n they had a good lead, Jack having turned and gone up the
river, Billy Manners and young Smith in the latter's boat set off
after them.

"We'll give you a race, Pete!" shouted Billy. "Whoop her up, J.W.,
and see how we'll leave 'em behind!"

Young Smith was managing the boat and doing it well, and now,
anxious to show off, he shot ahead, and soon began to gain on the
other boat.

"You can watch the fun even if you don't race, Jack," chuckled
Percival. "Turn around, old man, and follow."

"I don't mind that," said Jack, "and if anything should happen to
either Billy or to J.W., we will be on hand to help them."

Young Smith was putting his boat to its paces, and as Jack turned to
follow had nearly reached the leading boat.

"Go ahead if you are going!" shouted Billy Manners with a laugh,
greatly enjoying the excitement. "Chuck us a line and we'll tow you."

"Huh! you can't beat anything!" shouted Merritt.

"Let's see you beat us!" snarled Herring, forging ahead.

Young Smith put on a spurt and came on behind at a swift pace,
shortly being even with Herring.

"Watch 'em, Jack!" exclaimed Dick excitedly. "I'd give a dollar
to see young Jesse W. beat those fellows, yes, five. I hope he'll
keep it up."

The boy did keep it up, for in a few minutes he passed Herring
and Merritt, and gained a good lead on them, much to Billy's delight.

The joker laughed and shouted, and seemed greatly to enjoy the fun,
while the younger boy kept up his speed and increased the lead,
Jack following till a bend in the river hid the two boys in the
first boat from sight.

He would not pass Herring and Merritt, but went across the river
where he could get sight of young Smith, who was going on at a good
rate, Herring trying his best to reach him, but in vain.

"That's the best yet," laughed Percival uproariously. "Beaten
by little Jesse W. Smith, and those fellows claim to have the
fastest boat on the river. I think they will have less to say now."

"Probably Herring will say that there was something the matter with
his boat, and yet he was ready to race with us just a moment before.
He'll get out of it somehow, you'll see. It's just like him."

Herring did not overtake the other boys, and they were ashore some
little time ahead of him, Jack coming along leisurely and letting
Herring land first.

"Did you see that?" asked Billy in great glee when Jack came ashore.
"We won't hear any more boasting from that quarter I