Though Frank tried to assume a cheerful air it was evident that he was much hurt. He and his brother and chums had worked hard to evolve a crew out of almost nothing. They had succeeded and now their efforts were scorned.
Incidentally Frank learned that the refusal of the athletic committee of Waterside to consent to a match was not upheld by all the pupils of the influential school. The crew of the freshmen shell in particular were in favor of having the 'varsity four take on the one from Riverview.
"I don't see what harm it would do," said Tom Crawford, the lad whom Frank had saved. "I think some of the boys from Riverview are fine fellows, especially the Racer brothers. Look what they did for me."
"That's right," agreed Walter Sands, a member of the freshmen crew. "If they'd row with our four shell they could have a race."
"I don't suppose anything but the 'varsity would satisfy them," said Tom. "Besides, though we don't agree with the committee, we can't go against them, and have a rupture in our own school. It wouldn't look well, no matter how we felt."
So, as far as Waterside was concerned the matter was dropped and the 'varsity crew went on with its preparations for the final race with Milton Academy—the race that was to decide the championship. But a bitter feeling rankled in the hearts of the lads from Riverview.
Frank and his chums still went out to practice in the days that followed, but it was with little ambition that they sculled up and down the river. Occasionally they had a glimpse of the Waterside 'varsity four or eight, but they kept at a distance.
"No use getting into a scrap," explained the young captain.
Affairs at Riverview were going on much the same for our heroes, their chums and the other pupils. Dr. Doolittle was more absent-minded than ever and seemed laboring under a great strain. The boys felt sorry for him. Professor Callum was still unpleasant, and lost no opportunity of inflicting his wrath on Frank or Andy.
It happened that a noted lecturer, who had traveled in many lands, had returned with a series of moving pictures. He was billed to give an entertainment in Marsden, a large town about midway between Riverview and Waterside.