on to Mr. Buck,
and know how little truth there is in his whine," remarked Fred.

"Well, a lot of them do," answered Brad, scornfully, for he was
indignant over the small trick of the beaten coxswain; "but you know
how it is, Fred. You'll always find a certain percentage of people in
every place only too willing to think the worst of you, given half a
chance."

"Oh! well, we don't have to bother our heads about it, I suppose,"
remarked Sid. "It's the same old story, nine-tenths believing in our
side, and the others backing up Buck. But, fellows, we know what we
know. That race was won through a streak of luck for our side, perhaps,
and I'm sorry to even admit that; but there wasn't the first hint of
foul play on our part."

"And given half a chance," said Corney Shays, "Buck would have easily
punched a hole in our boat, if he really believed he was going to be
licked. I've known him to do things twice as bad as that, and get away
with it too, in the bargain. Accuse him of it, and he'd laugh in your
face, and ask how you could prove anything."

"Let's drop Buck and his ways for a while, and think of our chances
with those husky Mechanicsburg chaps," observed Brad, as they came in
sight of the outlying houses connected with the home town, scattered
along the river front.

"Oh! I know what you mean, Brad, all right," spoke up Colon, sensitive
to anything like criticism; "every one knows that I weakened toward the
end, and that's what threw us out of gear. Couldn't help it, if you
killed me. That little trouble I had with the river yesterday must have
still bothered me. Never had such a queer feeling grip me before, and
hope never to again."

"Oh! I wouldn't bother myself about that, Colon," Brad hastened to say,
consolingly; "given a few days to rest, and you'll be as tough as ever.
That strain was heart-breaking, and nobody could blame you for wilting
under it, after what you passed through yesterday. If I'd known we were
going to meet that bunch, all primed to give us a race, perhaps I'd
have thought it good policy to put Joe in the crew for the run home.
But it all turned out right after all."

"And we won, which was the best part of it!" crowed Corney.

"I differ with you there, Corney," declared Brad. "To me the best part
of it was the game quality the whole crew showed. That was an
eye-opener to me. I know now what you can stand; and next time won't be
so much afraid to push you to the limit, if I feel that