"Why, you see," Dick went on, "although we are sure enough Gridley
High School boys, we haven't gone through the simple little formality
of getting our canoe club recognized by the High School Athletic
Council."
"You can race just the same, can't you?" asked Susie Sharp, looking much concerned.
"We may race all we wish, and no one will stop us——-"
"Then it's all right," said Susie, with an air of conviction.
"But we simply cannot race in the name of Gridley High School."
"Oh, but that's too bad!" cried Clara.
"You can write to someone in the Council and secure the necessary authorization, can't you?" asked Laura.
"Yes, we can write; but it's another matter to get action by the Council in time," Dick responded. "You see, it's the vacation season. There are seven members of the Athletic Council and I believe that all seven of the members are at present away from Gridley. Likely as not they are in seven different states, and the secretary may not even know where most of them are."
Eight Gridley High School girls suddenly looked anxious. They had been rejoicing in the prospect of "rooting" for a victorious Gridley crew here at Lake Pleasant. Now the whole thing seemed to have fallen flat.
"The thing to do—-though it doesn't look very promising—-is to——-" began Tom Reade, then came to dead stop.