"Well, I guess we'd better go back now and get some eats," proposed Bob.
"Second the motion," shouted Jack, "I'm hungry enough to eat almost anything."
On the west shore of the lake, about half way down, was a grove where were a hotel, a summer theater and other places of amusement. Past the lake, about a quarter of a mile distant, ran a trolley line, about ten miles long, connecting the towns of Skowhegan and Madis. A spur track ran down to the lake almost to its edge.
The starting point for the race was directly in front of the hotel, while the course was marked out by buoys and ran down the lake on the east side, up on the west side nearly to the head, then down to the starting point, making a course of about twelve miles.
By 2.30 o'clock a large crowd of people had collected in the grove, for the great race was scheduled to start at 3.00, and promptly on time ten motor boats lined up ready for the starter's shot.
Besides the Sprite and the Winner, there were the Eagle, a fast little sixteen-footer, carrying a ten horsepower, two-cylinder engine; the Chum, twenty feet long with fifteen horsepower, and the Rocket, eighteen feet long, equipped with an engine of fourteen horsepower. The other five boats I will not attempt to describe, as they did not figure prominently in the race.
The Sprite was stationed farthest from the shore, then came the Winner, Eagle, Chum and Rocket in the order named.
Many ugly glances did the owners of the Winner cast at the Sprite and its crew as they took their places, but no words passed between them till just before the start, when in a sneering tone, Fred Jenkins said, "Bet you a hundred dollars we beat you."
"We don't bet," replied Bob.
"Huh, afraid," sneered Will Jenkins. "Tell you what I'll do, I'll make it a hundred dollars or any amount you like that we come in twenty lengths ahead."