said I'd stick by you
to the bitter end; and nobody ever knew Nick Longfellow to back water,
did they?"

"I guess you're right about that, Pudding. Your word is your strongest
hold--next to eating. I depend on you to be my boat-mate on that long
cruise, if so be we make a go of the race."

"Huh! even if Herb Dickson and Josh Purdue can't get a chance to enter
this old tub of theirs which they call the _Comfort_, what's to hinder
us from starting when Jack heads his dandy _Tramp_ south; tell me that?"

"Nothing, Nick; only three boats would be better than two, and add to
the fun of the race for the silver cup;" and the speaker, George
Rollins, bent affectionately over the smart, bright engine of a new and
exceedingly narrow motor boat undoubtedly built for speed alone, and
carrying the significant name of _Wireless_.

"I'm told by Jack that the cup his father is having made is a jim dandy
one, and has the word 'Dixie' engraved on it," the fat boy remarked.
"He says it will be here by tomorrow. Perhaps when the other fellows
show it to their folks, they'll get the word they're waiting for."

"Well, for one I'm not worrying about their not going along," remarked
George, as he rubbed away with a bit of waste. "Why, you know there'll
not be any school till away after Christmas this year, because the
Dunker boys came down with smallpox, and the health board ordered the
building closed. That gives us a hunky-dory vacation. It was what
made me think of going along with Jack in the first place."

"Yes," Nick went on; "he just has to be in New Orleans on the first of
December, because that will of his daffy old uncle is to be read then;
and the lawyer sent word that Jack Stormways was a big thing in the
money that's left. And everybody that's mentioned has to be present
when the will's read, or lose their share. That's a punk sort of a
job, ain't it now, George?"

"Let up about that queer old uncle," remarked the other, in a low tone.
"For there's Jack coming right now, with Jimmy Brannagan dangling at
his heels. I guess Jimmy would go through fire and water for Jack, if
he could only do him a good turn."

"Well," observed the fat lad, shaking his head in a positive way he
had, "why shouldn't he when Jack has done so much for him? Ever since
Jimmy's mother died he's lived at Jack's house, and had a chance to
attend school; though for that matter I don't think he'll ever set the
world on fire with his knowledge