“The river is a good place,” Heckler argued.  “Why aren’t you all content to stay at home and use your canoe on the river?”

“Because,” smiled young Prescott, “I suppose it’s human nature to want to get away somewhere in the summer.  Then we understand that there are other crew canoes on Lake Pleasant.  Of course, now we’ve spent a few days in the canoe, we believe we’re real canoe racers.”

“If you could call it ten dollars,” Heckler proposed after a few
minutes, “that might-----”

“The crowd hasn’t money enough,” Dick replied.  “You see, we’ve got to get the canoe back, too.  Then we’ll have to use money to feed ourselves up there.  I don’t see how we can go if we have to spend more than five dollars to get there.”

Billy Heckler started to shake his head, but Mart, getting behind Dick, made vigorous signals.

“We-ell, I suppose I can do it,” agreed Heckler at last.  “There’s nothing in the job, but I can remember that I used to be a boy myself.  We’ll call it a deal, then, shall we?”

“I’ll have to see the other fellows first,” Prescott answered.  “I’ll hustle, though.  The fellows will all have to get permission at home, too, you know.”

“Let me know any time before six to-morrow night,” proposed Billy.  “It must be understood, though, that if I get a paying freight order to haul to the lake between now and starting time, then my deal with you must be off.”

“Of course,” Dick agreed.  “And thank you, Mr. Heckler.  Now, I’ll hustle away and see the other fellows.”

Dick sped promptly away.  When he reached Main Street he found the other fellows there.  Dick gleefully detailed the semi-arrangement that he had made.

“Great!” cried Dave.

“Grand, if we can all square matters at home,” Tom Reade nodded.  “Well, fellows, you all know what we’ve got to do now.  We’ll meet again at this same place.  All do your prettiest coaxing at home.  It spoils the whole thing if anyone of us gets held up from the trip.  Did you hear about Rip’s pony, Dick?”

“Yes.”

“Served him ri—–­” began Greg Holmes, but stopped suddenly.

For Fred Ripley, turning the corner, saw Dick & Co., and carefully walked around them to avoid having to pass through the little crowd.

“Speaking of angels-----!” said Dave Darrin dryly.

“Don’t tease him, Darry,” urged Dick in a very low voice.

But Fred heard all their remarks.  His fists clenched as he walked on with heightened color.

“It’s just meat to them to see me so badly sold on the pony, and to know that my father ordered the animal shot and carted away!” muttered young Ripley fiercely.  “Of course the whole town knows of it by this time.  Prescott’s muckers and a few others will be in high glee over my misfortune, but, anyway, I’ll have the sympathy of all the decent people in Gridley!”

Fred’s ears must have burned that night, however, for the majority of the Gridley boys were laughing over his poor trade in horse flesh.