“This is what I call living!” yelled Tom and diving under, he caught Hans by the big toe.

“Hi, hi! let go mine does!” shrieked the German lad.  “Somedings has me py der does cotched!”

“Maybe it’s a shark,” suggested Fred.

“A shark!  Vos der sharks py der Ohio River?”

“Tons of them,” came from Sam.  “Look out, Hansy, or they’ll swallow you.”

“Du meine Zeit!” gasped the German cadet.  “Vy didn’t you tole me dot pefore, hey?  I guess I don’t schwim no more.”  And he started to climb up a rope ladder leading to the deck of the houseboat.

“Don’t go, Hans!” sang out Songbird.  “They are fooling you.”

“Dere ton’t been no sharks in der river?”

“No, nothing but sawfish and whales.”

“A vale!  Dot’s chust so bad like a shark.”

“No, not at all.  A shark bites.  A whale simply swallows you alive,” put in Sam, with a grin.

“Swallows me alife, hey?  Not on your life he ton’t!” returned Hans, and started again for the rope ladder.  But Sam pulled him back and ducked him, and was in turn ducked by Fred, who went under by a shove from Dick; and then followed a regular mix-up, the water flying in all directions.

“By golly, dat’s great!” cried Aleck, from the deck.  “I dun’ t’ink a lot ob eels was dancin’ a jig down dar!”

“Come down here, Aleck, and get some of the black washed off!” shouted Tom, gleefully.

“Not fo’ a dollah, Massah Tom—­leasewise, not while yo’ is around.”

“What are you afraid of?” asked Tom, innocently.

“Yo’ is too full ob tricks fo’ dis chile.  When I wants a baf I’se gwine to take dat baf in a tub, an’ when yo’ ain’t around,” answered Aleck.  “Yo’ am—­Oh—­wough!” And then the colored man retreated in great haste, for Tom had sent up a shower of water all over him.

“Here comes a big river boat!” cried Songbird, presently.  “Let us go out and catch the rollers!” And out they swam and waited until the swells, several feet high, came rolling in.  It was immense fun bobbing up and down like so many corks.

“Wish the steamers would continue to come past,” said Fred.  “This suits me to death.”

“Here comes another pretty big boat,” answered Tom.  “And she is closer to shore than that other craft, so we’ll get the rollers at their best.”

“Don’t get too close,” cried Songbird.  “I knew a fellow who did that once and got sucked under.”

On came the river boat and was soon opposite to where the houseboat lay.  She carried only a few passengers, but a very large quantity of freight.

“Here she comes!” cried Fred.  “Now for some more fun.”

“Don’t get too close!” repeated Songbird, but Tom did not heed him and went within fifty feet of the steamboat’s side.  The rollers here were certainly large, but all of a sudden Tom appeared to lose interest in the sport.

“Hullo, Tom!  What are you so quiet about?” sang out Dick in alarm.