rselves only," Dick smiled. "We'll keep
the club membership open to any set of six fellows who will own
and run a war canoe. We'll keep the membership as open as possible
to the high school fellows."

"Humph! And then Fred Ripley, Bert Dodge and a few others with
plenty of cash would get a canoe and insist on coming in and spoiling
the club."

"They might," Dick assented, "but I don't believe they would.
Fred Ripley, Bert Dodge and a few others of their kind in the
Gridley High School wouldn't spend five cents to join anything
we're in."

Toot! toot! sounded a whistle shrilly behind them.

Dick turned carefully to glance at the bend above them.

"Steam launch, with an excursion party," he informed the others.
"I think I see Laura Bentley and Belle Meade in the bow waving
handkerchiefs at us."

Dan Dalzell turned abruptly around. Harry Hazelton did the same.

"Look out!" cried Greg, as he shifted swiftly to steady the craft.

Just then Tom Reade turned, too. His added weight sent the canoe
careening. There was a quick scramble to right the craft.

Flop! The canoe's port rail was under water. She filled and
sank, carrying a lot of excited high school boys down at the same
time.

CHAPTER VII

"DANNY GRIN" IS SILENT

Dick Prescott sank into the water not more than two or three feet.
Then his head showed above the surface of the river. He struck
out vigorously, looking about him.

"The canoe is done for!" he gasped.

Too-oot! too-oot! too-oot! The steam launch was now speeding
to the scene, its whistle screeching at a rate calculated to inform
everyone in Gridley of another river disaster.

Up came Greg, then Dave. Tom Reade's head appeared down stream.
Harry Hazelton bobbed up not six feet from Dick. Hazelton blew
out a mouthful of water, then called:

"Everyone up, Dick?"

"All but Dan."

"What-----"

"I guess he's all right. Danny Grin is a good swimmer, you know."

Half a dozen river craft were now heading their way, but the launch
was the only power boat in sight.

Five members of Dick & Co. now got close together.

"We've got to go down after Danny Grin," Reade declared. "You
fellows watch, and I'll get as close to bottom as I can."

Tom sank. To the anxious boys he seemed to be gone for an age.
He came up alone.

"Did you see Dan?" Dick faltered. "Not a glimpse of him," returned
Tom despairingly.

"See the canoe?"

"No."

"Then you couldn't have gone do