"Can't you steer straight by accident, Joshua?" asked Tom, in a tone of vexation.
"I know more about steering than you do, Tom Barry," growled Joshua, getting red in the face, for he could not help seeing that he was not appearing to advantage.
"Show it, then, if you do," was the reply. "If we had your cousin to steer us, we could soon get ahead."
This was very mortifying to Joshua. He did not care to be outdone by any one, but to be outdone by Walter was particularly disagreeable.
"It isn't the steering, it's the rowing," he said. "You don't row even."
"Won't you try it, then," said Joe, "and show us what you can do?"
"No, I'd rather steer."
Joshua considered that the steersman's place was the place of honor, and he was not disposed to yield it.
Meanwhile Walter, from his place in the first boat, watched the efforts of his rivals. He was determined to keep the lead which he had secured, and had little fear of losing it.