saw us!"

"Dick didn't want to come at all," said Innis.

"He didn't! Why not?" demanded Mabel.

"Bashful, I guess," murmured Paul.

"No, it was because I didn't want to inflict the company of these two
bores on you ladies!" exclaimed Dick, thus "getting back."

There was much gay talk and laughter, and, as the afternoon was still
young, Dick proposed taking the girls out for a little jaunt in his new
craft He had only recently purchased it, and, after using it at
Kentfield, he intended taking it with him to a large lake, where he and
his father expected to spend the Summer.

"Oh, that was just fine!" cried Mabel, when the ride was over, and the
party was back at the pier. "Thank you, so much, Dick!"

"Humph! You have US to thank--not him!" declared Paul. "He wouldn't
have turned in here if we hadn't made him. And just because his hands
had a little oil on!"

"Say, don't believe him!" protested the young millionaire. "I had
proposed coming here before I knew you girls were on the dock."

"Well, we thank all THREE of you!" cried Irene, with a bow that
included the trio of cadets.

"Salute!" exclaimed Paul, and the young soldiers drew themselves up
stiffly, and, in the most approved manner taught at Kentfield, brought
their hands to their heads.

"'Bout face! Forward--march!" cried Grace, imitating an officer's
orders, and the boys, with laughs stood "at ease."

"See you at the Junior prom!"

"Yes, don't forget."

"And save me a couple of hesitation waltzes!"

"Can you come for a ride tomorrow?"

"Surely!"

This last was the answer of the girls to Dick's invitation, and the
exclamations before that were the good-byes between the girls and boys,
reference being made to a coming dance of the Junior class.

Then Dick and his chums entered the motor-boat and started back for the
military academy.

"You've got to go some to get back in time to let us tog up for
guard-mount," remarked Paul, looking at his watch.

"That's right," added Innis. "I don't want to get a call-down. I'm
about up to my limit now.

"We'll do it all right," announced Dick. "I haven't speeded the motor
yet. I've been warming it up. I'll show you what she can do!"

He opened wider the gasoline throttle of the engine, and advanced the
timer. Instantly the boat shot ahead, as the motor ran at twice the
number of revolutions.

"That's something like!" cried Paul admiringly.

"She sure has got speed," murmured Innis.