over
the water, from the other boats, and from the shore, where the rest of
the campers were gathered in an excited knot.

"_Jollycumpop!_"

"_Come-at-a-Body!_"

"Good work, _Jolly_! Keep it up!"

"The _Whale_ is gaining. Hit her up, Spermaceti!"

"_Jollycumpop_ has it! _Jollycumpop!_"

"The _Jolly is_ first," cried Margaret; "but the _Come-at-a-Body_ is
very, very close. Which do you think will win, Mr. Belleville?"

"Which do you wish to win?" asked Mr. Belleville.

"Oh, how can I tell? One is Gertrude's, the other Gerald's."

"There can be little doubt in that case, I imagine," said Claud
Belleville, with a peculiar smile. "As a matter of simple
gallantry--dear me, how unfortunate!"

As he spoke, his oar slipped from his hand, and fell with a splash into
the water. The _Come-at-a-Body_ was nearest to the Rangeley boat. The
oar did not absolutely touch the tiny vessel, but the shock of the
disturbed water was enough to check her gallant progress. She
paused,--wavered,--finally recovered herself, and went bravely on. But
in that pause the _Jollycumpop_ crossed the line triumphantly, amid loud
acclamations.

"The little Gertrude wins!" exclaimed Mr. Belleville, recovering his oar
with graceful composure. "We can hardly regret an accident which
contributes even slightly to give the victory where it so manifestly
belongs, can we, Miss Montfort?"

But Margaret Montfort turned upon him, her fair face flushed with anger,
her gentle eyes full of fire.

"Mr. Belleville, you dropped that oar on purpose!" she said, quietly.

"How can you suspect me of such a thing?" replied Mr. Belleville,
laughing. "But, _quand meme_! would it have been wholly unjustifiable if
I had done so?"

"Wholly, to my mind!" said Margaret. "In fact, I cannot imagine such a
thing being done by any one who--" she checked herself.

"By any one who is related to these dear people?" said Mr. Belleville,
lightly. "Ah! Miss Montfort, a bond of blood does not always mean a bond
of sympathy. These dear people bore me, and I bore them. Believe me, it
is reciprocal. But do you yourself never tire of this everlasting
childishness, these _jeux d'enfance_, on the part of persons who, after
all, are mostly beyond the nursery?"

"I do not!" said Margaret, concisely. "If you will take in the anchor,
Mr. Belleville, I think I should like to go ashore, if you please."

"I have offended you!" cried Claud Belleville. "You, to whom from the
first inst