Don't you know better than to grab a fellow around the neck in the water, you fool kid ?" But Tom was too far gone to answer.

"That's what you did, isn't it ?" Steve demanded.

"That's a funny way to talk!" "It is, is it ?" sneered Sawyer.

"I'll show you something that is funny some time, and don't you forget it!" Still growling, he swam away toward the nearer ladder, while Steve, with Roy and Harry and others helping, lifted Tom out of the tank and then followed himself.

Tom was very, very sick there for a minute and the younger fellows were properly sympathetic and indignant.