"Say, Century, do you want to race me?" asked Ritter, as he brought the Rosebud alongside the dock.
"I don't know," answered Fred, slowly. "What do you say?" he whispered to the others.
"Do you think you can beat him?" asked Pepper.
"I can try."
"Then go ahead," said Jack. "You don't care, do you, Andy?"
"Not at all—if Fred can beat him," was the reply from the acrobatic youth.
"All right, I'll race!" called out Fred. "But you will have to carry four, the same as myself."
"Humph!" growled Ritter. "I don't know about that."
"I'll go, Reff!" cried Mumps.
"So will I!" added a cadet named White.