“Mean! Smarty!” pouted Madge.
“Oh, it’s all right, I deserved it, I guess,” admitted Tom, for he did not want to run any further chances. “But Shambler is queer, though he’s one of the best athletes we’ve got. He beat me in the mile run try-out. He’s our star sprinter.”
“You’ll need plenty. Our boys are going to win at the meet,” predicted Madge.
“Never!” cried Tom, with mock heroics in his voice. “Like the old guard, Randall may die but never surrender.”
With a little bump the boat hit the sandy bank, and Tom helped Madge out. Frank and Mabel came to meet them, and, after a little chat, the two girls said good-bye, for they had to return to Fairview.
“Well, it’s a wonder you wouldn’t thank me,” said Frank to his chum, when they were rowing back toward Randall.
“Thank you—what for?”
“For giving you the chance you needed. I took Mabel and myself off so you could straighten things out. Did you?”
“I did!” exclaimed Tom with a laugh. “It’s all right now. We’re friends again. Much obliged!”
“Good. I thought though, from the serious looks you both wore as the boat came to shore, that it was all off.”