“Not this sort, Dick, but a boat is a boat whether you run her by gas or pull the oars or have sails.  You must look out for yourself.”

“And that’s just what you do.  I suppose that was their boat that they were looking at?  Must have cost something.”

“Yes, it looked like it,” carelessly.  “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get fun out of a boat, however.  Some fellows’ boats cost them about fifty cents a mile, but this won’t.”

“H’m!  I must look out that mine does not,” laughed Dick.  “I am a great fellow for spending money.  Guess if I had to earn it I’d be more careful of it.  That’s what the governor is always saying, but I get it just the same.”

When the boys were on their way back to the wharf they met Herring and Merritt in the motorboat they had seen, Herring shouting out with his usual sneer and a contemptuous look: 

“We’ll race you for ten dollars, Percival, if you think you can trust your helper.  Two to one we’ll beat you hands down.”

“This happens not to be my boat,” said Percival, “and I would not race with you if it was.”

“Ah, go on!  You can’t make us believe that Sheldon can earn money to buy a motor-boat by picking fruit!”

Jack did not say anything, and the others turned and came after them so as to force them into a race.

“You could beat them, couldn’t you, Jack?” asked Percival in a low tone, so as not to be heard by the others.

“Yes, but I am not going to race with them.”

“They will try to beat you.  Don’t let them do it.”

“I shall pay no attention to them, Dick,” quietly.

“Yes, but Jack, I should hate to have them pass us.  They’d never grow tired of telling it all over the Academy.”

“Let them,” said Jack, keeping on at the same steady speed, and making for the wharf.

Herring, who evidently owned the boat, put her to her speed so as to pass Jack, and Merritt shouted derisively as they drew nearer: 

“We’ll give you a tow, you fellows!”

The ferry boat running from Riverton to the town on the other side of the river had just put out, and was coming on at a good gait, blowing her whistle to warn the smaller boats to keep out of the way.

Jack went on across her bow with plenty of room to spare, but Herring slowed up and caught her wash, his boat dancing and rocking in the liveliest fashion, taking in water and causing both him and Merritt to shout and go into a panic.

They turned and took in more water, and Merritt, jumping up excitedly, waving his arms and scolding both Herring and the steamer captain, suddenly lost his balance and fell into the river.

“He can swim, can’t he?” asked Jack, seeing the accident.

“Yes, and there are other boats on the river.  Let them pick the fellow up.  Serves him right, anyhow.  He ought to keep still in a boat.”

Merritt speedily came up, swam to the boat and tried to clamber aboard, Herring shouting at him and warning him off.