“No, I guess not!” and Percival laughed again.  “You are a quiet sort of fellow, Jack, but when it comes to a thing of that sort you can be as lively as any one, myself for instance.  I remember the time you knocked this same Herring bully down for insulting you.  It was a surprise to him, and to all of us, for we all thought you were a quiet chap who would stand most anything for the sake of peace.”

“Well, I don’t seek quarrels,” Jack replied, “but being in one-----”

“As Shakespeare says you stick it out,” and Percival laughed again.  “I think it ought to be known that Herring and Merritt tried to give you a black eye, Jack.  It is no more than right.”

“But they did not give it to me, Dick, and there is no use in stirring up trouble.  Let it go.  Both Herring and Merritt must know by this time that the Hilltop boys in general will not believe their lies.”

“Well, if they do not they must be very stupid,” grunted Percival, and by this time the boys were in the camp.

“Pete Herring and Erne Merritt saw a ghost!” laughed Billy Manners, as the boys came in.  “They were frightened to bits.  I believe myself that it was nothing but a white calf.”

“You were frightened by a calf yourself once, Billy,” chuckled Dick, “and declared that it was a roaring bull.”

“Did I?” asked Billy innocently.  “When was that?”

“You know well enough,” said Percival, “so you need not be so innocent.  However, I know what frightened Herring and Merritt.”

“What was it?” asked Billy, and a number of others.

“Guilty consciences!” said Dick shortly, and with some emphasis, and then he and Jack went on to their tent.

“They will want to know more, Dick,” said Jack.  “You should not have given them a clue like that.”

“I won’t say any more, then.  They are within hearing and they will understand, and you will see that they are careful how they talk about you to any one after this.”

“Let them talk,” laughed Jack.

For two or three days things went on as usual in the camp on the river, the boys doing a certain amount of study, drilling a little, exercising in the outdoor gymnasium, skimming along the river in their boats and otherwise occupying themselves, the time, on the whole, passing very pleasantly.

Then one day a messenger came from a boys’ camp some miles down the river asking them to take part in a regatta, which was going to take place at the other camp in a day or so.

“We know you Hilltop boys,” said the messenger, “and we would like to have some representatives of your Academy at our sports.  Will you send a few of them?”

The messenger had met Percival and Jack, and Percival now answered: 

“We shall be very glad to send any number.  Do you intend to have any other besides aquatic sports?  Any running, jumping, or anything of that sort?  Our boys are good at all of them.”