The boys went rowing for an hour in the morning, and Dale coached them as before. George Strong came down to watch them and gave them a few “points,” for he had rowed in the crew of his college years before.
“You have not had quite enough practice,” said the teacher. “But you do fairly well.”
When the time came for the races quite a crowd assembled along the lake shore, and many were out in rowboats and sailboats and also in gasoline launches.
“I wonder if Mr. Ford is out?” said Jack. He referred to a wealthy gentleman of that district who owned a beautiful yacht. The season before Jack, Pepper, and Andy had saved Mr. Ford’s two daughters, Laura and Flossie, from being drowned, and the gentleman had been their warm friend ever since.
“I think not,” said Stuffer. “Their mansion at the Point has been closed up for the winter, and they are not yet back.”
It was not long before Roy Bock and his crew appeared, in a brand-new rowboat which was certainly a beauty. It was painted black, with a gold stripe, and cut the water like a thing of life.
“That’s a better boat than ours,” whispered. Stuffer. “No wonder they want to race us. I guess they want to show off their new boat as much as anything.”
The Pornell students had brought with them a large number of “rooters,” and these cheered to the echo when their friends appeared.
“Hurrah for Pornell Academy!”
“Go in and win! You can do it easily!”