“Oh, yes; I am sure Val will let me have it.  He is a very good-natured boy.”

“I will be glad to pay for its use.”

“I don’t think he’d accept anything.”

“Then I will make him a present.”

Before he returned to the hotel, Andy saw Valentine and obtained the loan of his boat.

At three o’clock Mr. Gale and Andy started from the boathouse, and again
Andy became a teacher.

The young man was a good rower, but Andy was able to give him some points.  Sometimes they sat idle and let the boat float at will.

About four o’clock Conrad came down for his usual afternoon row.  He was surprised and not altogether pleased at meeting Andy and his companion.

“Why are you not hoeing potatoes?” he asked.

“I’ve got a vacation,” answered Andy, with a smile.

“Are you out for a row?” inquired Mr. Gale, pleasantly.

“Yes,” answered Conrad, sullenly.

Though Walter Gale had nothing to do with his defeat, he could not quite forgive him for awarding the prize to Andy.  He felt mortified whenever he thought of it, and wished Mr. Gale to understand that he was not inferior to Andy.

“I was unlucky the other day,” he said.  “I strained my muscles or I would not have been beaten.”

“That was lucky for me, then,” said Andy, good-naturedly.

“I didn’t care so much for the money, but if I had been in my usual form I should have gained the prize.”

“Then you wouldn’t object to a second race?” said Walter Gale, quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“If you would like to try it again over the same course, I will put up five dollars.”

Conrad hesitated.

He would not object to winning five dollars.  Indeed, he wished very much to have that sum, but he was not quite so sure that he could beat Andy as he claimed to be.

Should Andy win again, he would be obliged to concede his superiority.

“No,” he said, after a pause; “I don’t think I care to race again.”

“Then I will make you another offer, but not so good a one.  I row a little myself—­indeed, Andy is training me, so that I hope soon to row better.  If you will row against me, I will pay you two dollars.  That will be the prize.”

“But suppose you win?”

“Then I keep the two dollars myself.  It will cost you nothing.”

“I’ll row,” said Conrad, eagerly.

“Very well.  We will appoint Andy umpire, or referee, whatever you call it.”

Conrad was not altogether pleased with this selection, but he waived his objections and the race was rowed, Andy giving the signal.

Conrad won by a dozen lengths, Mr. Gale making a very good second.

“You have won, Conrad,” said the young man, good-naturedly.  “Here is the prize.”

Conrad pocketed the bill with a good deal of satisfaction.

“I will row you any day,” he said.