"We sure are up against it!" murmured the younger lad at length. "A punk school to start with, and in bad with the head professor from the very beginning! Wow! Wow! What are we going to do, Frank?"
CHAPTER II
THE WRECK OF THE BED
Andy's question was not answered immediately. He and Frank were busily engaged in thinking. The scene through which they had just passed with Professor Callum and Miss Gertrude Morton, and the surprising announcement of the man who had told them about Riverview Hall gave them plenty about which to reflect.
And I shall have no better opportunity than this of telling you a little more about the two lads, for they are seldom quiet long enough at a time to enable one to get an idea of their characters. They are always on the go, Andy especially, for he never misses a chance to have some fun or play a joke.
Frank and Andy Racer were fine fellows. They were the sons of Mr. Richard Racer, and his wife, Olivia. Mr. Racer was a wholesale silk merchant, in business in New York, where his winter home was located. His summer residence was at Harbor View, a coast resort about thirty miles from the metropolis.
There, as told in the first volume of this series, entitled "Frank and Andy Afloat" the boys had many adventures. They were out rowing one day when a whale attacked them. Andy's boat was hit, but his brother saved him. Later they went for a sail, and discovered a wrecked motor boat, containing an injured lad.
They saved him, but the lad had passed through such danger that he lost his memory and did not know who he was. The boys gave themselves up to solving the mystery of his identity and to learn the secret of the motor craft.
How they succeeded, how they were in danger from the man who sought to injure Paul, which they learned was the name of the mysterious lad, how they foiled the schemes of the villain and how, after being cast away on a desolate island they were finally rescued—all this you will find set down in the first book.
The Racer boys were so active, and ran into so much danger, though with the best intentions in the world, that their parents did not know what to do with them. After a consultation Mr. and Mrs. Racer decided to send the lads to a boarding school, hoping this would tame their lively spirits.