“I believe we can beat them,” exclaimed George confidently.
“Don’t be so sure,” advised Grant. “You’d better wait until you see your opponents before you begin to make any predictions.”
“That’s right,” said Fred. “You’d better not talk too much about it either, Pop. You’ll need all your wind for the swimming and canoe races.”
George gave the speaker a scornful glance but said nothing. The four friends finished their breakfast and lolled about the camp waiting for their rivals to appear.
“There they come now,” exclaimed John after the lapse of about an hour.
“Where?” demanded George. “I don’t see them.”
“That tree is in your way, I guess,” said John. “You’ll see them in a minute or two.”
“There they are!” exclaimed George suddenly. “Their boat looks just like the Balsam, doesn’t it?”
“I think it is the same,” said John. “It seems to me my father told me that there were two catboats on the lake made by the same man and made exactly alike.”
“That’ll be fine,” said Fred eagerly. “No one can claim any advantage because of the boat then, and the best sailors will win.”