ipped
lance slid past Collingwood's shoulder, and the next instant
Collingwood's sponge--well weighted with water--smote Westby full in the
chest and hove him overboard. For one moment Carroll struggled to keep
the canoe right side up, but in vain; it tipped and filled, and with a
shout he plunged in head foremost after his comrade.

They came up and began to push their canoe ashore; the two other canoes
drew alongside and assisted, Scarborough and Morrill paddling, while
Irving and Collingwood laid hold of the thwarts.

"That's all right; I'll get you this time," spluttered Westby. "We're
going to use strategy now."

They emptied the water out of the canoe and proceeded again to the
battleground. Then, when Scarborough gave the word, Carroll began
paddling madly; he and Westby bore down upon their antagonists at a most
threatening speed. Morrill swung to the right to get out of their path;
and then suddenly Carroll swung in the opposite direction--with what
strategic purpose neither Irving nor Scarborough had time to conjecture.
For they were loitering close on that side, not expecting any such
manoeuvre; the sharp turn drove the bow of Carroll's canoe straight for
the waist of Scarborough's, and Westby with an excited laugh undertook
to fend off with his pole, lost his balance, and trying to recover it,
upset both canoes together.

Irving felt himself going, heard Westby's laughing shout, "Look out, Mr.
Upton!" and then went under.

[Illustration: THE CANOES SWUNG ABOUT AND MADE FOR EACH OTHER]

CHAPTER III

WESTBY'S AMUSEMENTS

The water was warm, but Irving swallowed a good deal of it and also was
conscious of the fact that he had on a perfectly good suit of clothes.
So he came to the surface, choking and annoyed; and when he recovered
his faculties, he observed first of all Westby's grinning face.

"You can swim all right, can't you, Mr. Upton?" said Westby. "I thought
for a moment we might have to dive for you."

Irving clutched at the stern of the capsized canoe and said, rather
curtly, "I'm not dressed to enjoy swimming."

"I'm awfully sorry," said Scarborough. "But I never thought they were
going to turn that way; I don't know what Carrie thought he was doing--"

"I'd have shown you some strategy if you hadn't blundered into us,"
declared Carroll.

"Blundered into you! There was no need for Wes to give us such a poke,
anyhow."

Westby replied merely with an irritating chuckle--irritati