"Three cheers for Riverview!" called someone, and the resulting cries were like music to the ears of Frank and his comrades.
"Three cheers for Waterside!" proposed Frank, and they were given with hearty good will.
"Oh, I just knew you could do it!" exclaimed a gentle voice at Frank's side, and turning, he saw Gertrude Morton. A ruddy glow was spread over her face as she held out her hand to Frank, and if he held her fingers longer than was really necessary no one was inclined to blame him. "It was perfectly splendid!" she went on. "You're the champions of the river now!"
"How do you make that out?" inquired the young captain, forgetting for the moment in the excitement of victory.
"Why if Waterside won from Milton, and you beat Waterside then you have beaten them both. Q. E. D. you know; like a problem in geometry."
"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Frank with a laugh.
He was shouldering his way through a press of people, many of whom wanted to shake hands with him, but he managed to keep his place beside Gertrude. Andy had in some manner fallen in step with Grace Knox, and they were talking gaily. On all sides could be heard expressions of wonder that a comparatively unknown and new crew could have administered such a beating to Waterside.
"We haven't any excuses," said Captain Roth manfully. "We were beaten fairly and squarely."
Frank and Andy would have preferred remaining at Waterside for a while, in the company of their girl friends, but as they were rather lightly clad and began to feel the cool air since they were not in motion, and as Ward and Jack wanted to get back, our heroes said good-bye, promising to call soon.
They went back in the motor boat, their shell towing behind, and on the trip up the river they were frequently saluted by various craft, the captains of which had in some manner learned of the victory.