“I think very likely; we will let them vote upon it.  Here comes Frank.  I wonder what they are going to do with theirs.”

“How do you do, Tony?  I have come over to talk with you about the race.  Next Wednesday is the day, you know.”

“I had forgotten all about the race in the excitement of the bridge affair.”

“I don’t wonder.”

“What are you going to do with your money, Frank?” asked Tony.  “Your club met last evening, I believe.”

“We voted to buy some philosophical apparatus with it.”

“Good!  Did Tim Bunker vote for that?”

“He didn’t vote at all.  He wanted the money divided; but the vote was unanimous for spending it as I said.  By the way, Mr. Walker was liberal—­wasn’t he?”

“Princely.  He ought to have given you more and us less, though.”

“No; he did perfectly right.  We did not deserve even what we got.”

“Just like you!  But come into the club room—­Butterfly Hall—­and we will fix things for the race.”

Frank and Tony discussed the details of the race, and at the end of an hour everything was arranged to the satisfaction of both.  There was no difference of opinion except as to the length of the race.  Tony, thought that twice up and down the lake, making an eight-mile race, would be best; but Frank felt sure that it was too long, and that it would tire the boys too much.  So it was finally agreed that they should pull only once up and down, making about four miles.

As the Butterfly club were to meet that evening, Frank departed earlier than he otherwise would have done, so as not to be considered an intruder.

Tony’s club were in high spirits that evening.  The praise bestowed upon them had created a strong feeling of self-reliance in their minds.  Their discipline had passed through a severe ordeal, and it was pronounced perfectly satisfactory by all concerned.  They had done hard work, and done it well.  Their success was the result of their excellent discipline.  It would have been in vain that they had as good a commander as Tony, if promptness and obedience had been wanting.

“Now, boys,” said Tony, when he had called the meeting to order, “we have arranged all the details of the race, and if you like, I will tell you about it.”

“Tell us,” said several.

The chairman proceeded to give them the substance of his conversation with the coxswain of the Zephyr; and the rules they had adopted were of course agreed to by all present.

The Butterfly boys, elated with the results of the bridge affair, were confident that they should win the race.  Tony, however, was not so sanguine.  He knew, better than they, how skilful Frank was; and, if the Zephyr had not labored under the disadvantage of having a new member, he would have been sure of being beaten.

“There is another subject which comes up for consideration to-night—­I mean the gift of Mr. Walker.  He has left it so that it may be divided among us, or held and used as common property,” continued Tony.