oing to race with them."

"They will try to beat you. Don't let them do it."

"I shall pay no attention to them, Dick," quietly.

"Yes, but Jack, I should hate to have them pass us. They'd never grow
tired of telling it all over the Academy."

"Let them," said Jack, keeping on at the same steady speed, and making
for the wharf.

Herring, who evidently owned the boat, put her to her speed so as to
pass Jack, and Merritt shouted derisively as they drew nearer:

"We'll give you a tow, you fellows!"

The ferry boat running from Riverton to the town on the other side
of the river had just put out, and was coming on at a good gait,
blowing her whistle to warn the smaller boats to keep out of the way.

Jack went on across her bow with plenty of room to spare, but
Herring slowed up and caught her wash, his boat dancing and rocking
in the liveliest fashion, taking in water and causing both him and
Merritt to shout and go into a panic.

They turned and took in more water, and Merritt, jumping up excitedly,
waving his arms and scolding both Herring and the steamer captain,
suddenly lost his balance and fell into the river.

"He can swim, can't he?" asked Jack, seeing the accident.

"Yes, and there are other boats on the river. Let them pick the
fellow up. Serves him right, anyhow. He ought to keep still in
a boat."

Merritt speedily came up, swam to the boat and tried to clamber
aboard, Herring shouting at him and warning him off.

"Get out, you'll upset me!" he shouted. "Why didn't you keep still?
You're as clumsy as a cow in a boat, you are. Get out of here, or
I'll hit you! Keep away, I tell you!"

"There is a rowboat coming," said Percival, turning his head. "He
will be all right, but he'll have to go back to the Academy in wet
clothes. No danger of catching cold now, but he'll be a sight all
the same, and serves him just right."

Herring kept on, but made for the railroad wharf, while the rowboat
that Dick had seen took in Merritt, and shortly landed him at one of
the docks along the river.

By this time the boys had reached the dock of the machine shops and
Jack tied up, covered his engine and walked up to the street with
Percival, the latter saying:

"It will be like those fellows to say that we were the cause of
Merritt's going overboard. They did not pass us at any rate."

"Let them talk," laughed Jack. "Talk costs nothing, and won't hurt
us."

The boys went to the office of the News w