t smash must have
ended its days of usefulness forever."

As the signal to drop oars and pull was given, the boat once more took
on new life, and rushed down upon the nearby bend. When they shot
around this, of course the coxswain was the only one who immediately
saw the exciting scene presented. And it certainly spoke well for the
discipline under which that novice crew labored that not a single one
of them tried to twist his head around, in order to gain advance
information.

They left details to Brad, knowing that they would quickly be upon the
scene, and able to see for themselves, without a breach of discipline.

What Brad saw was just what he anticipated, but all the same it must
have given the boy a thrill. Sure enough, the delicate boat which had
once won a big college race, and had been kept for some years by the
gentleman over in Grafton, simply because his dead son had rowed on the
winning crew, was piled up on some sort of a hidden snag, or concealed
rock, at a point where the swirling water must have warned any cautious
coxswain to keep away.

Several boys were clinging to the wreck. Others were swimming around
like rats deserting a sinking ship, two being already on the way to the
nearest shore. And about every fellow was letting his lungs give full
vent to his feelings; so that the racket was tremendous.

"Help! help! I can't keep up much longer! This way, fellers! Get hold
of me!" one of those in the river shouted; spluttering over the words,
as though he might already have swallowed a considerable quantity of
water.

"Aw! let up on that squawk, Clem Shooks; can't you?" shouted Buck
angrily, as he swam toward the fellow who declared that he was
exhausted, and sinking. "Want any of that bunch to give you a hand? I'd
see myself asking favors of Brad Morton or his crowd. We'll get you
ashore, all right, never fear. Hi! there, Whitey, this way, and you
too, Oscar. Give this ninny a helpin' hand and tow him to dry land."

Apparently Buck was in a towering rage. He had been steering the boat
when it struck the snag, and hence must be held responsible for the
accident that would deprive the outlaw crew of a racing craft for the
remainder of the season.

There was not one of Brad's chums, however, but who felt sure that
sooner or later the bully would try to put the blame on one of his
companions. That seemed to be the natural way with him; a scapegoat was
as necessary to Buck's manner of doing things