our cottage at all. If you do mother will be sure to see me
all wet. Then she'll want to know how it happened, and the whale will
be out of the bag, and we can't go. Let's start right out in the
_Gull_ as soon as we hit the pier. There won't be any danger, and we
might sight the whale. He must be nearly dead by this time."

"I wonder if we could find him," mused Frank.

"Sure!" exclaimed his impulsive brother. "It will be great. There's
some grub aboard the _Gull_ and we can stay out until nearly dark.
Mother doesn't expect us home to dinner, as we said we might go to
Seabright. Come on!"

"Well, if you feel able, after--"

"Pshaw! I'm as fit as a fiddle. Let's hit it up, and get to the dock
as soon as we can. Think of landing a whale!"

"Or of being lambasted by one," added Frank grimly. Nevertheless, he
fell in with his brother's plan, as he usually did. The two boys rowed
steadily toward the pier, towing the damaged boat. They were very much
in earnest.

In fact, though of different characters, the brothers were very much
alike in one trait--they always liked to be doing things. Their name
fitted them to perfection; they were "Racers" by title and nature,
though Andy was the quicker and more impulsive.

They were the sons of Mr. Richard Racer, a wealthy wholesale silk
merchant of New York City. Mr. Racer owned a neat cottage at Harbor
View, and his summers were spent there. His wife, Olivia, was a lady
fond of society, and when she closed her handsome house in New York, to
go to the coast resort for the summer, she transferred her activities
there.

While in the metropolis Mrs. Racer spent much time at charitable
organizations, and at Harbor View she was a moving spirit in the
ladies' tennis and golf clubs.

Mr. Racer traveled back and forth from New York to Harbor View each day
during the summer, for his business needed much of his attention. His
vacation, however, was an unbroken series of days of pleasure at the
coast resort where he and his wife and sons enjoyed life to the utmost.

The two boys had spent so many summers at Harbor View that they were
almost as well known there as some of the permanent residents, and they
had many friends among the seafaring folk, especially in the lads.
They had one or two enemies, as will develop presently, not through any
fault of their own, but because certain lads were jealous of our heroes.

"Well, we're here," announced Frank at last, as he s