“Better go home and learn to row!”
The rivals felt sheepish enough, and without loss of time they rowed ashore and the members of the crew disappeared, followed by those who had come from Pornell Academy to see them win.
“You have certainly done very well,” said Captain Putnam, to the winning crew. “Your stroke was almost perfect.”
“And it was well kept up,” came from George Strong. “I never saw a prettier race in my life.”
Josiah Crabtree had nothing to say, for he took no interest in sports. But nobody paid attention to the crabbed teacher.
The races were followed by a general holiday time, in which nearly all of the cadets participated. Only Dan Baxter and his crowd went away. They departed for a deserted boathouse, and there sat talking and smoking cigarettes.
“I suppose those fellows will have swelled heads after this,” muttered the bully.
“Sure,” grumbled Paxton. “But I don’t care. If they try to crow over me——”
“What will you do?” asked Mumps.
“Never mind, I’ll do something.”