g his cap as he came up, and
immediately falling into step with the other eager fellows as they
hurried off.

"Last night, I reckon," replied Sid. "I just happened to wander down
there this morning, never thinking to run across a surprise, when what
did I see but a long crate, and inside that a splendid eight-oar shell,
just what we ordered with that money we earned in the winter, giving
minstrel shows and gymnastic performances. It's a great day for
Riverport school, fellows; and well have a dandy time this summer,
believe me!"

"I wish Mechanicsburg or Paulding would get a boat like ours, and give
us a race on the river," remarked Bristles, eagerly.

"Say, wouldn't that be just the best ever?" Sid went on; "we beat 'em
out at baseball, and on the gridiron; perhaps we might win another
victory on the water. The Mohunk is a good stream for rowing, at
certain times of the year."

"I suppose a lot of the boys are down there right now, all talking
about what a great time this summer will be for the nine lucky fellows,
and their substitutes?" remarked Fred, as they walked on into the town;
for the Fenton's lived a little way outside.

"Why, nearly the whole school is down there, and such jabbering you
never heard," laughed Sid.

Bristles tried to catch the eye of the third member of the group.

"Yes," he remarked, with emphasis, "and Buck Lemington, he's there on
deck, big as ever. To hear him talk you'd think he was already made
coxswain of the crew, and could lord it over the rest of us like a
king."

"That's always his way, to claim everything at the first, and then give
up a little, inch by inch," declared Sid. "There are just seventeen
members of the rowing club, all picked out as being the best in the
school. And who will be coxswain depends on the vote they'll take at
the meeting to-night. I know one right now who'll never vote; for Buck
Lemington."

"Make it two, just for luck," Bristles said, with a grin; "and there
are others to be heard from, also. Between you and me and the
lamp-post, boys, I reckon Buck will get just five votes, besides his
own; and they'll come from his cronies, Whitey, Clem Shocks, Oscar
Jones, Con Jimmerson and Ben Cushing. The rest will go in another
direction that I won't mention right now."

He and Sid exchanged winks and nods as though there might be a secret
between them; but Fred was paying no attention to this "wireless
telegraphy."

"Tell me, did you run across Buck,