e goes on, fellows," said Nick, pretending to
look deeply injured, but slyly winking at Jack. "I never can make a
peep but what George comes down on me. I'm afraid he's getting
dyspepsia. What do you think, why he even began to complain of my
cooking."

George made no verbal reply, only pressed both hands across his
stomach, and looked forlornly at the skipper and crew of the _Tramp_,
who shouted with laughter.

And in this fashion, with the derelict _Wireless_ bobbing behind, they
finally drew up at the wharf in front of the Memphis levee, where a
score or two of black roustabouts and loungers flocked around them to
look with evident delight upon the two neat little cruisers from the
north.

CHAPTER XIV.

SIGNS OF THE SUNNY SOUTH.

"Me for a good juicy beefsteak for supper tonight!" exclaimed Nick,
after they had found a boatbuilder's establishment, in the enclosed
yard of which they could spend the night, their two crafts safely tied
to spiles alongside a little wharf. It had been an understood thing
that, as a condition of the race, no participant must be guilty of
spending a single night under any but a canvas roof. Thus unless in
case of sickness, they must not take shelter in a house of any type.

Consequently each night must be spent either aboard their respective
motor boats, or on shore, with the canopy of heaven for a roof.

"Well, for once I'm with you, old chap," grinned George; "and since
you're such a good judge of prime steak, I appoint you a committee of
one to go forth and forage. But remember that it ought to be an inch
thick, and a yard or two long! That's the way I feel right now about
it."

"Count us in on that deal, too," remarked Jack, looking toward Jimmie,
and receiving a quick affirmative nod. "Duplicate the order. And
while you're about it, Buster, bring a couple of quarts of nice white
onions along."

"Oh! my, you're just making my mouth water!" cried the deputy, working
his jaws in an energetic fashion. "Why, I've been half starved on this
trip, up to now, and something desperate's got to be done soon, if you
want my folks to recognize me when I get back home."

"All right," said George promptly. "Just you drop that plagued cook
book overboard the first chance you get, and take a few lessons from
Josh. Then we'll have something that's fit to eat. Just make up your
mind that I'm going to stand over you when this royal steak goes into
the pan, and see that it's