“Yes,” observed Dan, slowly. “He seems to have made some use of the idea.”
“And if he beats us, it will be because of our plans—your invention, Dan!”
“Hold on! don’t blow up!” warned Dan. “The race isn’t run yet.”
“And if it is——”
“He’s got to show he knows how to run his boat better than we run ours; hasn’t he?” Dan demanded. “Keep your shirt on, Billy.”
Thus admonished, the younger Speedwell kept silent. Barry Spink raced his White Albatross in the early races, and he actually won two of the short ones.
“That chap thinks he’s going to sweep the whole river,” growled Biff Hardy. “He’s sent up to Appleyard’s for a broom and is going to tie it to his masthead.”
“Oh, Dan! is he really going to beat everybody—win everything?” cried Mildred Kent.
“Wait,” advised Speedwell. “These are only play races. There’s only one real trial of speed to-day; and the Follow Me is going to be in that,” and he laughed.
But Billy didn’t feel like laughing at all. He didn’t have much share of Dan’s courage.