“What do you think of that, Jack?” whispered Percival.

“That the mystery of the watch seems to be as deep as ever.”

CHAPTER IX

ANOTHER CLAIMANT FOR THE WATCH

The boys made their way down to the mouth of the kill, and out upon the river, no more being said concerning what they had heard until they were on the river gliding down stream.

“That must have been the nurse you saw last night,” said Dick.

“Yes, but I don’t know the man.  He must be a bad character.”

“Decidedly.  There is one thing I cannot make out, though.  How did that watch get in your pocket?”

“I don’t know myself unless the girl slipped it in during the short time I saw her.  It was evidently not passed from hand to hand as we thought.  The girl had it, but I cannot see that any one else did.  I am as much in the dark as ever.”

“And we still have to learn who it was who gave you a bad reputation to the detective.  He won’t tell.”

“He may not know,” rejoined Jack musingly.  “I don’t care very much.  My reputation does not depend upon what he says nor upon what some of the boys here may say.  I have enough friends among the boys of Hilltop, and the faculty, not to mind the rest.”

“True enough, Jack.  Hello! there are some of those fellows now looking for a race if not trouble.”

Herring and Merritt just now appeared in their boat off the railroad dock, and waited till Jack and Percival came up when Herring shouted: 

“Come on if you want to race.  We’ll meet you on the way back.”

“Race ’em, Jack, just to show them you can beat ’em!” whispered Dick hoarsely.

“No, Dick, I won’t,” said Jack with emphasis.  “I’ll race any one else for the fun of it, but I will not race with those fellows.”

Herring started off at a good pace, expecting that Jack would follow, and when they had a good lead, Jack having turned and gone up the river, Billy Manners and young Smith in the latter’s boat set off after them.

“We’ll give you a race, Pete!” shouted Billy.  “Whoop her up, J.W., and see how we’ll leave ’em behind!”

Young Smith was managing the boat and doing it well, and now, anxious to show off, he shot ahead, and soon began to gain on the other boat.

“You can watch the fun even if you don’t race, Jack,” chuckled Percival.  “Turn around, old man, and follow.”

“I don’t mind that,” said Jack, “and if anything should happen to either Billy or to J.W., we will be on hand to help them.”

Young Smith was putting his boat to its paces, and as Jack turned to follow had nearly reached the leading boat.

“Go ahead if you are going!” shouted Billy Manners with a laugh, greatly enjoying the excitement.  “Chuck us a line and we’ll tow you.”

“Huh! you can’t beat anything!” shouted Merritt.