A number of craft were on the river, including one containing Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur.  Koswell scowled as he saw Tom and Dick rowing near by.

“We’ll give ’em a shaking up,” he said to his crony, and turned their rowboat so that it bumped fairly and squarely into the craft manned by Tom and Dick.  The shock was so great that Dick, who had gotten up to fix his seat, was nearly hurled overboard.

“See here, what do you mean by running into us?” demanded the oldest Rover on recovering his balance.

“Sorry, but it couldn’t be helped,” answered Koswell.  “Why didn’t you get out of the way?”

“We didn’t have to,” retorted Sam, “and if you try that trick again somebody will get his head punched.”

“Talk is cheap,” sneered Larkspur.

“Say, I heard you fellows have been boasting of how you can row,” went on Koswell after a pause.

“We haven’t been boasting, but we can row,” answered Tom.

“Want to race?”

“When?”

“Now.”

“I don’t know as I care to race with a chap like you, Koswell,” answered Dick pointedly.

“You’re afraid.”

“No, I am not afraid.”

“Let us race them,” whispered Tom to his brother.  “I am not afraid of them.”

“Oh, neither am I, Tom.”

“Well race you to Rock Island and back,” said Koswell, after consulting Larkspur.

“All right,” answered Dick.

“Want to bet on the result?” questioned Koswell.  He was usually willing to bet on anything.

“We don’t bet,” answered Tom.

“And we wouldn’t with you, if we did,” added Dick.  “I don’t think you are in our class, Koswell, and you never will be.  At the same time, since you are so anxious to row against us, we’ll race you—­and beat you.”

This answer enraged Jerry Koswell, and he dared the Rovers to wager ten dollars on the race.  They would not, but others took up the bet, and then several other wagers were made.

Rock Island was a small, stony spot half a mile up the stream, so the race would be about a mile in length.  Frank Holden was chosen as referee and umpire, and all of the contestants prepared for the struggle.

“Your boat is lighter than that of the Rovers,” said Holden to Koswell and Larkspur.  “You really ought to give them some lead.”

“No.  This is an even start,” growled Koswell.

“Very well, but it doesn’t seem quite fair.”

It was soon noised around that the race was to take place, and the river bank speedily became lined with students anxious to see how the contest would terminate.

“Now, Tom, take it easy at the start, but finish up strong,” cautioned Dick.

“I feel like pulling a strong stroke from the first,” answered Tom.  “Let us do it, and leave them completely in the shade.”

“No.  We must first try to find out what they can do.”

“Say, you’ve got to beat ’em,” came from Sam, as the launch came close.  “If they win you’ll never hear the end of it.”