“Keswick? Of course. You remember him last year, don’t you? He was first substitute then. They put him in in the last four innings. We managed to touch him up a bit, but he’s a lot better this year. He had seven strike-outs in their game with Pell.”
“That so? He’s a left-hander, isn’t he?”
“Yes, and has quite a few good things, they say. Well, here’s hoping we each get a couple of two-baggers, Alf.”
“Pshaw! Two-baggers? Make it a couple of homers while you’re wishing, Harry. It doesn’t cost any more. Well, me for the shower!”
Saturday promised to be an eventful day, for not only was the baseball game with Nordham Academy coming in the afternoon, but Mr. Bendix, who was a firm believer in the physical benefits to be derived from swimming and boating, had for a fortnight past been working up enthusiasm in what he called an Aquatic Carnival to be held on the river in the forenoon. What “Muscles” set his hand to he always accomplished, and in the present instance he had managed to get the school quite excited about his scheme. There were to be canoe races, swimming races, tub races, barrel races, diving contests, and an obstacle race for canoes which was a novelty of his own devising, and which promised to be both exciting and diverting. For a week past entrants had been practicing for the carnival, and every canoe in the boathouse had been requisitioned. Tom and Alf had entered in three events, and Dan and Paul Rand had also formed a partnership for the purpose of walking away with a few of the prizes. Tom and Alf owned their own canoe, but Dan and Paul had to hire one of the school fleet, and their craft proved to be much in need of repairs. Rand, who had more time on his hands than Dan, had been working over the canoe for two or three days, and Friday night he announced that “with good luck the silly thing would hold together for maybe a half-mile!”
“That’s all we want,” said Dan. “We’ve only entered for the half-mile race.”
“Why don’t you go in for the obstacle?” asked Tom. “That will be very, very amusing.”
“Why don’t we?” responded Rand. “Because, you silly idiot, that old tub of ours has all it can do to stay together in the water. If we try to lug it over obstacles it would just naturally fall to pieces.”
“Besides,” said Dan, “neither Paul nor I can afford to put up another quarter apiece. I have already squandered seventy-five cents in entrance fees.”
“What are the prizes going to be?” Alf asked.