"It's like a big, useless bathtub," observed Randolph.
"Not so much useless as unused."
"Yes, I suppose the season is as good as over,—though this end of the lake stays warm longer than most other parts."
"It isn't so much the warmth of the water," remarked Cope sententiously. "It's more the warmth of the air."
"Well, the air seems warm enough. After all, the air and the sun are about the best part of a swim. Do you want to go in?"
Cope rose, walked to the edge of the water, and put in a finger or two. "Well, it might be warmer; but, as I say . . ."
"We could try a ten-minute dip. That would get us to our dinner in good time and in good trim."
"All right. Let's, then."
"Only, you'll have to do most of the swimming," said Randolph. "My few small feats are all accomplished pretty close to shore."
"Never mind. Company's the thing. A fellow finds it rather slow, going in alone."
Cope whisked off his clothes with incredible rapidity and piled them—or flung them—under the basswoods: the suddenly resuscitated technique of the small-town lad who could take avail of any pond or any quiet stretch of river on the spur of the moment. He waded in quickly up to his waist, and then took an intrepid header. His lithe young legs and arms threw themselves about hither and yon. After a mo-
