“The quickest way to find out what’s doing is to go up to meet them,” announced Jerry.
And without more ado, he and a few of the other boys started off up the river.
Massed together as though they were defenders of a town repelling a hostile attack, the other boys and girls assumed a compact mass, watching the members of their own school as they sped toward the phalanx of the neighboring town.
No sooner had they noted the movement of the leaders among the members of Rivertown High, than the Springtownians checked their advance, and after a few moment’s hesitation, they sent part of their number to meet the delegation from Rivertown.
The parley between the two groups was short; then the Rivertown members turned on their skates and started back to their schoolmates at top speed.
“Springtown’s come down for a race,” one of the boys announced. “Shall we give it to them?”
For years the schools in the neighboring towns were rivals in all branches of athletics, and though the percentage of victories had been with the scholars at the head of the river, there never was a time when they could propose any game that the boys and girls of Rivertown were not eager to take up the challenge.
Accordingly when the member of the high school on the bluff asked if his mates wished to accept the challenge of the Springtownians there was a mighty shout of “Yes.”
“But who’ll represent us?” exclaimed three or four of the seniors.
“Craven isn’t in the bunch, Longback has a grouch, and Snooks is missing too,” exclaimed Misery. “Why not call the boys’ race off, and let Annabel represent Rivertown?”