CHAPTER XVI. 

PERCY HEARS SOMETHING. 

Ralph was not much alarmed when Percy Paget went over and disappeared beneath the waters of the lake. He knew the young aristocrat could swim. Moreover, the end of the rowboat was within easy reach. 

Percy let out one yell, and then went under. The yell was not one of fright over his safety, but over the thought that all of his elegant clothing would be wet through and through. 

He made a great splashing when he came up, and soon grasped the gunwale of his boat. 

"You rascal!" he spluttered. "Just wait till I settle with you!" 

"It's your own fault that you went overboard," retorted Ralph. "I sincerely hope that it cures your fiery temper." 

"Don't talk to me!" 

"All right, I won't," and without another word Ralph walked off, leaving Percy to get out of his predicament as best he could. 

The young aristocrat was fearfully angry when he at last drew himself out of the lake. His hat had floated off, and he was compelled to row away from shore for it. By the time he came back Ralph had disappeared. 

"I'll fix him for that!" muttered the young bully, hotly. "I'll fix him, see if I don't!" 

It made Percy doubly angry to think that Ralph had been so richly rewarded for stopping the runaway team. Percy thought a good deal of Julia Carrington, and he fondly hoped that the young and beautiful girl regarded him with equal favor. He would have been disagreeably surprised had he known the exact truth. 
why was he yelling?
The yell was not one of fright over his safety, but over the thought that all of his elegant clothing would be wet through and through. 