"Hello, boys," replied Bob, good-naturedly.
"I say," remarked John Hackett, loudly, "we have everybody on the river scared. Even the old canal-boats are hugging the shore."
A burst of merriment came from the Nimrods at this sally.
When it had subsided, Dick Travers inquired: "We heard a while ago that you nearly ran into a sailboat—what was the matter—wouldn't it get out of the way?"
Nat Wingate began to laugh.
"It was this way," he explained; "we just ran up a little bit close to tell him he had no business to sail a boat, when he burst out into a perfect roar, and called us a parcel of young rascals. We never knew what was the matter with him."
Nat was disposed to be in a hilarious mood. No sooner had he uttered the foregoing remark than he put the megaphone to his lips and began making long, continuous blasts like a whistle.
John Hackett waved his arms wildly and a rowboat ahead was seen to suddenly veer around and head for the shore.
"Did you ever see such crazy antics in your life?" remarked Ted Pollock, with a loud laugh. "We're getting a clear track to-day, that's sure."
"Full speed, Kirk," cried Nat, at this juncture.