"There, it's as good as ever," he announced, when the piece of canvas had been put over the cut and covered with a water-proof mixture. "It won't leak and it's stronger than before. Oh, but I wish you had a new shell."
"Don't mention it," spoke Frank. "If we win this race, though, we may have one next year."
"Well, we're going to win all right!" exclaimed Andy, and the others nodded their heads emphatically.
The race was to be rowed over a course that began and ended at Waterside. This school had insisted on that as one of the conditions, and as they stood in the position of champions they could impose their own rules.
"Now remember," said the coach, giving them his final instructions, "the course is three miles, a mile and a half to the stake boat and the same distance back to the finish line at the Waterside boathouse. Don't be in too much of a hurry. Take it easy at first and watch the other fellows. When they begin to hit up the pace don't bite. They'll likely do that to draw you on. Take it easy until after you round the stake boat, but don't let them draw ahead of you. The real fight will be at the finish."
The race was to start at two o'clock and at noon the crew ate a light lunch. Then they took a rest and had half an hour of light exercise. The shell was to be towed down to the starting point by a motor launch that had been generously donated by a gentleman who once was quite an oarsman.
"I'm glad to see that Riverview is waking up," he said heartily, when he called for the crew, as Frank and his chums and Coach Wallace were to go down the river in the motor craft, their shell towing on behind.
There was a large crowd assembled around the Waterside boathouse when our heroes and their shell arrived. Though the race was still regarded as something of a joke by the rivals of our heroes, still word had gone around that the match might furnish good sport.
"Three cheers for Riverview!" called someone in the crowd. The answer was given heartily and, looking up, Frank saw Tom Crawford, the lad whom he had rescued.
"Three cheers for Waterside!" called one of the crowd of Riverview students who had come down to see the race.