"Oh, rats!" said Punch Swallows. "What does that amount to, anyway, in a case like this? We are talking of this tub load of freshmen as if they were the 'Varsity crew. What's the use? It won't make any difference what kind of a stroke they use. They are mighty liable to use several different kinds, and they won't be in it at all, my children. Let's go down to Morey's and oil up."
"Go ahead," said Hartwick, grimly. "But you will think over what I have said after the race comes off."
The boys put on their caps and trooped out, laughing and talking as they went.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MERRIWELL AND RATTLETON.
"Harry!"
"Hello!"
"You've got to stop smoking those confounded cigarettes."
Harry Rattleton let his feet fall with a thump from the table on which they had been comfortably resting and turned about to stare at Merriwell, his roommate. His face expressed astonishment, not unmingled with anger.