of the soil, exposing to view half of the roots of a tree standing above.  To get out of the stream at that spot was an impossibility, and he let himself go once more, when he had regained his breath and felt able to take care of himself.

In a few minutes more Sam reached a point where to climb up the bank was easy, and he lost no time in leaving the river.  Once on the bank he squeezed the water out of his garments.  He had lost his cap, but spent no time in looking for the head covering.

“Oh, if only I had Lew Flapp here!” he muttered over and over again.  But the bully had, as we already know, made good his escape, and Sam found it impossible to get on his track.  Soaked to the skin he made his way back through the cemetery.

“Hullo, so you have fallen into the river!” sang out a man who saw him coming.  It was Jack Sooker, the fellow mentioned by the cemetery keeper’s daughter.

“No, I was pushed in,” answered Sam, who knew Sooker fairly well.

“How did it happen, Sam?”

“I was after a rascal I wanted to have locked up.  But he shoved me into the river and got away.”

“You don’t tell me!  Where is he now?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s too bad.  Do I know him?”

“No, he is a stranger around these parts.”

“A young fellow?”

“Yes, about Dick’s age.”

“Can’t say as I’ve seen him.  What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t know yet.  I’ve got to get some dry clothes first:” 

Sam walked up to the cottage at the corner of the cemetery.  Jennie, the keeper’s daughter, saw him coming and gave a cry at his wet garments.

“Can I dry myself here?” he asked, after he had explained the situation.

“To be sure you can, Sam,” she answered, and stirred up the fire in the kitchen stove.  “If you wish I’ll lend you a suit of my brother Zack’s clothes—­that is, if you are in a hurry.”

“Thanks, I’ll borrow the suit.  I want to report this; and I’ll send the suit back to-morrow.”

“You needn’t hurry.  Zack isn’t home just now, so he doesn’t need the suit.”

The clothes were found, and Sam slipped into a bedchamber of the cottage and made the change.  Then, after thanking Jennie once more for her kindness, the youngest Rover set off for Oak Run as fast as he could.

A train was just coming into the depot and the first person to hop off was Fred Garrison.

“Hullo, I thought you’d meet me!” sang out Fred.  “How are you?”

“Pretty well, considering,” answered Sam, with a quiet smile.  “But I’ve had a whole lot of happenings since I drove down to the depot.”

“What’s the matter, horse run away?”

“No, I met Lew Flapp.”

“Nonsense!  Why, what is he doing around here?”

“I give it up, Fred. But he was here and we have had a lively time of it,” answered Sam, and told his story.