So a younger boy was put in Joshua's place, much to his mortification, and he was degraded, as he considered it, to the rank of a passenger.
"I'm going ashore," he said sourly. "Let me out up here."
"All right!" said Tom Barry. "I guess we can get along without you. Here, you fellows on the "Arrow," just wait a minute, till we've landed Joshua, and we'll race you back."
True to his determination, Joshua jumped off at the head of the inlet, and the "Pioneer" was turned by her new pilot.
The "Arrow" and the "Pioneer" took their places side by side, and the race commenced. The boats were similar, and thus neither had the advantage on this score. But the rowers on the "Pioneer" were on the whole stronger and more skilful than those on the "Arrow." On the other hand, Walter steered perfectly, while Joshua's successor, though he made no bad blunder, was a novice.
The result was that the race was a clear one. Finally the "Arrow" came in a length ahead, and Walter felt with quiet satisfaction that the victory had been gained by his efforts.
He thought once more of the song he had heard, and hoped that he would be as successful through life in paddling his own canoe.
Joshua went home sulky, and was not seen again on the picnic grounds.