at of his brother.

At that moment Frank had once more turned to look at the dock, and Andy
could not resist the chance to play a little trick on him. Skillfully
judging the distance, he suddenly swept back his left oar, so that the
flat blade caught the crest of a long roller and a salty spray flew in
a shower over Frank.

"What's that--rain?" Frank cried, turning quickly.

He saw the laughing face of his brother, and guessed what had happened.

"I thought this was a rowing race, not a splashing contest!" he cried
good-naturedly.

"It's both," was the answer. Then, though Frank kept on vigorously
swinging the oars, Andy paused, rested on the ashen blades, and,
holding the handles of both under his left palm for a moment, he
pointed out to sea with his right hand, and cried:

"Look! What's that out there, Frank?"

"Oh, ho! No you don't! You don't catch me that way--pretending to
show me a sea serpent!" objected the older lad.

"No, really, there's something there--something big and humpy--it's
moving, too! Don't you see it? Look, right in line with the Eastern
Spit Lighthouse! See!"

Andy stood up in his boat, skillfully balancing himself against the
rolling swell, and pointed out to sea. His manner was so earnest that,
in spite of the many times he had joked with his brother, Frank ceased
rowing and peered to where the extended finger of the younger lad
indicated something unusual.

"Smoked star fish! You're right!" agreed Frank, forgetting all about
the race now, and standing up in his craft, in order to get a better
view.

"What is it?" cried Andy. "A floating wreck?"

"That's no wreck," declared Frank.

"Then what is it?"

"It's a whale, if I'm any judge. A whale, and a big one, too!"

"Dead?"

"I guess so. No--by Jupiter! It's alive, Andy, and it's coming this
way!"

"Cracky! If we only had a harpoon or a bomb gun now, that would be the
end of Mr. Whale. Let's row out and meet him!"

"Say, are you crazy?" demanded Frank, with some heat.

"Crazy? No; why?"

"Wanting to tackle a whale in these boats! We'd be swamped in a
minute! We'd better pull out to one side. Most likely the whale will
keep on a straight course, though he'll be stranded if he goes much
farther in. The tide's out, and it's shallow here. Pull to one side,
Andy--the race is off. Pull out, I tell you!" and Frank swung his
skiff around with sudden energy.

"I am not! I'm going to get a nearer view of