"Let us make it to the rocks and back," said Jack. "And you can have any of the boats you please. I dare you to do it," and he looked at St. John defiantly.
"St. John may be tired. Perhaps he has been working," suggested Mrs. Ruthven, although she knew better.
"No, he has been walking and resting along shore," said Marion. "We saw him from our boat."
"I'll give you another advantage, besides choice of boats," said Jack, bound that St. John should not back out. "I'll carry Marion as extra weight."
"Oh, that wouldn't be fair!" cried the girl. "Let St. John carry mamma."
"No, I must decline to go," said Mrs. Ruthven.
"I'll take Marion, and St. John need carry only himself," said our hero. "I am certain I can beat him. I dare him to take me up."
There seemed no help for it, so St. John gave in, and soon the three were on the way to Old Ben's boathouse.
THE BOAT RACE ON THE BAY.