Soon they had the boats out.
Marion half expected St. John to invite her to enter his craft, but in this she was mistaken. The spendthrift was afraid that the extra weight would prove fatal to his success. Yet it angered him to have his cousin go off with Jack.
"Marion, you ought to remain on shore," he said. "The race ought to be rowed with both boats empty."
"Well, if you think best——" she began.
"No, Marion, you are to go with me," put in Jack hastily. "I said I would row with you in my boat, and I will."
"But I am quite a weight——"
"Never mind; jump in."
As there seemed no help for it, Marion entered Jack's boat and our hero pulled a rod away from the shore.
"Now where is the race to be?" asked St. John, as he followed Jack's example and pulled off his coat.
"Let Marion decide that," said the youth promptly.