“No, Bock says he can’t put it off, because they have got to row elsewhere.”
“Do they want to put up any prize?”
“Yes, a silver cup worth fourteen dollars, each fellow to chip in a dollar for the trophy.”
“Well, that is fair enough,” said Hogan. “But if they have been after practicin’ on their rowin’ machine——”
“Never mind, let us row them anyway!” cried Pepper. “If we refuse they’ll think we are afraid.”
“I don’t think we’ll lose,” said Jack. “That is, not if we practice hard between now and racing time.”
“We can do that,” said Stuffer, with determination.
“We’ll put you on a diet, Stuffer,” said Pepper, with a wink at the others.
“All right—anything to win,” said the boy who loved good eating. “I am glad it is only four days off instead of three weeks!”
That night a letter was sent accepting the challenge from the Pornell Academy students, and on the following day the Putnam Hall cadets started to practice in earnest. Dale was made the coxswain, and he coached those under him to the best of his ability.