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diff --git a/42403-0.txt b/42403-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bfffad1 --- /dev/null +++ b/42403-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8903 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42403 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 42403-h.htm or 42403-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42403/42403-h/42403-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42403/42403-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/eightoaredvictor00chad + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). + + [oe] represents the oe-ligature. + + + + + +[Illustration: THE FINISH LINE WAS BUT A HUNDRED FEET AWAY.] + + +THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS + +A Story of College Water Sports + +by + +LESTER CHADWICK + +Author of "The Rival Pitchers," "A Quarter-Back's +Pluck," "The Winning Touchdown," "Baseball +Joe of the Silver Stars," "Baseball Joe +at Yale," etc. + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +New York +Cupples & Leon Company + + * * * * * + +=BOOKS BY LESTER CHADWICK= + + =THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES= + 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. + + THE RIVAL PITCHERS + A QUARTER-BACK'S PLUCK + BATTING TO WIN + THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN + FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL + THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS + + + =THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES= + 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. + + BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS + Or, The Rivals of Riverside + + BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE + Or, Pitching for the Blue Banner + + BASEBALL JOE AT YALE + Or, Pitching for the College Championship + + (Other volumes in preparation) + + _Cupples & Leon Co., Publishers, New York_ + + * * * * * + +Copyright, 1913, by +Cupples & Leon Company + +THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS + +Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I GREAT NEWS 1 + II THE FLOOD 15 + III THE MISSING TROPHIES 24 + IV IMPLIED ACCUSATION 32 + V THE CLUE 45 + VI THE PRACTICE SHELL 53 + VII THE FIRST TRIAL 62 + VIII RUTH'S LOSS 72 + IX ON CREST ISLAND 81 + X THE GAY HANDKERCHIEF 90 + XI THE FIRST BREAK 101 + XII A FRIENDLY BRUSH 112 + XIII THE LONG VACATION 118 + XIV OFF FOR CAMP 126 + XV THE OLD GRADUATE 132 + XVI THE GIRLS 141 + XVII AT PRACTICE 147 + XVIII "SENOR BOSWELL" 156 + XIX JEALOUSY 162 + XX A STRANGE CONFERENCE 174 + XXI IN THE SHACK 181 + XXII THE PAWN TICKETS 188 + XXIII TWO MISSING MEN 194 + XXIV BACK AT RANDALL 203 + XXV THE NEW SHELLS 209 + XXVI "ROW HARD!" 216 + XXVII A BRUSH WITH BOXER 242 + XXVIII FAINT HEARTS 247 + XXIX THE REGATTA 253 + XXX A CLOSE FINISH 266 + XXXI THE TUB RACE 273 + XXXII BOSWELL'S CHANCE 279 + XXXIII MENDEZ EXPLAINS 289 + XXXIV THE GREAT RACE 297 + XXXV THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS 302 + + + + +THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +GREAT NEWS + + +"And after this--the deluge, I suppose," quoted Tom Parsons as he gazed +moodily out of the window of his study, and watched the raindrops +splashing on the ledge, running down the pipe, and forming one of many +streams that trickled over the green college campus. "Is it never going +to stop?" he went on, turning toward his three chums. "It's rained +now----" + +"Oh, for the love of differential calculus!" cried Phil Clinton, "can't +you talk of anything but the weather, Tom? I'm sick of hearing it +discussed." + +"No sicker than I am of hearing it pour," retorted the first speaker. + +"The rain certainly does seem to stick around," added Sid Henderson, as +he endeavored to arise from a decrepit armchair--one of the twins--that +added comfort to the college study. "I'm so damp, and altogether gluey, +that it's all I can do to get up. Lend me a hand somebody!" he appealed. + +"'Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears!'" recited Tom in the +best schoolboy style. "Can't you manage to assist yourself, Sid; or are +you getting too fat?" + +"Fat! Huh! I guess if you'd trained the way I did for those track games +you wouldn't be fat!" was shot out in protest. + +"Train! Listen to him, Phil. Just because he won his big jump he thinks +that's all there is. Why----" + +"Hold on," put in Phil, quietly. "You fellows will get on each other's +nerves if you continue. And you're certainly getting on mine. How do +you expect me to bone away if you're going on like this? That fussy +alarm clock is bad enough--I don't know why we tolerate the old thing +anyhow--but when you two get to scrapping, and this confounded rain +never lets up, why it's the extreme edge, so to speak." + +"It is the rain, I guess," spoke Tom Parsons, in a low voice. "It's +enough to get on anyone's nerves. A straight week now," and he drummed +on the wet window-pane, while Phil turned over on an old sofa, that +creaked dismally, and tried to get a better light on his book. But the +gloom outside seemed to have found a place in the study room. + +"Easy on that ancient and honorable piece of furniture!" cautioned Tom, +as he looked anxiously at the sofa, which seemed to groan in protest at +Phil's weight. "It won't stand much more mending, and that's no idle +dream." + +"Don't worry," said Phil, easily. "I think as much of this sofa as any +of you." + +"Um!" grunted Tom moodily, as he crossed over to the other armchair +and threw himself into it at no small risk of going through the seat. +"What's a fellow to do?" he asked. + +Neither of his chums answered him. Sid had managed to rise without +anyone's aid, and was examining a pile of books, as though trying to +pick out the one containing the easiest lessons. + +"Where's Frank?" asked Tom, after a silence. + +"I saw the Big Californian crossing the campus awhile ago," replied +Phil, closing his book and yawning. "He was bundled up in a raincoat, +and seemed as chipper as a clam at high tide." + +"Wish I had the spunk to go out," commented Sid. "The river must be +nearly flood-high by this time, with all the water that's fallen." + +"Water! Ugh! Don't mention it," begged Tom. + +Silence reigned in the room, broken only by the ticking of the fussy +little alarm clock. There was the rustle of the pages, as the two lads, +studying, turned to various lessons. Tom got up with an impatient +exclamation, and passed into one of the four small bedrooms that opened +out of the main study. + +"I think I'll take a chance and go out!" he announced. "It's as dull as +ditchwater in here. You fellows are about as cheerful as a wake." + +"Um!" grunted Phil. Sid did not take the trouble to reply. + +"That's right. Be grumpy!" said Tom, sarcastically. + +Clearly the weather was getting on the nerves of all of them. And small +wonder, for it had rained almost steadily for a week, and the stone +piles that made up Randall College seemed soaked through to the very +wall paper. The campus was like a sponge, and the walks, where they were +not gravel, were ribbons of mud. + +"Lucky we got our Spring games over with, before this flood set in," +went on Tom. + +There was no answer. + +"What's the matter; have you fellows lost your tongues?" he demanded, +sharply. + +He paused in the act of slipping off a lounging coat preparatory to +putting on an outdoor garment. Sid and Phil avoided his glance. At that +moment the door into the hall opened and there stepped into the study a +big lad, attired in a raincoat, that dripped moisture at every seam. + +"Hello, Duck!" greeted Sid with a cheerful grin. + +"Where have you been, Frank?" asked Tom. "I was just coming out to join +you." + +Evidently this was Frank Simpson, the "Big Californian," the reason for +the nickname being obvious. + +"Come ahead--all of you," invited Frank. "It isn't so bad, and I guess +it's going to clear up." + +"I believe you're right!" agreed Tom, and there was an instant change in +his voice. "It has almost stopped. Come on!" he cried. "You fellows stop +boning, and we'll make a party of it. It's early yet, only the clouds +make it seem dark." + +"Wait a minute," suggested Frank, as he saw that the others were likely +to fall in with Tom's idea. "Have you fellows heard the news?" + +"Has Moses granted a Roman holiday?" asked Sid. + +"Or has Pitchfork consented to resign?" added Phil. + +"Neither one. This is the greatest news ever. And it's just the kind +of a day to impart it, for it has to do with water. Fellows, do you +think Randall could get into the rowing game--I mean as it ought to +be gotten into? Do you think we could make up a crew--or two crews +for that matter--an eight and four--that could put it all over Boxer +Hall and Fairview Academy? Do you think we could turn out some +four-and-eight-oared victors?" + +Frank paused in his enthusiastic questions, and gazed at his chums +through a mist of moisture that seemed to emanate from his damp person. + +"Do you?" he repeated, for they were silent. + +"What does he mean?" asked Tom. + +"He speaketh in riddles," added Phil. + +"Mayhap he but jesteth," came from Sid. + +"No joke at all," said Frank with a smiling good nature. "This is the +very latest news, and I think I'm one of the first fellows to hear it. +Listen and I will a tale unfold." + +"Well, as long as it's only a tale you're going to unfold, and not that +wet raincoat, proceed, most noble Brutus," begged Tom. + +"Oh, let up with the jollying, and let's hear the news," suggested Phil. + +"In brief, then, it's this," went on Frank. "A number of old grads, +who, it seems, used to be fonder of rowing and sculling than anything +else when they were at Randall, have had a meeting, and they decided to +subscribe ten thousand dollars to fit us up with a dandy boathouse and +shells--that is if we'll consent to accept----" + +"Accept! I guess yes, with running shoes on!" cried Phil. + +"There's a sort of a string attached to it," went on Frank. + +"What is it? Do we have to raise an additional ten thousand dollars?" +asked Tom, suspiciously. + +"No, nothing as hard as that. But we have to form a regular rowing +association, and promise to work our level best to be the champions of +the river and lake. Shall we do it?" + +For a moment there was silence. And then Tom cried: + +"Of course we will!" + +"Why shouldn't we?" demanded Phil. + +"Say, this is great!" came from Sid. "Randall going to have a crew at +last! It's about time. But I say," he went on, "it's too late this term +to think of it. Why we only have a few more weeks before the Summer +vacation." + +"I know it," replied Frank, "and the idea is to get things in shape the +remainder of this term, and have a regatta early in the Fall, before the +football season opens. I think we can induce Boxer Hall and Fairview to +enter into that sort of agreement, even if those two colleges do row +each other every Spring." + +"Good idea," commented Tom. + +"Say, Frank, how comes it that you know all this?" asked Sid. + +"Merely by accident," answered the Big Californian. "I was coming across +the campus just now, plowing along through the water with my head down, +and I ran plump into Moses and Dr. Marshall. I begged their pardons, of +course, and was about to go on when Moses, looking at the doctor, said: + +"'Perhaps we had better tell him, and have him sound some of the +others.'" + +"I began to pick up my ears at that and wonder what was in the wind. +And when Dr. Marshall came back with: 'It wouldn't be a bad idea,' I +knew something was up. The upshot of it was that Moses took me into his +confidence. Ahem!" and Frank swelled up his chest. + +"Go on, you rooster!" commanded Tom. + +"Tell us about the crew," begged Sid. + +"Well, that's it. Dr. Churchill said he had just received the offer from +a number of the wealthy old grads. who, it seems, got together, had a +sort of meeting, and voted that the decline of water activity at Randall +College was a shame. + +"It seems that they used to be regular sharks at rowing in their day, +and they passed a resolution that, whereas Randall had done well at +baseball, football and in track athletics, nevertheless she was a back +number when it came to rowing. + +"Therefore, 'be it resolved, and it is hereby resolved,' and all that +sort of thing, you know. Then they subscribed the ten thousand dollars, +and the only condition is that we promise to do our best to become +champions." + +"Which we'll do without question," said Tom. + +"Of course," added Phil. + +"But it's going to take a lot of work," commented Sid. "We'll need all +the time between now and Fall to get in shape. But what can we practice +in? We haven't any decent shells." + +"We can get some second-hand ones for practice," said Frank, "and I +understand the old grads will have the new ones ready for us in the +Fall, together with the new boathouse. We can also practice during our +vacation." + +"Good!" cried Tom. "It makes me feel better already. I want to get out +on the water right now." + +"And a little while ago you thought there was altogether too much +water," commented Phil, drily. + +"Oh, well," excused Tom, with a shrug of his shoulders. "I say, it is +clearing!" he cried. "Come on down and get into a boat. Even one of the +old tubs will answer, and we can talk this thing over." + +"That's what I came in to propose," said Frank. "As we are among the +older students here, it will be sort of up to us to spread the idea. I +think everybody will take to it, though." + +"It's about time we took a fall out of Boxer Hall on the water," +declared Sid. "Fairview isn't in it so much, though she came mighty near +beating Boxer in the eight one year." + +The rain had ceased, there probably being no more water left in the +sky, as Sid remarked. The four chums--the "Inseparables," as they were +called, slipped off their lounging jackets--at least Sid and Phil did, +for Tom already had done so--and soon all were on their way to Sunny +River, on the bank of which the various buildings of Randall College +were situated. Over the soggy campus they took their way, meeting no +one, for no one else seemed to have the courage to venture out. + +Though the institution had not boasted of a rowing association, or crew, +in some years, there was a boathouse, and a number of craft owned by +the students, and it was toward this structure that our friends betook +themselves. + +"Let's take the big barge," suggested Tom. "Then we can all get in it +and talk." + +"It's as heavy as lead," complained Phil. "It will be all right rowing +down stream, but coming back we'll have a hard pull." + +"What of it?" demanded Frank. "It will be good practice for us if we're +going to try for the crew." + +"That's right, we will have to make tries to see who are the best +oarsmen," remarked Tom. "I wonder if Mr. Lighton is a good coach when +it comes to rowing? I know he's all right at football and baseball, +but----" + +"I believe Dr. Churchill mentioned that if we took up this offer, one of +the old grads, who was a crackerjack oarsman in his day, might come and +give us some pointers," put in Frank. + +"Well, let's get out. Say, but the river is high, though," Tom +exclaimed, as they came in sight of the stream. The rain of the past +week had raised it considerably, and it was now rushing swiftly along, +a muddy stream, far from bearing out its name--Sunny. + +"The barge is as safe as a ferry-boat," commented Sid. "It can't upset." + +"All right, I'm game," declared Tom. "Let's row down to Tonoka Lake, and +see what's going on there." + +This lake was a large body of water into which the river emptied--in +fact it was more like the widening of the stream than a real lake, but a +lake it was called in spite of that. In its centre was Crest Island, of +good size. + +Soon the four students were in the barge, a four-oared craft, with +enough seats so that the quartette could row with an oar each, after +the manner of those in a shell. + +"Take out the rudder," directed Frank. "We'll have to make our own +course, for it can't be worked by one's feet as in a four-oared shell." + +Phil unshipped the rudder, and they rowed out into the middle of the +stream. It was easy going down with the current, but they realized that +it would be harder coming back. However, they were out for practice as +much as anything else, and did not mind a stiff pull. + +"I wonder what sort of a stroke we pull?" said Tom, as they rowed on. + +"Oh, we probably have lots of faults," admitted Frank. "But they can be +corrected." + +"It's a pretty big chunk to bite off--to think of beating Boxer Hall, +where the fellows have been rowing for years, and we just starting in," +commented Sid. + +"Oh, stranger things have happened," declared Tom. "We can do it." + +Then began a spirited discussion of the splendid offer that had been +made to Randall, and a talk as to what the other students would think of +it. The four chums were enthusiastic over the prospect. + +"Say," called Tom, after a bit. "This is all right, and lots of fun, but +we've come down quite a way, and we've got to think of going back. This +current is fierce." + +"Quitter!" called Phil. + +"Nothing of the sort--I've got common-sense," was the retort. + +"Tom is right," said Frank Simpson, in a quiet voice. "We mustn't overdo +the thing. It is going to be a stiffish pull back, and we don't want to +be late for dinner--I don't anyhow." + +They had rowed down to where the river widened into the lake. There was +a Summer picnic ground near here, and on the higher slopes of land, back +from the water, were a number of fine residences, the estates running +down to the shore edge. Many of the places had boathouses. + +As the boys came opposite one of these they saw a small motor-boat turn +in toward a shelter, the doors of which were open. There was a lone man +in the boat, and he skillfully directed her course across the current. + +"Let's pull over there and rest before going back," suggested Sid, +and the others agreed. They reached the boathouse and dock in time to +see the man in the motor-boat close and lock the door, with his craft +inside. Apparently he did not notice the boys, who were working to get +in on the downstream side of the float, so they could be out of the +current for a little while. + +"There," remarked the man from the motor-boat, as he walked out of the +shore-door of the house, also locking that after him, "I guess things +will be safe in there until I come back. I won't be gone long. Maybe +I ought to take them with me but they're heavy, and I've got to go up +hill--I guess I'll leave them," and he started up the slope from the +river, toward a fine residence on the hill. + +"He must have money in the bank--talking to himself that way," remarked +Tom, in a low voice. + +"I wonder what it is he's leaving in his boat?" spoke Phil. + +"He trusts us, anyhow," laughed Frank. + +"He didn't see us," came from Sid. "Anyhow the place is locked." + +The boys rested there by the boathouse for several minutes. + +Tom was about to propose that they start back, for it looked cloudy +again, as if the rain would begin once more. But before he could mention +this fact Sid exclaimed: + +"Here comes the Boxer Hall shell! Say, look at those fellows row!" + +"They are hitting up the pace!" agreed Frank. + +All looked to see a fine eight-oared shell fairly scudding over the +water under the impulse of the sixteen sturdy arms of the rowers. + +"We'll soon be doing that," said Phil, in a low voice. And then some of +the lads in the shell looked over and saw our friends. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE FLOOD + + +"Hello, you fellows!" called Dave Ogden, who was acting as the coxswain +of the shell, waving his megaphone at them. "Out for practice?" and he +grinned as he looked at the heavy barge. + +"Yes, we're getting ready to order a new shell," answered Tom. + +"Ha! Ha! That's pretty good. Maybe you think you can beat us rowing!" +and Dave looked not a little proudly at the eight lads whose efforts he +had been directing. They had been out for a spin on the lake, and were +now coming back rather leisurely. + +"We will beat you--some day!" declared Frank. + +"Maybe you'd better not tell them about our shell until we get it," +suggested Tom, in a low voice. + +"Oh, they'll have to know it some time or other," declared Frank. "It +will be all over the college in a day or so, and Boxer Hall is sure +to learn of it. Besides, I want to get things stirred up a bit. But +they'll only think we're joking, so far." + +The eight-oared shell passed on with a sweep, the rowers making good +time against the current. But then the craft was so much like a knife +that it offered scarcely any resistance to the water. + +"Row easy, all!" came the command from Dave Ogden, and the rowers +reduced the number of their strokes per minute. They were closer to +shore now, and out of the worst grip of the current. The coxswain +waved his megaphone at our friends in a friendly fashion, and then +gave his attention to his crew. Though there was rivalry--sometimes +bitter--between Randall and Boxer Hall, the students were, for the most +part, very friendly. + +"Jove! It will be great to get in that game!" exclaimed Tom with a sigh, +as he watched the rival's shell. + +"And we'll do it, too!" declared Frank, earnestly. + +"Well, let's be getting back," suggested Sid; and the others agreed that +this might be a wise thing to do. + +And while they are returning to college I will, in order that my +new readers may have a better understanding of the characters, tell +something of the books that precede this in the "College Sports Series." + +Our first volume was called "The Rival Pitchers," and told how Tom +Parsons, then a raw country lad, came to Randall College, with the idea +of getting on the baseball nine. He succeeded, but it was only after +a hard struggle and bitter rivalry. Tom made good against heavy odds. +The second volume had to deal with college football, under the title, +"A Quarter-back's Pluck," and in that I related how Phil Clinton, under +trying circumstances, won the championship gridiron battle for his +eleven. + +"Batting to Win," the third book of the series, was, as the title +indicates, a baseball story. Besides the accounts of the diamond +contests, there was related the manner in which was solved a queer +mystery surrounding Sid Henderson. Going back to football interests, +in the fourth book, "The Winning Touchdown," there will be found many +accounts of pigskin matters. Also how Tom Parsons, and his chums, saved +the college from ruin in a strange manner. + +The book immediately preceding this volume was "For the Honor of +Randall," and while it was, in the main, a story of various college +athletics, there is detailed how a certain charge, involving the honor +of Frank Simpson, and incidentally his college, was disproved. + +My old readers know much about Randall, but I might mention, for +the benefit of my new friends, that the college was located on the +outskirts of the town of Haddonfield, in the middle west. Near the +institution ran Sunny River, as I have said, and it was on this stream, +and the connecting lake, that it was proposed to have Randall enter into +aquatic sports. Randall, Boxer Hall and Fairview Institute--the latter a +co-educational college--had formed the Tonoka Lake League in athletics, +though in rowing only the two latter colleges had competed. But this was +soon to be changed. + +At the head of Randall was Dr. Albertus Churchill, dubbed Moses, in +affectionate terms. Dr. Emerson Tines, alias "Pitchfork," was head +Latin instructor, and Mr. Andrew Zane was proctor. Dr. Marshall was a +physician in residence, and also gave instruction in various lines. + +Tom, Phil, Sid and Frank roomed together. Formerly they had had a large +single dormitory to themselves, doing their studying there, and going +from there to classes, lectures or chapel--but not the latter when it +could conveniently be "cut." In the book just before this I told of the +Spring track games in which Randall had managed to come out the victor. +These had been past a week or two when the present story opens. + +Just after the games there had been thrown open to the use of the +students a new dormitory, and study-building, with rooms arranged _en +suite_, and the four chums had taken a large central apartment, with +bedrooms opening from it. This gave them a much more convenient place +than formerly. + +But, if they changed their room, they did not change the furniture--at +least they kept all the old, though getting some new. Among the former, +were the two ancient armchairs, known to my readers, and the decrepit +sofa, which had been mended until it seemed that nothing of the original +was there. And then there was the alarm clock, which served to awaken +the lads--that is, when they did not stop it from ticking by jabbing a +toothpick somewhere up in the interior mechanism. + +As for the friends of our heroes they were many, and their enemies few. +You will meet them, old as well as new, as the story progresses. + +"There sure is some water!" exclaimed Tom, as he gazed from shore to +shore of the turbulent stream. + +"And it's getting higher," added Phil. + +"And going to rain more," came from Sid. + +"Oh, there'll be a flood sure, if you calamity-howlers have your way," +remarked Frank. "Give way there! What are you doing, Phil--stalling on +me?" + +"Say, who made you the coxswain, anyhow?" demanded the aggrieved one. + +The boys reached Randall just as the downpour began again, but their +spirits had been raised by the row, and by the good news which Frank +had heard. It was confirmed a little later by an announcement on the +bulletin board, calling for a meeting of the athletic committee, within +a few days, to consider the matter. + +"Say, this is going to be great!" cried Holly Cross, one of the football +squad. "Rowing is something Randall always needed." + +"And she needs rowers, too, don't forget that, Holly, me lad!" exclaimed +Bricktop Molloy, a genial Irish lad who was taking a post-graduate +course, after an absence of some time at Columbia and with a mining +concern. Some said he came back to Randall merely because he loved her +athletics so, but Bricktop, with a ruffling up of his red hair would +say, half-savagely: + +"I deny the allegation, sir, and I defy the alligator!" an old joke but +a good one. + +"Oh, we'll get the rowers," was the confident declaration of many, and +then the lads, gathering in the gymnasium, or in the rooms of one and +another, talked over the coming rowing contests. + +It rained all night, and part of the next day, and then seemed to clear +off for good. + +"What about another spin on the river?" asked Tom, after his last +lecture. "I'm ready for it." + +"So am I," declared Sid, and the remaining two fell into line. Several +other lads agreed to accompany the four inseparables, and soon quite a +group was headed for the river. + +"Say, look at that; would you!" cried Phil, as they came in sight of the +stream. "That's a flood all right!" + +"I should say so!" remarked Tom. "Why, it's almost up to the doors of +the boathouse, and it hasn't been that high in years!" + +"Some water," agreed Frank. "I wonder if it's safe to go out? Look at +that current!" + +"Safe! Of course it's safe!" exclaimed Phil. "I've seen it worse." + +"But not with so much wreckage in the river," added Tom. "Look at those +big logs. If one of them even hit the barge it would smash a hole in it." + +"There's part of a chicken-coop!" cried Sid, pointing to the object +floating down the river. + +"Yes, and there's half a cow-shed, if I'm any judge," went on Frank. + +"The river sure is high," conceded Phil. "I did want to take a run down +to Fairview, and see Sis, but----" + +"See your sister!" jeered Sid. "I know who you want to see down there +all right," for while Phil's sister, Ruth, attended the co-educational +institution, so did Madge Tyler, of whom Phil was very fond, and also +Mabel Harrison, in whom Sid was more than ordinarily interested. +Besides, there were "others." + +"I was going to row down," declared Phil, stoutly. "But I can go by +trolley." + +"Oh, let's try a little row," suggested Tom. "If we find the current is +too strong, we can come back and take a car. I'd like to see the girls." + +"Brave youth! To admit that!" exclaimed Frank. "I fancy we all would. +Well, let's get out the boat." + +But they found the flood too much for them. Venturing only a little way +out from shore they were gripped in the current with such force that +they saw it would be folly to proceed. Accordingly, they put back, as +did their companions in other boats. + +As they were tying up at the boathouse, Wallops, one of the college +messengers, came in. + +"Did you hear about it?" he demanded, apparently much excited. + +"About what?" he was asked. + +"A lot of boathouses down the river have been washed away in the flood," +he went on. "The small one at Boxer Hall came near going, but they +anchored it with ropes. One of their small shells was smashed. Oh, it's +a bad flood all right!" + +"Well, we can't help it," said Tom. "I guess the trolley cars are still +running. Come on, fellows, if we're going to Fairview Institute." + +So, leaving the boathouse, they started for the trolley line. + +"We'll take a row down the river to-morrow, and see what damage the +flood did," called Sid to Wallops, as they moved away. They little +realized what they would find, or what part it would play in the history +of Randall. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE MISSING TROPHIES + + +"Boys, you really must go!" + +"Oh, can't we stay just a bit longer?" + +"No, not another minute. Miss Philock has sent up twice to say that +you've stayed long enough." + +"I think her clock is wrong." + +"We haven't been here ten minutes." + +"Oh, Sid Henderson! Why, it's over half an hour!" exclaimed Mabel +Harrison. + +"And he's the fellow who didn't use to like the girls!" said Tom, with +conviction. "Oh, Rome, how art thou fallen!" + +"Cut it out!" growled Sid, under his breath. + +The four chums had called on their friends and Phil's sister at Fairview +Institute, and the result can easily be imagined by the foregoing +conversation. There had been jolly talk, a telling of the new chance +that had unexpectedly come to Randall, and then the appeal of the girls +that the boys must go--not because the girls wanted them to--but +because Miss Philock, the head of the co-educational institution, deemed +it necessary. + +"But we can come again; can't we?" asked Frank, as they paused at the +door. Somewhere down the corridor a thin lady, with thin lips, was +narrowly watching the group of young people. + +"Sure we can come again!" declared Phil. "They can't stop me from seeing +my sister." + +"Or someone else's," put in Tom, mischievously. + +"Tom! Stop it!" cried Madge Tyler. "She'll hear you." + +"But we will come!" declared Frank. + +"I don't see how we poor girls can prevent you," said Helen Newton, with +a mischievous glance of her eyes. + +"Young ladies!" came a warning voice from down the corridor. + +"Oh, you really must go!" exclaimed Ruth Clinton. + +"All right," agreed Tom. "We'll be back soon. When is the next dance?" + +"We'll send you cards," replied Madge Tyler. "Good-bye!" + +And the boys moved off, with many backward glances, while the girls +lingered in the doorway of the reception hall until Miss Philock +advanced to garner them into her charge. + +"Young ladies!" she began severely, "if your friends overstay their time +again I shall not permit them to see you--even if they are _brothers_!" +and she looked at Ruth. + +"Horrid thing!" murmured Madge. "I'll be glad when vacation comes." + +"Are your folks going to camp on Crest Island again?" asked Ruth, naming +the resort in Tonoka Lake. + +"I think so. Papa sent a man up to look over the cottage this week, to +see if it needed any repairs. And, girls, if we do go, I want you all +to spend several weeks with me!" cried Madge Tyler. "We will have a +scrumptious time!" + +When the boys got back to Randall they found some mild excitement there. +Further word had come from the committee of old graduates that they had +perfected their arrangements in the matter of supplying Randall with all +that was necessary to enter into aquatic sports, and there was a request +that the students at once hold a meeting, and decide whether or not they +would accept the offer. + +Of course it is not necessary to say that the boys did accept. A meeting +was called for that same evening, and it was enthusiastically voted +to accept the generous offer, with thanks. It was voted to have an +eight-oared crew, as well as a four, while as many singles as could be +arranged, with possibly a double. A committee was appointed to secure +some second-hand shells for practice, pending the arrival of the new +ones in the Fall. + +Another committee was named to negotiate with Boxer Hall and Fairview +Institute, looking to planning for the races in the Fall. + +"If they won't meet us then, we'll have to wait until next Spring," said +Frank Simpson. + +"Oh, I guess they're sports enough to give us a race this Fall," +declared Tom. "We'll try, anyhow." + +It was now June and the weather, after the long rain, was perfect. +Within a few days Boxer Hall and Fairview would meet in their annual +water carnival, swimming as well as boat races, and, as some of the +Randall boys had entered in the swimming contests, it was planned to +send a big delegation from that college to the meet. + +"We can get a line on their rowing that way," said Sid, and the others +agreed with him. + +Meanwhile the flooded river was subsiding, and a few days after their +visit to the girls, our four friends went out for a row again. In the +meanwhile they had secured some books on the subject of sculling, and, +as they went down stream, they endeavored to correct their faults. + +But, as is always the case when you try to do something opposite to the +way you have learned it, whether that way be good or bad, there was +trouble. + +"I can't row for a cent the way the book says it ought to be done," +declared Tom. + +"Me either," came from Sid. + +"And yet that's the right way," said Frank. "I guess we'll get on to it +after a bit. But let's row our old way now, and go down to Crest Island. +That will make a good distance, and test our wind. Later we can row +right. Anyhow, if we have a coach he'll show us the ropes. Give way now, +everybody!" + +They made good speed, and, a little later, were nearing the island, the +largest one of three or four that dotted the lake. Crest Island was the +home of several cottagers in Summer. + +"Look! What's that!" cried Tom, as they neared the upper point of the +bit of water-surrounded land. + +"Looks like a boat wrecked there!" said Phil. + +"It is," declared Sid. "It's smashed on the rocks." + +"Let's take a look," suggested Frank. "Maybe it's worth saving." + +"It's a motor-boat," said Tom, as they came nearer. "But I guess there +isn't much left of it." + +"And there's part of the boathouse it was evidently in," came from Phil. +"Probably it was carried away by the flood--boat, boathouse and all, and +smashed on these rocks." + +By this time they had brought their boat to the island shore, and, +getting out, they examined the wreck. Truly it had been a bad smash. The +hull itself could never be used again, and it was a question whether +the engine could, as one of the cylinders was badly cracked. The seat +lockers had been broken open, and nothing seemed to remain in them. + +"Say, this is the same boat that fellow locked in the boathouse, the +time we were out rowing when we met the Boxer Hall shell!" cried Tom, as +he saw the name on the bow. + +"That's right!" agreed Frank. "The very same. Wallops said some +boathouses had been carried away. This must have been one of them." + +"I wonder who owns this boat?" ventured Sid, but no one answered him. + +They looked at the wreck for some little time longer, and then started +back up the river. They had not gone far from the island before they met +a man rowing down in a small boat. He had an anxious look on his face as +he hailed them. + +"I say, boys," he called, "have you seen anything of a wrecked +motor-boat about here?" + +"There's one down on the point of that island," said Tom. "The _Sylph_." + +"That's mine!" exclaimed the man. "Is there anything left of her?" + +"Not much," replied Frank. "Wait, we'll show you where she is. We were +just looking at her." + +"You were?" exclaimed the man, and there was something in the sharp +way he said it, and in his tone, that caused the boys to glance at him +curiously. + +"Yes, saw it by accident," went on Phil. + +"Did you--er--find--that is--Oh, never mind, I can soon tell when I look +at her," the man said, rather confusedly, as he rowed on. The four lads +turned their craft and accompanied him. + +"There she is!" cried Frank, pointing out the wrecked craft amid some +rocks and bushes. "You can see for yourself there's not much left of +her." + +Without a word the man sprang ashore from his boat, while the college +lads kept their craft off the rocks. Rapidly rummaging through the +broken-open lockers, the man, muttering to himself, suddenly stood up. +As he did so, Tom said in a low voice: + +"That's the same chap who locked the boat up. I wonder what is missing?" + +"Did you--excuse me for asking--but did you boys take anything from my +boat?" asked the man, in rather hard tones. + +[Illustration: "DID YOU BOYS TAKE ANYTHING FROM MY BOAT?" ASKED THE MAN.] + +"Take anything? What do you mean?" demanded Sid, sharply. + +"Something is missing from one of the lockers." + +"We certainly took nothing from your boat," said Tom, stiffly. "What is +missing?" + +"Many things," was the answer. "Among others, a number of trophy cups +belonging to Boxer Hall College. I had them to repair, polish and +engrave, and now they are gone from my boat. Someone must have taken +them!" and he looked at the boys. The four chums felt their anger +rising. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IMPLIED ACCUSATION + + +Frank Simpson was the first to take definite action. He looked sharply +at the man, as the latter gave the surprising information about +trophies, and then, in a low voice, said to his companions in the barge: + +"Let's go ashore, fellows." + +"What for; to be insulted again?" asked Tom. "I'm not going to stand for +that fellow's insinuations. Who is he, anyhow?" + +"I don't know," answered Frank, "and for the very same reason that I, +neither, do not intend to stand for any imputation, I want to go ashore. +Give way!" + +They urged their heavy craft shoreward. + +"They are certainly gone," went on the man, as he continued to rummage +about in the wreckage of his boat. "And it means a big loss to me. If +you boys were here----" + +"Say, just hold on a minute, my friend," interrupted Frank, in that cool +way of his. "Just go a bit slow about making cracks. It might not be +altogether healthy!" and the eyes of the Big Californian glowed. + +"But I tell you it's a big loss!" went on the man. "I must find the +things--money won't pay for them!" + +"Now suppose we go at this thing systematically," suggested Frank, his +chums, by common consent, letting him assume the leadership. "We don't +any of us know you, except that we all recall seeing you land on the +main shore in your motor-boat a day or so ago. It was this same boat, I +take it." + +"The same," answered the man. "And now----" + +"Wait," suggested Frank, holding up his hand. "As for us, we're +Randall College students, as you can easily verify. We'll give you our +names--fellows, cards," and Frank handed over one of his own, the others +doing the same. + +"That's all right," spoke the man, in half-sullen tones; "but that isn't +going to bring back my stuff." + +"Do you think we took it?" snapped Frank, and there was a warning glint +in his eyes. + +"No--not exactly--but you lads were at my boat, you say, and this is +the first time I've seen it since I left it with those cups and other +valuables in." + +"Well, that's a long way from proving that we took anything," went on +Frank. "It's laughable, or, it would be if it wasn't so serious." + +"Who are you, anyhow?" burst out Tom Parsons, unable to restrain his +curiosity longer. "This thing is getting too deep for me. How did you +come to have the Boxer Hall trophy cups?" + +"Perhaps I had better explain," went on the man. "I am Edward Farson, +and I'm in the jewelry business in Haddonfield. I've only recently +started up, and I'm working a new line of trade. I am an expert repairer +and mender of old jewelry, and I find that many residents along the +river here, as well as out in the country, have old jewelry they want +made into modern forms. + +"As I happened to own a motor-boat I decided to use that in making calls +along the river, and I have been quite successful. Then learning that +the colleges hereabouts had many cups and trophies that grew tarnished, +or were broken, I solicited orders in that line. I also do engraving, +putting the names of the winners and all that on the cups. + +"The other day--the time I remember now when I saw you at Mr. Borden's +dock--I had collected quite a few pieces of jewelry, some from +customers, some from the students at Fairview Institute, and a number of +trophy cups from Boxer Hall. + +"I had a call to make at Mr. Borden's, and, leaving the jewelry and +cups in a box in one of the lockers of the boat, I ran my craft in the +boathouse, as you saw, locked it up, and went up the hill to call on +Mrs. Borden. As the box of valuables was rather heavy I did not want to +carry it with me. I thought it would be safe." + +"We heard you remark as much," interpolated Sid. + +"Yes? Well, I expected to be back right away, but when I got to the +house I found unexpected news awaiting me. There had come a telephone +message from the clerk in my store, who knew that I was to be at Mrs. +Borden's at a certain time. I had told him to that effect, as my elderly +mother is very ill, and I wanted to be kept informed of her condition. +The doctor communicated by wire with my clerk, and the latter left with +Mrs. Borden a message to the effect that my mother was sinking, and that +I was to hasten if I wanted to see her alive. + +"That, as you may suppose, drove from my mind all thoughts of the +valuables left in my boat. Or, if I did think of them at all, it must +have been to hope that they would be safe, locked in the boathouse as +they were, and with no one but myself--as I supposed--knowing of them. + +"Mrs. Borden, whom I have known for some time, as soon as she had given +me the message about my mother, offered me the use of a horse and +carriage to get to my mother's house, which is quite a way back from the +river, off in the country. + +"I accepted and drove away, never even mentioning to Mrs. Borden about +the jewelry in the locker of my boat. I said I would, on my return, +collect the things she wanted repaired. Then I hastened to my mother. + +"I found the dear old lady quite ill, and for a time her life was +despaired of. But she rallied, and when my sister came to take charge of +matters, I decided to come back to my business. But, in the meanwhile, +as you know, there was the flood. + +"When I went back to the Bordens, it was to find that their boathouse +had been washed away by the high water, carrying my craft with it +down to the lake. I was nearly crazy, not only at my own loss, but +over the missing valuables, which I knew I could never replace. I +borrowed a small boat to-day, and set off in search of my launch. I +looked in several places where it might have lodged, and when I saw +you boys--well, you know the rest," and the jeweler concluded with a +pathetic air, as though his troubles was too much for him. + +"It's rather a queer story," commented Frank. "As for our part in it, it +is just as we told you. We landed here by accident, and saw the wreck +of the boat. We assumed what had happened, but we saw nothing of any box +of cups and jewelry. Then we rowed away and met you." + +"I'm much obliged to you for the information," said Mr. Farson, "and +I--of course--I'm bound to believe you," he went on, a bit awkwardly. +"Then you didn't see a trace of them?" + +"Of course not!" cried Phil. "Don't you believe us?" + +"Oh, yes--yes, of course. I only thought that maybe, as my boat is so +broken up, and the parts scattered about, that you might have looked +farther along the shores of the island. The box may have held together, +and be lodged somewhere." + +"Perhaps it has," said Frank, calmly. "I'd advise you to look +thoroughly. You might find it. Come on, fellows," and he led the way +back to the boat. + +Tom Parsons acted as though he intended to speak, but Sid nudged him in +the ribs, and the youth kept quiet. + +Mr. Farson stared after the boys as though much disappointed at their +desertion, and then, looking to the fastening of the rowing craft in +which he had come ashore, he began walking along the edge of the island, +where many signs of the high water still remained. + +"What did you want to come away for in such a hurry?" asked Tom, +in a low voice, when they were some distance out. "You were on your +high-horse for fair, Frank." + +"And why shouldn't I be? Do you think I was going to stay there, and +help him hunt, after he practically insulted us the way he did? As if we +knew anything about his musty old jewelry!" + +"That's right!" broke in Phil. "I wouldn't lift my hand to help him, +after he made that implied accusation. We didn't see any of his stuff!" + +"Oh, so that's the reason," replied Tom. "Well, I guess it was a good +one, Frank." + +"Those Boxer Hall lads will be up in the air all right when they learn +that their trophies are gone," suggested Sid. "I wonder if there were +any of the ones they won in the last meet?" + +"They didn't get many," chuckled Frank. "But it will be quite a loss +to them. However, it's none of our funeral. I wouldn't trust any of my +jewelry to a man who would go off and leave it in a motor-boat for a +night and a day." + +"Oh, well, he didn't mean to. When he got that message about his mother, +I suppose it flustered him," said Tom, in extenuation. + +"It's hard to blame him," commented Frank. "But he's in a pickle all +right. Now let's do some fast rowing." + +They hit up the pace, but they did not have enough practice to maintain +it, especially in the heavy barge, and soon they were all panting, +while the oars took the water raggedly, and Sid caught a crab that +nearly sent him overboard. + +"I guess we need some coaching," admitted that lad, when he had +recovered himself. "We're not racers yet, by a long shot. Slow down a +bit, fellows." + +"Oh, we're too soft!" complained Frank. "We'll never amount to anything +in a shell if we can't stand this. Think of a four-mile row at top +speed." + +"But we'll be in better shape for it after a course of training and some +coaching," declared Phil. "Then, too, we'll have this Summer vacation to +practice in." + +At slower speed they rowed up to their boathouse dock, and were soon +strolling across the campus to their room, discussing the events of the +last few hours. + +"I can't get over the nerve of that jeweler!" exclaimed the Big +Californian. "He nearly got me going." + +"I could see that," commented Tom. "It was a good thing we came away +when we did." + +"Oh, well, he wasn't exactly responsible for what he said. Be a bit +charitable," advised Sid. + +"Well, how's the racing game progressing?" asked Holly Cross, as he met +our friends. "When is that second-hand shell coming so we can practice?" + +"That's up to Dan Woodhouse," explained Tom. "Kindlings is chairman of +that committee. Let's look him up." + +"I wonder if Boxer Hall will row us in the Fall?" asked Bricktop Molloy, +strolling up. "It will make a double season for them." + +"I don't believe they'll dare refuse when we've beaten them at almost +everything else," spoke Frank. "But we'll soon know about that. Dutch +Housenlager said he had written to their crew captain and coach, and +expected an answer soon." + +"They ought to be glad to row us," commented Tom. "It will give them a +chance to get more cups to replace those they lost." + +"How lost?" asked Holly Cross. "What do you mean?" + +"Oh, it's a great story!" cried Sid, and he proceeded to relate, aided +by his chums, the incident of the smashed motor-boat. + +"Too bad," commented Bricktop. "I know how we'd feel if such a thing +happened here. But that fellow may find his stuff. Here comes Pete +Backus. Hi, Grasshopper!" he called, to a long lad who imagined he was a +champion jumper, "are you going to try for the crew?" + +"I sure am," was the confident answer. "I used to row a lot when a kid, +and I guess I haven't forgotten." + +"He's too light by fifteen pounds," declared Frank, in a low voice. +"About one hundred and sixty is a good average." + +"Thank goodness we're all of us that," said Tom, looking at the chums +gathered about him. + +"Are there going to be single races?" asked a lad, stepping up to join +the group. He was a well dressed chap, reputed to be wealthy in his own +right. His name was Reginald Boswell. + +"Why, yes, Reggie," said Tom, in the drawling tones affected by the +other, "we count on having single shells. Are you going to compete?" + +"Aw, say, I wish you wouldn't call me Reggie. I hate that name!" +exclaimed the lad, who was completing his Freshman year. "Cawn't you +call me just--er--Boswell?" + +"How would Bossy do for short, me lad?" asked Bricktop. "Not that you're +a calf, you know; but Bossy has a sweet sound, thinkest thou not so, my +comrades?" and he appealed to his chums with accompanying winks. + +"Aw, I say now, quit spoofing me, cawn't you?" appealed the rich +lad. "Bossy is too rotten silly, you know," and he drew a scented +handkerchief from the pocket of his rather loud, and swagger clothes, +which, as he always took the trouble to inform all who appeared +interested, were made in "Lunnon." Mr. Reginald Boswell had traveled +abroad, it seemed. + +"You ought to be thankful for any nickname, Bossy," put in Holly Cross. +"It isn't every Freshman who is thus honored. It's going to be Bossy or +nothing." + +"Oh, but I say, Reggie isn't as bad as that!" + +"Bossy or nothing!" insisted Bricktop. + +"Well, then, tell me about the single shells," went on the rich student, +evidently deciding to accept the less of two evils. "I'd like to row in +those contests." + +"Well, I guess you can--if you can make good," said Frank. "Come on, +fellows," and he linked his arms in those of Sid and Tom, and walked +them off toward their dormitory, followed by others of the chums, +leaving Bossy, as he was generally called after that christening, to +contemplate them with mingled feelings. + +"Silly rotters!" he murmured after the manner of some of his English +acquaintances. "I'll show them I can row, though!" + +The news of the loss of the Boxer Hall cups was soon known all over +Randall, and, in the next day or so, it was generally talked of, for +there was a reward offered by the distracted jeweler, an article +appearing in the local paper about it. + +"I guess he didn't find any trace of them on the island," commented Sid. + +"The box is probably at the bottom of the lake," was Tom's opinion. + +It was several days after this that the four chums were in Haddonfield, +partaking of a little supper after a vaudeville entertainment. There +strolled into the restaurant some lads from Boxer Hall, among them one +or two members of the eight-oared crew. + +"Hello, Dave!" greeted Tom and the others. + +"Too bad about your trophies; wasn't it," added Phil. + +"Rotten!" conceded Dave. "Some of them were old timers, too." + +"I--er--I understand that you lads were the _first_ to discover the +loss," put in Harry Cedstrom, one of the new students at Boxer Hall, and +a member of the crew. There was a strange emphasis on the word "first." + +"The _first_ to discover it--what do you mean?" asked Frank Simpson, +bristling up. + +"I mean that you were first at the wrecked boat that had held the box of +jewelry," went on Harry, while some of his companions nudged him to keep +him quiet. + +"We happened to be there," admitted Frank, in a quiet voice that, to his +friends, always presaged an outburst of righteous indignation. "We saw +the wrecked boat, and called the attention of the owner to it. We went +back with him, and then he told us his loss. That's how we happened to +be the first, after Mr. Farson himself." + +"Oh, I see," spoke Harry. "Then you were at the boat _before_ he was?" + +"Cut it out; can't you?" demanded Dave of his friend, in a hoarse +whisper. + +"Yes," said Frank quietly, "we were there before Mr. Farson," and he +looked the other student straight in the eyes. + +"And you didn't see anything of our cups?" + +"Just what do you mean?" demanded Frank quietly, half rising in his +chair, while Tom laid a hand on him in restraint. + +"Oh," went on Harry easily, "I thought maybe you fellows might have +taken our trophies----" + +"Hold on!" cried Frank, and he arose with such suddenness that his chair +overturned. Tom arose also, and clung to the arm of the Big Californian, +whispering rapidly: + +"Quiet, Frank. Keep quiet! Don't have a row here!" + +"In a joke!" finished Harry Cedstrom with an attempt at a smile. There +was a dead silence in the groups of students. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE CLUE + + +Frank Simpson stared at the Boxer Hall lad for a moment, and then sank +back in the chair which Sid Henderson had replaced for him. Harry seemed +to breathe easier, and certainly there were looks of relief on the faces +of his companions. + +"A joke?" repeated Frank, grimly. "Well, if that is your idea of a joke, +all I have to say is that your early education was sadly neglected. +Fellows, I guess it's my treat. Some more of those seltzer lemonades, +waiter," and turning his back, with studied indifference, on the Boxer +Hall lads, Frank began to chat with his friends. + +There was an uneasy movement among the students from Boxer Hall. + +"I tell you he insulted me!" Harry could be heard to fiercely whisper, +as he made an effort to rise. + +"Now you sit right still!" said Dave Ogden, firmly. "If there was any +insulting done, it was on your part first. I tell you to drop it. +Randall is our rival, in more ways than one, but no one ever yet accused +her of unfair tactics--least of all any of those fellows. You cut it +out, Cedstrom, or you won't know what happened to you!" + +"That's right," chimed in Pinky Davenport, another Boxer lad. "That was +a raw thing for you to say, Cedstrom, and it might make trouble for us." + +"I don't care!" exclaimed the other, defiantly. "I wanted to take those +fellows down a peg. The idea of them thinking they can row us!" + +"Well, we'll give them all the chance in the world," declared Dave, +good-naturedly; "but I think they'll never see the bow of our shell +in an eight-oared race. It takes more than one season to turn out +champions." + +"That's right," agreed Pinky. "But you go a bit slow, Cedstrom. Those +fellows are good friends of ours, even if they are rivals." + +"All right--no harm intended," said the other, seeing that he had gone +too far. + +Aside from uneasy glances from time to time toward their rivals, our +friends showed no further interest in the unpleasant incident. It had +not come to the notice of others in the restaurant, for the students +were in a room that, by custom, was set aside for their exclusive use. + +"You got his number all right, Frank," commented Phil. + +"That's what," chimed in Sid. + +"Well, I wasn't going to stand for any crack like that," declared +Frank. "Especially from a Freshman. He may have meant it, and he may +not, but the time to put the screws on is in the beginning." + +The two parties broke up soon after that, most of the Boxer Hall boys +nodding friendly good-nights to their rivals as they passed out. + +"What's the matter, Frank?" asked Tom, a little later, as they gathered +in their common study, and the tall pitcher "flopped" down beside his +chum on the old sofa. At once there was a cracking, splintering sound, +and Sid cried out in alarm. + +"Cheese it, you fellows! Do you want to spoil that completely? Remember +it's an invalid." + +"I should say so!" cried Tom, getting off as carefully as a skater goes +over thin ice, while Frank held his breath. "I didn't mean to come down +so hard." + + "Oh, student spare that couch, + Touch not a single spring. + In sleep it resteth me, + As nice as anything!" + +Thus Phil misquoted, adapting it to suit his needs. + +"Punk!" commented Tom. + +"Fierce!" cried Sid. "That's an old one." + +"Say, you fellows don't know good poetry when it comes up and shakes +hands with you," declared Phil, in disgusted tones. "I'm going to frame +that." + +"We'll have to have a new frame for the couch if Tom does any more of +his gymnastic stunts," declared Frank, as he looked to see what damage +had been done. "The back's nearly broken again," he added. + +"Kindly forgive me," spoke the pitcher, in contrite tones. "But those +two hulks have the armchairs, and I wanted some place to rest. I guess +we'll have to invest in another chair, if that couch is only going to +hold one." + +"We will not, you vandal!" exclaimed Phil. "Sit on the alarm clock, if +you want to, or flop down on the floor, or to go to bed; but you don't +go getting any new, modern, ugly, incongruous furniture into this den." + +"Oh, I didn't mean that," Tom hastened to explain. "I meant pick up a +second-hand one somewhere." + +"That mightn't be so bad," admitted Frank. + +"But say, what ails you, anyhow?" went on Tom, turning to the Big +Californian, as though to change the subject. "I was asking you that +when they raised this row about the old couch." + +"Don't you call that an 'old couch' unless in terms of the deepest +respect!" cried Phil. + +"I meant it strictly in the Pickwickian sense," Tom hastened to explain. +"But, Frank, is there anything up?" + +"Well, yes, there is," admitted the other. + +His chums looked at him curiously. + +"I hope you didn't take that Boxer Hall puppy's remarks seriously," went +on Tom. + +"Not seriously, no; and yet what he said has set me to thinking." + +"Hurray! Frank's thinking at last!" cried Sid. "Send word to Pitchfork, +and he'll give you a double stunt in Latin." + +"No, but seriously," went on the Big Californian, "you heard what he +said. In a joking way, as I really think he meant it, he suggested that +we might know something of the missing cups and jewelry, seeing that we +were first on the scene--or, at least, as far as is known. Now if he +thought that--even in a joke--and the jeweler thought it seriously--as +I am convinced he did--though he soon passed it up--why shouldn't other +people?" + +"Do you think they do?" asked Sid. + +"They might, and what I've been thinking is that we can't afford to have +even the slightest suspicion hanging over us." + +"But does there?" demanded Tom. + +"I don't know--there's a possibility that there might. You see, fellows, +we _could_ have taken those things!" + +"We could!" cried Phil. + +"Certainly. Just figure it out for a moment," went on Frank. "We might +as well look at this thing fairly and squarely. Say that box of jewelry +was in the wrecked boat when we found it on the point of Crest Island. +Say we found it to contain the Boxer Hall trophies. We could have taken +them even for a joke; couldn't we?" + +"Yes, but we didn't," declared Phil. + +"No, but that won't stop people from thinking so. They may set it down +as a college prank, but, even so, they'll think it just the same." + +"Well?" asked Sid, as Frank paused. + +"Well, that's what I was thinking of when Tom plumped down, and broke +the sofa." + +"I didn't break it." + +"You came mighty near it," went on Frank. "I was turning that over in my +mind after what happened in the restaurant, and I've got something to +propose." + +"What is it?" demanded Phil, leaning forward so interestedly and +suddenly that the old armchair creaked and groaned dismally, and a cloud +of dust arose from its ancient upholstery. + +"I think we ought to go back to Crest Island, and make a search. We may +find that box of cups and jewelry caught in some cleft of the rocks, or +we may find----" + +Again Frank paused. + +"What?" asked Tom. + +"A clue to who did take it--if it was taken." + +There was a moment of silence, and then Sid exclaimed: + +"Frank's dead right! We'll go to Crest Island to-morrow and hunt for +clues." + +Eagerly the matter was discussed, and in the end all four agreed that +they would make the search. Then came an hour of studying, and the +lights went out. + +"Oh, for the love of baked beans!" exclaimed Tom, as they were all +settled comfortable in bed. "Somebody stop that clock, will you? I'll +furnish the toothpick." + +"Get up and do it yourself," directed Frank. "I'm too comfortable." + +"So am I," said Sid. + +"Same here," came from Phil. + +"Then I suppose I've got to," groaned Tom, and in the end he did. Then, +with the fussy, little alarmer quiet, the chums dropped off, their +thoughts lasting longest on the prospective races, and on the queer +muddle of the lost trophies. + +"Well, here's where the boat was," said Tom, as they landed on Crest +Island the next afternoon. + +"But it's gone now," added Phil. + +"Yes, probably Mr. Farson had it towed away on a barge to see if he +could save any of it. My opinion is that it wasn't worth it," said Sid. + +"Well, let's scatter, two going down one shore of the island, and two on +the other," suggested Frank. "When the boat struck on the rocks, and +split, the things in the lockers may have floated one way or the other." + +"If they didn't sink," put in Tom. "A box of jewelry would be pretty +heavy." + +"If it sank, so much the better," declared the Big Californian. "Then it +would lodge, and when the waters went down, as they did after the flood, +it would still stay there. Scatter and hunt." + +They took his advice, and for an hour or more searched. Then Tom, who +was with Frank, on the eastern shore, sprang toward a clump of bushes in +which was caught some driftwood. + +"I've found something!" he cried. "It looks like the seat lockers of a +motor-boat." + +"It is," declared his chum, as he hurried to Tom's side. + +There, in the debris that had settled around the roots of the bush when +the waters had subsided, was part of a boat locker. It was split and +broken, but the cover was still on it. Eagerly Tom lifted it and, as he +did so he uttered a cry of delight. + +"Here it is!" he shouted. "The jeweler's box! It has his name on it!" + +"Open it!" exclaimed Frank, as Sid and Phil came hurrying to join their +two chums. + +Tom lifted the cover. + +"Empty!" he cried, blankly. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PRACTICE SHELL + + +The four chums stared, almost uncomprehendingly, into the open box. +It was of good size, capable of holding several trophy cups, with +compartments, velvet lined, for smaller pieces of jewelry. + +"The things all fell out!" cried Tom. "They must be scattered around +here somewhere. Let's look," and he started off. + +"No use," said Frank, quietly. + +"Why not?" asked Tom, in wonder. + +"Because those things never fell out of that box," went on the Big +Californian. + +"Why didn't they?" demanded Phil. "When the box was knocked around in +the water, or even inside the locker, why wouldn't it be split open and +the things fall out?" + +"It wasn't split, as you can easily see," went on Frank, calmly, "and +the cover wasn't forced open by banging against the rocks. It was +opened by some slender instrument being shoved under the catch, and +then pried upon. See, there are the marks. No rocks ever made those," +and he showed several scratches in the shiny surface of the box, near +the clasp. The scratches went entirely under the broad brass fastener, +showing that something thin enough to have been employed in this way was +used. As Frank had said, no rock against which the case might have been +tossed by the storm-waters, could have done it. + +"Well, let's take it to Mr. Farson," went on Sid. "We'll tell him how we +found it, and he can then see that we had nothing to do with taking the +things--even in a joke. Let's hurry back to town." + +"Let's do nothing of the sort!" exclaimed Frank quickly. + +"Why not?" demanded his chums in chorus. + +"If you want tongues to wag any more--if you want a real suspicion to be +cast on us, where there's only the faintest one now--if you want to make +real trouble, take that box to Mr. Farson. If you don't, and if you want +to get at the real facts in this case, just keep quiet about it." + +For a moment there was silence, and then Tom objected: + +"Well, maybe it's clear to you, Frank, but I can't see it that way." + +"Me either," declared Phil. + +"Why, it's as simple as anything," declared the Big Californian. + +"Well, maybe it is," admitted Sid, "but kindly translate. It's too deep +for us." + +"Look here," went on Frank. "That jeweler saw us at the wreck; didn't +he?" + +"No question about that," admitted Tom. + +"And we helped him look around. We were here first; and we said we +didn't see anything of the stuff." + +"No question about that," admitted Sid, following Tom's lead. + +"And now here we go and find the empty box--it has every appearance of +having been forced open by human hands. We take it to Mr. Farson, and +say--'Here's your box, Mr. Jeweler; but it's empty--that's just how we +found it, honest it is!' Say, wouldn't he smell a rat right away, and +think we had the stuff?" + +"No question about that," declared Phil. "That ends it! Frank is right, +we'll have to keep mum about this for our own sakes, though I don't like +it. It makes us look guilty." + +"Not a bit of it," declared Frank, stoutly. "It gives us a chance to +find out who the guilty party is." + +"Who do you suppose it is?" asked Tom. + +"I haven't the least idea," answered the California lad, quickly. +"Someone may have been on the island before we were, and found, and +rifled, the box; or that person may have come after we did. That's one +thing we've got to find out--and it isn't going to be any cinch, take it +from me!" + +They all examined the box, and then looked about the place where it had +been found, for other clues. But they found none--no other parts of the +wrecked boat seemed to be there. + +As they were coming away, to get to their boat and row to Randall, Tom +stooped and picked from the ground a bit of gaudily-colored silk, a +plaid of many colors, in a sort of ribbon. + +"What's that?" asked Sid. + +"Looks like part of a Scotch necktie," replied the tall pitcher. + +"Let's have a look," suggested Frank, as he closely examined the piece +of silk. "That's no part of a necktie!" he exclaimed. "It's a piece +of a Mexican silk handkerchief of all the colors of the rainbow. I've +seen 'em on sale out in my state. The Mexicans and some other folks are +fond of sporting them, but they were always too rich for my blood. But, +fellows, do you notice one thing about this?" and he held it up for +inspection. + +"Do you mean it might have been worn by the jeweler, and dropped in his +motor-boat?" asked Tom. + +"It _might_ have been worn by the jeweler, but not very likely," said +Frank. "In the first place, notice that it shows no signs of having +been wet, except by the dew. It was never in the flood, or it would +have mud on it. And I don't believe it was worn by the jeweler, and +dropped here; otherwise, having good eyesight, as all jewelers and watch +repairers have, he would have seen his box." + +"Then you think----," began Sid. + +"That it was dropped here by someone who was on this island either +before, or after, we were here the first time; by someone who found the +box, opened it, and took the stuff away," finished Frank. + +"And who that person was it's up to us to find out," declared Tom. + +"Exactly. And here's another thing," went on Frank, "this piece of silk +is torn off in a long strip, cleanly, and it looks to me as if it might +have been one of several so torn, or ripped, to make a bundle of the +cups and jewelry. If we can find a handkerchief like this, with a strip +torn off, we'll come pretty close to the person who has the Boxer Hall +cups," finished the Big Californian. + +"Maybe the fellow tore off a couple of strips, used the main part of +his handkerchief in which to wrap his stuff, and left one strip here by +mistake," suggested Phil. + +"Maybe," admitted Frank. "Well, we've got about all we can find here, I +guess. I vote we get back, and talk this matter over among ourselves. +And, mind, not a word to a soul!" + +All promised and then, carefully concealing in their boat the jewelry +box, with the piece of silk inside, they rowed back to college. + +But the discussion they brought to bear on the matter in their room +later, failed to throw any light on the subject. All the conclusion they +could come to was that if they found the owner of the gaudy handkerchief +they might find the possessor of the jewelry. + +In the days that followed rowing matters occupied much of the attention +and the talk of the Randall students. The chairmen of the various +committees called meetings, and made reports of progress to the general +athletic body. The offer of the alumni to provide a fine boathouse, and +a rowing equipment, was formally accepted, and the required promise made. + +There was no lack of material for an eight-oared shell--two in +fact--several fours, a couple of doubles, and one or two singles. In +response to a request for a list of what was needed, it was decided to +ask for one first-class eight-oared shell, for two fours, two doubles, +and three singles, though the gift committee, naturally, would do as +they thought best. This would give plenty of craft in which to practice. +In view of the expense of the eight-oared shell it was decided that the +students themselves would subscribe enough to purchase a second-hand +eight for practice. + +They learned of one in good condition, that could be had at a bargain, +also a single and a four, and, as it would take some time for the +generous old graduates to provide their equipment, it was voted to buy +the second-hand ones for use the remainder of that Spring. + +"That will give us a little time for practice," decided Kindlings, who +had the matter in charge. He had been elected temporary captain of a +tentative eight crew; a temporary arrangement, as it would not be known, +until the coach had selected the crew, who would row in the different +craft. There would be try-outs as soon as possible. + +The old boathouse would have to answer until the new one was built, +but, to accommodate the many students who now thronged it, a temporary +addition was built, the coming warm weather making it unnecessary to +have it very substantial. + +The interest in rowing increased every day. Our four chums and their +friends were perhaps the foremost in showing their delight in the coming +events. + +Boxer Hall had been communicated with, as had Fairview Institute, and +both had agreed to enter into triangular-league contests that Fall, the +details to be arranged later. + +The second-hand shells had been ordered, and Mr. Lighton agreed to do +the water coaching, in addition to looking after the baseball lads, for +the affairs of the diamond were beginning to hold the attention of many. +Of course our friends did not lose interest in baseball because of the +coming water sports. + +Meanwhile no further trace of the missing cups or jewelry had been +found. No one claimed the reward offered by Mr. Farson, to which the +Boxer Hall Athletic Association added a substantial sum for the recovery +of their trophies. Our friends said nothing of their find, and, though +there was hardly a breath of suspicion against them, even in Boxer Hall, +still they fretted. + +"We've just got to find out who took those things!" cried Tom, one +afternoon, coming back from a row on the river. + +"That's right!" agreed his chums. + +A number of the ordinary rowing boats had been secured, and Mr. Lighton +spent some time giving the lads an idea of the rudiments of getting down +to the right stroke. Of course with toe stretchers, and sliding seats, +there would come a vast change, so he did not want to go too deeply into +the matter until the right craft were at hand. + +"Well, what shall we do this afternoon?" asked Sid, as he yawningly +tossed aside a book that he had dipped into on coming to his room after +a lecture. + +"I'm for a row!" exclaimed Tom. + +"We ought to do some baseball practice," suggested Phil. "We've sort of +been letting that slide." + +"Let's do a little of----" began Frank, when the door flew open, and in +came Kindlings, all excited. + +"It's come!" he cried. + +"What?" chorused the others. + +"The new shell--I mean the second-hand eight--the boat we're going to +do our practice in! I just got word from the freight office that it's +there. Let's get a truck, and have it carted to the river. I'm crazy to +get in and go for a row!" + +"Hurray! That's the stuff!" cried Tom. "Come on, everybody!" and he led +the way, the others following. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE FIRST TRIAL + + +"Well, now we have it, what shall we do with it?" + +"Say, but it's a frail thing all right!" + +"Looks as if one good stroke would split it in two." + +"And that will hold eight men!" + +"Nine, counting the coxswain, you gump! Didn't you ever see an +eight-oared shell before?" + +"Not so close at hand! Say, but it's flimsy all right." + +"Oh, I guess we'll find it stiff enough for us." + +These were only a few of the comments, and questions, propounded by the +students of Randall as they gathered about the new shell--or, rather, +the second-hand one--that had been purchased in order to give them +practice while the new outfit was being made. + +Following the enthusiastic announcement of Kindlings, as detailed in +the last chapter, the more eager of the rowing contingent, including +our four heroes, had gone to the freight depot, and, procuring a truck +had, with great care and patience, transported the boat, well swathed in +burlap, to the river. Later, under the direction of Coach Lighton, they +had attached the outriggers, gotten out the oars, given the boat another +coat of varnish, oiled it well, and now it rested in the water alongside +the dock, as lightly as a swan, if not as gracefully. + +"It looks more like a water-spider than anything else," commented Jerry +Jackson, one of the Jersey twins. + +"Here! Can that!" cried Tom. "No finding fault with our boat, or we'll +duck you." + +"That's what!" declared Dutch Housenlager. "Let's get in and take a +try!" he proposed, starting toward the frail craft, and preparing to +step in it. + +"Here! Hold on!" cried Mr. Lighton, in accents of alarm. "That's no way +to get into a shell. Now you fellows just hold your breaths until I give +you a few points." + +The lads--a score or more--all of whom hoped to make the eight, while +others felt that they would be satisfied in the fours, or singles, +had gathered around. They had all helped to get the shell into shape, +pending the arrival of some more of the second-hand craft. Now they were +eager to try their skill. + +"It is too early to pick out the crew yet," said Mr. Lighton, "as I +don't know what any of you can do. So I suggest that you all have a +try, and those that develop the most aptitude will come in for more +consideration. Have you thought of anyone for permanent captain? Wait, +though, I guess you'd better let that go until you see how you make out +in rowing. And, as for the coxswain--who wants to be coxswain?" he asked. + +"Don't all speak at once," he added whimsically. "Remember that, while +it's a post of honor, the coxswain doesn't row, though by steering he +assumes almost as much responsibility as all the rest put together, for +a well-steered boat often means a winning one. We want a light weight +for coxswain," and he looked over the assembled group. + +No one volunteered and the coach went on: + +"Well, at the risk of seeming egotistical, I'll assume that post myself, +for the time being, though I'm a bit heavy. I think I can coach you +better from that position--at least at the start. Now then, I guess +we're ready. Whom shall we try first?" + +Once more he looked around. + +"Holly Cross," he called, and that lad stepped forward, then: +"Kindlings, Phil Clinton, Tom Parsons, Frank, Sid," went on the coach. + +A pause. + +"Yes, come ahead, Housenlager," said the coach, as Dutch made an eager +move. "Let's see, that's seven. Where's Bricktop. Not here. Joe Jackson." + +"I'm afraid I'm a bit light," said the Jersey twin. + +"Well, perhaps you are. You may fill in later, though, as coxswain, or +row in one of the other boats. I guess----" + +"I'd like to row!" exclaimed someone. + +Reginald Boswell stepped forward, a smile of confidence on his face. + +"I've done considerable of it," he added, with an air of assurance. +To do him justice he was a well-built lad, and those who had seen him +out on the river knew he could pull a good oar. Whether he had racing +qualities in him remained to be seen. + +"Very well," said the coach, quietly. "We'll give you a trial. That +makes the eight. Now then, who'll be for stroke? Simpson, I think +I'll try you. You look as though you could set the pace. For number +seven--um! Parsons, you try that, though we may change later. Remember +that number seven, who sits directly behind stroke, has almost as +important a position, for he has to pick up the stroke promptly, and the +rest of the crew is dependent, in a great measure, on what number seven +does. + +"Now, let me see. Boswell, you'll be bow oar. Phil Clinton number two, +Sid Henderson at three, Housenlager at four, Woodhouse number five, and +Cross at six. Now I guess we're all ready. Steady the boat there, some +of you, while the crew gets in." + +Dutch Housenlager once more eagerly started for the boat, and extended +his foot to step down into it at his designated seat. + +"Wait! Wait!" cried the coach. "Don't get into a shell that way. +Remember that it's almost as thin as its name indicates. Put your foot +lengthwise of the keelson, not athwart, or you may force your heel or +toe through the sides. Have all of you your rubber-soled shoes on?" + +"Sure," replied Dutch, a bit abashed. A glance showed that all were in +sufficiently regular rowing costume. + +"Now, while we're at it, I might as well tell you how properly to get in +a shell," went on the coach. "You may all listen, as you can't tell whom +it may fit. + +"In the first place take your oar, and, if you're to row on the side of +the shell that happens to be nearest the float at the time, lay your +blade on the platform. If you're on the water side, lay the blade flat +on the surface of the water. + +"Now get in, facing the stern, being careful to step lengthways, as I +told Housenlager. Stoop down, with a hand on either gunwale, and lower +yourself into your seat. You will of course notice the seats slide back +and forth, that you have outriggers instead of gunwale oarlocks, and +that there are stretchers, or loops under which to thrust your toes. + +"Once in your seat, ship your oar by thrusting the handle in through +the outrigger oarlock from outside. Sit straight, not to one side, and +squarely face the handle of your oar, have your shoulders a bit back, +and your elbows close to your flanks. I'll give you more points as we go +along. + +"Hold your oar with the outside hand close to the end of the handle, +but not over the edge of it. You get more power from your outside hand, +remember. The 'outside' hand, strange as it may seem, is the one nearest +the centre of the boat, and the inside one, that nearest the 'loom,' +spoon, body or blade of the oar. Put the other hand not more than two +and a half inches from the outside hand. Thumbs underneath, or toward +the bottom of the boat, of course; though some men row with the thumb of +one hand in the same position as the fingers. + +"And now then, to give you brief instructions in how to row. First +give a full, fair reach out over your toes, with both arms perfectly +straight, dip your oar in the water--plunge it in with force. Get a good +hold on the water with the blade, and the instant it is immersed, pull +with all your might, and then follow through, as we say, with a long, +firm stroke without vibration or wavering. + +"Then, with a light finish, get your oar blade clear of the water +cleanly, feather light, low and quick--into the water again all together +with a 'chug'--another pull and--there you are--you're rowing!" + +There was silence for a moment, and then Tom remarked: + +"Sounds easy; doesn't it?" + +"Yes, and some of you will find it easy," remarked Mr. Lighton, with a +smile. "Others will not. But we can tell soon who the rowers are going +to be, though that is not saying that, with practice, some of those who +seem the least fitted may not become very proficient." + +"I once belonged to a swell New York club," remarked Reginald Boswell. + +"Why did they put you out, Bossy?" asked Kindlings, with a wink at Sid. + +"They didn't--I resigned," and the rich lad shot an indignant glance at +his tormentor. + +"Same thing," remarked Kindlings. + +"Now then, get into the shell, and we'll try a little spin," called the +coach, and he watched carefully as each of the eight lads followed his +instructions more or less accurately. Some were a bit awkward, but all +were careful to at least step into the shell properly. + +"Push off," commanded the coxswain-coach, as he took his seat in the +stern, with the tiller ropes in his hands. "You will notice that some of +you are on what is called the stroke side--that is, with your oars on +the same side as Frank Simpson, who faces me. So when I say 'stroke side +pull,' it means that only those on that side, or at my right hand, are +to row. + +"Oppositely, some of you are on what is known as the bow side, or with +your oars on the side on which sits Boswell, the bow oar. That is on my +left. Though, of course, you all sit in the middle of the boat. So when +I give orders for the stroke oars to do certain things I mean for those +on Frank's side to obey. Now then, row, stroke oars!" + +Four blades shot back and took the water, not all at once, as they +should have done, but fairly well for the first time. As the craft +was heading down stream, with the stroke oars nearest the float, this +man[oe]uver tended to swing the craft farther out into the river to clear +the dock. + +"Row, bows!" came the order, and the others, dipping their blades, +slewed the craft around until she was straight again, and far enough out +to enable a good start to be made. + +"Very good!" complimented the coach. "Now then, row all!" + +The frail shell, like some grotesque water spider, darted ahead, the +water swirling under the broad blades. + +"Hurray!" yelled the crowd along the bank and on the dock. + +"They're off!" shouted Jerry Jackson. + +"The first spin!" added his brother. "I wonder if we can turn out a +winning crew?" + +"Of course we can, Joe me lad!" cried Bricktop Molloy, coming up at that +moment. "Of course that's not sayin' it wouldn't be much better with me +in the boat, but it can't be helped now. I'm a bit late," he added. "Ten +thousand maledictions on Pitchfork for detainin' me. But who's that at +bow?" + +"Bossy," some one told him. + +"That calf! Sure he can row though!" the Irish student added, +half-admiringly, as he watched the efforts of the rich lad. + +The shell was well out in the river now, spinning along at a rapid pace. +Of course it was far from being at racing speed, but even a little power +sent the knife-like boat along at a great rate, so little resistance was +there. + +"Steady all!" called Mr. Lighton, in a low voice, as he noticed a +tendency to splash on the part of some. "Get your oars in the water with +force. Get hold of the water all together. When you do, it will sound +like a stone falling in--a chug--a noise like a 'rotten egg', as it is +called. Try for that. The eight oars ought to sound like a single pair +when you learn to row in unison. + +"Pick it up a little faster, bow!" he called to Boswell. + +"This is the way I learned to row," came the retort from the bow oar. + +"Well, you'll have to unlearn some things," retorted the coach, grimly. + +"Don't look so worried, Tom," he went on a little later. "You're picking +up your stroke fairly well. Frank, a little more forward--reach out well +over your toes. That's better. Now let's hit it up a little." + +They had been rowing about twenty strokes per minute--rather slow, and, +as Mr. Lighton indicated an increase, Frank followed, until they were +doing twenty-four, a substantial advance. As they rowed along, Tom +glanced away from Frank's rising and falling back, and said in a low +voice: + +"Here comes Boxer Hall!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +RUTH'S LOSS + + +"Silence number seven--eyes in the boat--on the man in front of you!" + +Thus the coach called to Tom, but there was no sting in his words, and +the tall baseball pitcher of Randall knew that it was for the good of +himself and the crew. Nothing is so important in a race as to save one's +wind, and to keep one's eyes fairly glued on the back of the man in +front of one. For on unison, and in rowing exactly in time with every +other man in the shell, does the race depend. + +"Never mind Boxer Hall," went on Mr. Lighton. "We're going to beat her, +but we won't unless we learn how to keep our eyes in our own boat. +Steady there, Sid!" + +On came the Boxer Hall eight. They were rowing down the stream, as were +our friends, but the rival college shell was in the rear, having gone up +stream earlier in the day, being now on the return trip. + +"Don't try to race them when they pass us," cautioned Mr. Lighton, who +had not even turned his head to see the approaching shell behind him. +"It will be a temptation, I know, but we are not ready for a spurt yet." + +"Are we going to let them pass us?" demanded the rich lad, almost +forgetting to row. + +"Don't talk!" came sharply from the coxswain. "It's your business to +row, Boswell, if you want to be in this eight. You almost lost a stroke +then, and see how the boat slews! I have to shift the rudder to correct +it, and in a race that might mean the loss of considerable distance. +Pick up your stroke, and don't race!" + +The face of the rich lad expressed disappointment, and his was not +the only one. Certainly it was a bit galling to let Boxer Hall--their +ancient rival--pass them, and the first time Randall was out in her +eight, too! + +But afterward all admitted the wisdom of the course taken by the coach. +They were in no condition to race, and, green as most of them were as to +how to behave in a tricky shell, they might have had an upset. Not they +would have minded that, but they would have been the laughing-stock of +Boxer Hall. + +On came the rivals, the oars being feathered beautifully. They took +the water with that peculiar chugging sound that always denotes a +well-trained crew. + +"Listen, all of you," advised Mr. Lighton in a low voice. "That's what I +mean by the 'rotten-egg' sound. It's when the oar blade is plunged under +water as you begin your stroke. Try to attain it--after they pass." + +The Boxer Hall lads, rowing perhaps a trifle faster than they had been +doing, sitting perhaps a trifle straighter, and pulling a bit harder--a +natural showing off--came opposite the shell containing our friends of +Randall. + +"Want to try a little spurt?" called Dave Ogden, from the coxswain's +seat. + +"No, thank you--we're just out for practice. It's our first spin," +replied Mr. Lighton. "Some other time." + +"Why not now?" murmured Boswell. + +"Silence in the bow!" exclaimed the coach, sharply. + +"You're a martinet!" retorted the rich lad, but in so low a voice that +only Phil, sitting in front of him, heard. + +Not a lad in the Boxer Hall shell spoke, though several nodded in +friendly fashion at their acquaintances in the Randall boat. They were +evidently well trained, and were saving their wind. + +On they rowed, passing those who hoped to prove themselves formidable +rivals by the following Fall. And in spite of the command of Mr. Lighton +for all eyes to be in the boat, hardly a lad of the eight but glanced +enviously at the smoothly-swinging shell, that looked so trim and so +neat. For, in spite of the work expended on the second-hand craft, it +showed what it was. + +"But it won't be long before we have a better one," thought Tom. + +"Row easy, all," came the command from the coach, when the Boxer Hall +boat had passed around a bend of the stream. + +The stroke was slackened, to the relief of all, for, though they were +sturdy lads, rowing was a form of exercise to which they were not much +accustomed, especially in a shell. The strangeness of the seats, the toe +stretchers, and the outriggers added to their confusion, so that the +fatigue was almost as much one of attention and brain power as of muscle. + +"Now for a turn against the current," remarked the coach, when they had +gone on a mile or two more. "This will give you some resistance to work +against." + +The shell was turned, after a fashion, Mr. Lighton being anxious not +to bring too much strain on the outriggers, the turning action always +involving this. + +"Give way!" came the command, and the shell started back up stream. + +This was harder work, but the coach, desiring to know if he had any +members on the crew who were likely to prove of less service than the +others, kept them all up to a good stroke. There was some panting when +the float was reached, a larger crowd than before being there to welcome +the first tentative crew. But, to do the lads justice, not one but had +stood the strain well, even the fault-finding Boswell. + +"Well rowed for the first time!" complimented Mr. Lighton. "Now, then, +a good shower bath and a rub-down, and then some light exercise to keep +from getting stiff, for you have used muscles to-day that seldom came +into play before. Now who's for another crew?" and he picked out eight +more lads, who went off in the shell. + +"That was great!" cried Tom, as, with his three particular chums he +started for the gymnasium. + +"It sure was," agreed Sid. "I never thought I could do so well." + +"And I never knew I could do so rotten!" came from Frank. "I used to +think I was some pumpkins with an oar, but this has taken all the +conceit out of me." + +"Same here," agreed Phil. "But I think we're on the right road." + +"Boxer Hall did fine," went on Tom. "I give them credit for that. I wish +we'd started at rowing years ago. It's a shame it was so neglected at +Randall." + +"It was dandy of those old grads to think to put us in the way of it +once more," went on Sid. "We'll have to pass them a vote of thanks." + +Thus talking the boys went into the gymnasium, whence they emerged a +little later, glowing, and feeling the spring and buoyancy of youth. + +"Hello, what's this?" asked Phil, as they entered their room, and saw +some letters on the table. + +"From the girls!" cried Tom, as he saw a certain hand-writing. + +"Here, you've got mine!" declared Frank, making a grab for the epistle +in Sid's hand. + +"Beg your pardon old man--so I have. I'll trade," and soon the four lads +were busy perusing four notes. + +"They're going to have a dance," spoke Tom. "A week from to-night. Will +we go? I guess yes! That is, I don't think we have any date for that +evening." + +"If I have I'll break it," said Sid, quickly. + +"Listen to the old misogynist--him as wouldn't used to speak to a girl!" +cried Phil. "Oh, what a change! What a change!" + +"Dry up!" commanded Sid, making a reach for his chum, who nimbly escaped +by leaping behind the sofa. + +"Say, this is pretty indefinite," went on Tom. "They just ask us to +come, and don't say who's to take who, or anything like that." + +"And there are a new lot of fellows at Fairview," said Frank. "I move +that we go over and make sure of our girls. I don't want to get left." + +"I should have thought Ruth would be more definite," put in Phil. "But +say, we've got time to run over and back before grub. Come on." + +Regardless of the fact that they had just come in from a hard row, they +soon got into their "semi-best suits," as Sid called them, and hurried +to the trolley that would land them at the co-educational institution. + +"There are the girls!" exclaimed Tom, who, being in the lead, as he and +his chums crossed the campus a little later, saw the four; Ruth, Madge +Tyler, Mabel Harrison and Helen Newton. + +They paired off--as they always did--and soon were walking in different +directions. Tom was with Ruth Clinton, and after the matter of the dance +had been settled, and she had agreed to accompany him, as doubtless the +other girls had done for the other lads, the tall pitcher, with a glance +at his pretty companion remarked: + +"New pin, Ruth? Where did you get it?" and he looked at her +collar-fastening. + +"Hush!" she exclaimed, looking quickly around. "Don't tell Phil!" + +"Why not?" Tom wanted to know. "Doesn't he want you to have jewelry?" + +"Yes, but listen, you remember that dear old-fashioned brooch I used to +wear? The one with the secret spring in the back, that, when you pressed +on it, showed a little picture of me. Do you remember that?" + +"Do I? I should say I did! And how you dropped it at a dance once, and I +had to crawl down under the palms in the conservatory to get it." + +"And you in your dress suit, poor boy!" and Ruth laughed. "I should say +you might well remember it. But, Tom, this is serious," and she grew +grave at once. "I've lost that brooch!" + +"Lost it--how?" + +"Or, rather, it's been stolen, and I don't dare tell Phil. You know the +clasp was broken, or something was the matter with it. That's the reason +it fell off that time you had to hunt for it." + +"And did it drop again? Tell me where, and I'll search until----" + +"No, Tom, it wouldn't do any good," and Ruth sighed. + +"Why not?" + +"Because it's been stolen!" + +"Stolen!" + +"Yes. Listen. I feel dreadfully about it. You know it was a gift from +my grandmother. She is a dear, old-fashioned lady, and she has lots of +lovely old-fashioned jewelry. She always said she disliked the present +styles, and when she gave me that pin she made me promise to wear it, +and never be ashamed of it, even if it was a century old. + +"Of course I promised, for the pin _was_ a beauty. And grandmother +always said that if I took good care of it, and wore it whenever I went +out, she would leave me her lovely string of pearls. Of course I would +have worn the pin without that. And now it's been taken!" + +"Taken! By someone here at college?" + +"Hush, not so loud! I gave it to a jeweler, a Mr. Farson, in +Haddonfield, to repair the clasp, and I just got word from him to-day +that it was taken. So I had to buy another pin to fasten my collar with, +and I'm so afraid Phil will notice it; or that grandmother may hear +about it! She'll say I'm careless." + +"Did Farson have your brooch?" cried Tom. + +"Yes. Why?" + +"And did he tell you how it was taken?" + +"Well, he said it was taken with a lot of other things that he had +collected from his customers to repair. He offered to get me another, +but of course I never can get one like that." + +"Say!" exclaimed Tom, greatly excited. "Your pin must have been in that +box he left in his motor-boat, when the craft was wrecked on Crest +Island and when the Boxer Hall cups were taken. By Jove! This brings +that robbery home to me all right!" and Tom looked strangely at Ruth. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ON CREST ISLAND + + +"What do you mean?" cried the girl, impressed by Tom's strange manner. + +"Why, didn't you hear? This jeweler had been going about collecting +work for repairing, and left a lot of it in a box in his boat. Then +he was called away suddenly, and remained away over night. A flood +came up, swept his boat away, wrecked it on Crest Island, and we four +fellows found it there. But the jewelry case was empty. Didn't you hear +that--and about the Boxer Hall cups?" + +"I believe I did," answered Ruth, slowly. "But I did not know then, that +my brooch was in that box. Oh, Tom, do you suppose it could be on Crest +Island?" + +"I don't know, Ruth. The box was empty when we found it, and we think +someone located it before we did, and rifled it." + +"Oh, Tom, my dear pin! If grandmother hears I've lost it she'll never +forgive me--and then her pearls, too; not that I care so much about +them, but this pin was given her by her husband, when they were +courting, and she thought the world of it. It was made abroad, of a +peculiar pattern, and never could be replaced. It was an heirloom, and +she must have thought a lot of me to let me take it. + +"Oh, I just can't bear to tell her it is gone! Maybe we can find it. +Perhaps it is on the island yet. Maybe it dropped from the box. Tell me; +was Phil along when you found the box?" + +"Yes, but of course he didn't know that anything of yours was in it." + +"Then please don't tell him. He might think I ought to tell grandmother +about it--he's so peculiar. And I _will_ tell her, if worse comes to +worst, and I can't get it back. But, oh, Tom! do you suppose it could be +on the island?" and she looked eagerly at him. + +"If it's there I'll find it!" declared the tall pitcher, perhaps with +more zeal than discretion. + +"And don't you tell a soul!" + +"I won't," he promised. + +"Could you take me with you, Tom? I'd like to help you hunt for it." + +"Of course," he said, promptly. "The weather is getting fine now. We'll +row over to the island some day, and make a search. But that pin isn't +going to be easy to find." + +"No, I realize that, Tom. But it will make me feel better to help look +for it. Oh, how careless of that jeweler to leave his things in the +boat!" + +"It was, in a way, but he could not tell he was going to be summoned +away, nor that the flood would come. I feel sorry for him." + +"So do I, but--I want my brooch back," and Ruth smiled at Tom. "Now +don't say anything, and don't notice my new pin--at least in front of +Phil," she stipulated. "If I can get the old one back, then it will +be time enough to tell him. Oh, here he comes now, with Madge. Yes, I +think the dance will be perfectly fine!" exclaimed Ruth, in loud tones, +to change the conversation for the benefit of her brother and Madge. +Tom took his cue instantly, and the four were soon engaged in a lively +conversation, Ruth, meanwhile, telegraphing signals to Tom with her +eyes, while she arranged a bit of her lace collar over the new pin, so +that her brother would not notice it. + +Plans for the dance being duly made, the boys took a regretful +departure. But it was high time, for Miss Philock sent one of the +teachers to Ruth and the girls, to tell them that visiting hours were +over. + +"Until the next time!" called the girls, as the boys walked off. + +"And, Tom," whispered Ruth, "don't forget." + +"I'll not!" he promised. + +"Hello, what's up between you and Sis?" asked Phil, quickly. + +"Oh, we're just arranging a little expedition," was the answer of his +chum. + +But Tom could not carry out his plan of taking the girl to Crest Island +the next day. It rained, and baseball practice was ordered in the cage +at the gymnasium. + +As I do not, in this book, intend to devote much space to baseball at +Randall (seeing that I have fully discussed several games in other books +of this series), it is sufficient to say that all of our friends played +on the varsity nine, together with some new students, and that Randall +bade fair to win the championship at this time. Which she later did, +though not without hard work. + +Then came several days of practice in the eight-oared shell, and in +the four, the double, and singles, which had, in the meanwhile, been +received. There was much enthusiasm, and Mr. Lighton had to press in +as coaches some post-graduate students who knew rowing fairly well. +But he himself gave his time to the eight. A number of other lads had +been tried in it, and among those who had taken the first practice spin +several shifts in position were made. + +But at last a fine, warm, sunny Spring day came, and Tom, after an early +lecture one afternoon, arrayed himself in a costume suitable for rowing, +and, with some cushions under his arm, set off for the boathouse. + +"Whither away?" asked Phil, as he surveyed his chum. + +"Oh, out for a row," and Tom strove to make his voice indifferent. + +"With cushions; eh? Want any company?" + +"No, thanks, old man. No offense, of course," he hastened to add, +"but----" + +"None taken!" exclaimed Phil. "Guess I'll go get a girl myself." + +As Tom neared the boathouse he met Sid and Frank. + +"Want me to pull an oar?" asked the former, as he saw the tall pitcher. + +"No. I can manage," and Tom proceeded to get out a light boat. + +"I say, old man," put in Frank, with a wink at Sid. "Lend me one of +those cushions; will you. I'm going----" + +"You're going to get one of your own!" interrupted Tom. "I need these." + +"You mean the lady does," added Sid, with a laugh. "Go on, you old +deserter. We'll be going out in the shell, later." + +"Will you?" exclaimed Tom. "I wonder if I'd better--Oh, go and be hanged +to you!" he added. "I'll get practice enough," and he got into the boat +and rowed away. + +"Wonder where he's going?" spoke Frank. + +"Give it up," replied Sid. "Let's find Phil, and get ready for a spin." + +Meanwhile Tom made good time to Fairview, and found Ruth awaiting him, +he having previously telephoned to her to be in readiness. + +"Oh, Tom, I wonder if we will have any luck?" she exclaimed, as they set +off, her three girl chums watching her curiously. + +"I hope so," he answered, "but, really, I can't hold out much. A brooch +is so small, and Crest Island is rather large. But we'll look near the +place where the box lodged. The pin may still be there." + +It was not a short row to Crest Island, but Tom did not mind it. Indeed +he was rather sorry when the place was reached. + +He lost no time in proceeding to the spot where he and his chums had +picked up the jewelry box. The place seemed just the same, with no +evidence of any other visitors. It was rather early for the Summer +crowds to come, and none of the several cottages had opened. + +The two spent some time in making a careful search, beginning at the +point where the wrecked boat had been found, and working along both +shores--that is, after a search at the spot where the box had been +picked up. But no brooch rewarded their efforts. + +"I guess you'll have to wait until the other things are located," said +Tom. "Your pin may be among them." + +"Let's walk on a little farther," proposed Ruth. "I want to look at +Madge Tyler's cottage." + +"Has Madge a cottage here?" asked the lad, in surprise. + +"Her people have taken one for the Summer. Madge has invited us girls to +spend several weeks with her. Where are you boys going this vacation?" + +"To Crest Island!" replied Tom promptly, though, a moment before, he had +had not the slightest idea. + +"Oh, you're just _saying_ that!" challenged Ruth. + +"No, really I'm not!" he insisted. "If you girls are going to cottage +here, I don't see why we can't camp. Other fellows do." + +"Oh, it would be nice, of course," she admitted, as they strolled along. +"There's the Tyler place," called Ruth a little later. "I recognize the +description. Isn't it lovely?" + +"Fine!" agreed Tom. "And that looks like a good camping place," and he +indicated a spot not far off. + +They soon gave up looking for the lost brooch, which, as Ruth said, was +like searching for a needle in a haystack. They strolled some distance +on the island, admiring the Summer cottages that would soon be open, and +then turned back. + +Not far from the spot where Tom and his chums had found the rifled +jewelry box Tom saw a sort of shack, or small hut, off between the trees. + +"I wonder whose that is?" he ventured. "Let's go take a look." + +"It doesn't seem very inviting," returned Ruth. "Perhaps some boatmen +live there." + +The shack was deserted, but a look through the grimy windows showed that +it probably had an occupant, for there were some dishes on a table, some +pans on a rusty stove, and, in through another room, could be seen some +bunks. + +"Probably a caretaker for the cottages," suggested Ruth, as she rested +her hand on a window-sill, and idly pulled out some threads that had +caught in a splinter. "Rather a strange sort of caretaker," she went on, +"who wears silk--see, these are silk threads," and she held up a number, +brightly colored. + +"Where did you get those?" asked Tom, and the girl started at the +strange note in his voice. + +"On the window sill," she explained. "Why?" + +"Oh--nothing," was his answer, but she noted that he took the threads +from her, and carefully put them in a card case. "They might do to make +a fishing fly with," he explained, after a pause. + +"Oh," she said. + +They strolled around to the front door of the building to find it +locked. + +"There's someone's card," remarked Ruth, as she touched a bit of +pasteboard with the toe of her shoe. "Maybe it was on the door, telling +at what hour the person who lives here would return." + +"Maybe," agreed Tom, stooping to pick it up. "I'll fasten it back again. +I wonder who does live here?" + +Idly he turned the card over. Then he started in surprise, for the name +that met his eyes was: + + _Reginald Boswell_ + +"Who is it?" asked Ruth. "Anyone I know?" + +"I--I fancy not," answered Tom, still staring at the card. "I wonder how +that got here?" he mused. "And I wonder who lives in this shack?" and +putting the bit of pasteboard in his pocket, he swung around. + +"I guess we'd better be getting back," he said to Ruth. "It's getting +late, and it's a bit of a pull. I'm sorry we couldn't find your brooch." + +"So am I," she admitted, with a sigh. "But it can't be helped. Oh, _how_ +can I tell grandmother?" + +She took Tom's arm, as the way was rough. They had not gone many feet +before they heard someone approaching, tramping through the underbrush. + +"Who can that be?" asked the girl. + +"I don't know--we'll look," whispered Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE GAY HANDKERCHIEF + + +"Who are you--what you do here?" + +The question was snapped out at Tom and Ruth as they stood near the +shack. A man had come to an abrupt halt as he emerged from the bushes +and faced them; something of fear, Tom thought, mingled with anger +showing on his face. It was this man whom they had heard approaching, a +man clad in ordinary garments, yet with an indefinable foreign air about +him--an air that was accentuated by his words and inflection. He was +dark of skin, swarthy, and when he smiled, which he did a moment after +his rather harsh words of greeting, his very white teeth showed beneath +a small black moustache. A Spaniard Tom put him down for, or a Mexican. +The latter guess proved correct, as the lad learned afterward. + +"You come here to--to--pardon, senor, I am forgetting my manners," went +on the fellow with a bow, and a sharp glance at Ruth. "You are here +perhaps to look at cottages--you and your charming bride." + +Ruth drew in her breath sharply, and a rosy glow suffused her face. She +did not look at Tom, who chuckled audibly. + +"I--I'll never speak to you if you do that again," said the girl, in a +low voice. + +"Do what?" asked Tom, innocently enough. + +"Laugh at--at what he said," and she still blushed, and refused to look +up. + +"Pardon, senor," went on the man. "No offense, but----" + +"That's all right," said Tom easily, master of himself now, but +wondering much who the man might be. "We were just looking around. Some +friends of ours have a cottage here--the Tylers----" + +"Oh, yes. Then you are very welcome. In fact you would be welcome +anyhow, as this island is more or less of the public--what you say, I +have not the very good English?" and he looked questioningly at them. + +"Oh, you mean that it is open to the public." + +"That is so, yes, senor, and senorita. You are interested in my poor +abode here--yes?" + +"Oh, we were just looking around," explained Tom. "We did peep in. No +harm, I hope." + +"None at all, senor." + +"I'm from Randall," the pitcher went on. "Miss Clinton is from Fairview." + +"Oh, you are fellow students then?" + +"Not exactly--say, rather--rivals," and Tom looked at Ruth and laughed. +The blush had somewhat subsided. + +"Ah, I comprehend. I am Rafello Mendez, at your service, senor." + +"My name is Parsons," went on Tom. "Sorry I haven't a card," and he +thought of the one he had picked up, which he had quickly thrust into +his pocket at the sound of approaching footsteps. + +"I am what you call the take-care man around here," went on Mendez. "I +am the take-care man of the cottages--not all--some." + +"The 'take-care' man," murmured Tom. "It sounds like the bugaboo-man." + +"Oh, he means the care-taker," exclaimed Ruth. "I understand. You look +after the property while the cottagers are away; isn't that it?" and she +smiled at the man, who bowed low and answered: + +"The senorita has said it. I am the take-care man." + +"But I thought old Jake Blasdell had that job," said Tom. "I know he +used to be here. But I never knew he had this shack, though I haven't +been much on this part of the island." + +"Senor Blasdell did was the take-care man," explained Mendez. "But he +was took sick, and had to leave, and a friend got me the place. Me, I +used to be of the sheep take-care in my country--Mexico, but I long for +this country and I come. I do what you call a business on the edge." + +"On the edge?" murmured Tom. + +"Yes, senor, on the edge. Or maybe you say on the point. You see he +is like this: I am the take-care man for the cottages in place of +Senor Blasdell in Winter. In Summer I am the cut-the-grass-man or the +garden-man, what you like. Then, besides, in addition, on the edge I +sell things in my store which it is unfortunately not open now, or I +should show the senorita some pretty things. The store I do on the +edge--or maybe on the point, I know not how you say," and he shrugged +his shoulders expressively. + +"Oh, he means on the side!" cried Ruth. "Don't you understand, Tom? +He is a caretaker, and at odd times he sells things to the Summer +cottagers." + +"The senorita has said it," went on Mendez. "It is on the side, not on +the edge--pardon!" + +"What do you sell?" asked Tom, curiously. + +"Everything. Things from the country. Of a specialty I have the +beautiful Mexican push-work, senorita." + +"Push-work, that's another new one," said Tom. + +"I guess he means Mexican drawn-work," explained Ruth with a smile. +"Some of it is very beautiful. He ought to do a good business here in +the Summer." + +"I should, if I had all customers like the senorita," said the man with +a bow to Ruth, again showing his white teeth in an expansive smile. "I +am covered with confusion that I can show her none now. But it is all +put away. Perhaps, though, if you wait----" + +"No, we must be moving on!" interrupted Tom. "It is getting late. And so +you live here all Winter?" + +"Yes, senor. This little hut was part of the place where Senor Blasdell +used to stay. It was donated to me. I moved it here when I succeeded +Senor Blasdell, and added to it. It is very comfortable. I have been +over to the main land for some supplies, and when I come back I see you. +At first I am suspicious, for which I ask your pardon. You are always +welcome, the senor and senorita," and again he bowed. + +"Thanks, Mr. Mendez," said Tom, rather carelessly, for somehow he did +not like the fellow. "We may see you this Summer. Some of us fellows may +camp here." + +"Then I shall be pleased to show you some fine Mexican leather work. +Perhaps a lariat, spurs, bridles, and some fine silver work for the +pretty senoritas, is it not?" and the fellow smiled genially. + +"Good-bye!" called Tom. "Come along, Ruth. I'll have to hit up the oars +going home or I'll have you so late that you'll get on the bad books of +the Ogress." + +"Oh, I'm there already," she replied, as she nodded to the Mexican, who +bowed low in farewell. "All our crowd is, but we don't mind. Now, Tom, +did you really mean what you said about going to camp on Crest Island +this Summer?" + +"I do, if I can get the other fellows to do it. I know they will, too, +for we'll be near our rowing shells, and we can have the best kind of +practice." + +"Oh, is _that_ the only reason you want to come here?" and she looked +archly at him. + +"Why, isn't that----" he began and then a light dawned on him. + +"I guess we wouldn't come if you girls weren't to be here," he added, +quickly. "When I tell the fellows that, I know it will cinch matters. +Oh, we'll come all right." + +They reached their boat, embarked, and Tom was soon sculling away from +the island. + +"Queer chap--that Mendez," remarked the youth after a bit. + +"Isn't he?" agreed Ruth. + +"I didn't know those Mexicans were so thrifty," the rower went on. +"Being a 'care-take' man and doing Mexican 'push-work' on the 'edge'. +Pretty good; eh?" + +"Yes," laughed Ruth. "I can see where we girls will spend a great deal +of our time this Summer." + +"So can I," declared her companion, boldly. "With us fellows." + +"Oh, you're not at all conceited; are you?" + +"I didn't know it," went on Tom, tantalizingly. "But say, do you know I +didn't much like that fellow, for all his fine airs." + +"Why not, pray? I thought him quite polite." + +"He was--altogether too polite," murmured the lad, with a little more +force than seemed necessary. "I don't like foreigners, anyhow." + +"Well, I could forgive anyone, even a foreigner, if I could get back my +brooch," sighed Ruth. "I don't know what I'm going to do about it." + +"It is too bad," agreed Tom. "Now, Ruth, we won't say anything about +what happened to-day, and if you promise not to tell, I'll whisper a +secret." + +"Oh, Tom, of course I won't tell--you know that!" and she looked +reproachfully at him. + +"Of course--I was only joking. Well, we four fellows are trying to do a +little detective work, and recover the stolen jewelry." + +"You are?" + +"Yes, and if we do we may get back your brooch." + +"Oh, I hope you do!" and she clapped her hands in spontaneous delight. +"Do you think you will, Tom?" + +"Hard to tell, Ruth. There aren't many clues to work on. At least there +weren't until to-day----" + +"Oh, did you find some to-day, Tom? Tell me, I'm so fascinated with +detective work! Did you really see some clue that escaped me?" + +"Ahem! Detectives never talk about their cases, or tell about their +clues!" he exclaimed, with exaggerated gravity. + +"Tom Parsons!" + +"Well, really, I don't know whether I did find a clue or not, Ruth. I'm +going to think about it over night. If you can help me I won't hesitate +to call on you." + +"Will you, really, Tom? That's good of you. And now I'm afraid you'll +have to row a little faster. It _is_ getting quite late." + +"All right," agreed the lad, as he bent to the oars. As he rowed his +thoughts went to the card in his pocket and to the strands of silk from +the gay handkerchief. + +Fortunately Ruth was not so late that Miss Philock found fault. Tom +proved himself a good rower, though after he had said good-bye he took +the course easy on the way to Randall. + +"Some sculling," he told himself, as he tied up the boat and, in the +dusk of the late Spring evening, walked toward his room. "This ought to +stand me in good stead for the eight. My muscles are hardening," and he +felt of his biceps. He was in extraordinarily good training from his +baseball work. + +As he was about to enter the building where he and his chums had their +rooms, he saw Boswell approaching. Tom's mind flashed to the card he had +picked up at the shack. + +"I wonder what he could have been doing there?" the tall pitcher mused. +"If Mendez didn't have his store open and his stock ready for sale, how +could Bossy have bought any? And, if he didn't go there to buy anything, +why did he go at all? I give it up." + +There was no time for further speculation just then, as the rich lad, +with a nod, addressed Tom. + +"Where were you?" he asked with an air of familiarity that Tom rather +resented in a Freshman. "We had a fine row in the eight. I'm almost sure +of bow, and Lighton may shift me to stroke, or number seven." + +"Yes?" questioned Tom indifferently, yet resolving to make a brave +struggle not to let this usurper put him out of his place in the boat. + +"Sure thing. I'm coming on fine, and I've got a dandy scheme for keeping +in trim this Summer." + +"Yes?" + +"Yes. Our folks are going to take a cottage on Crest Island, and----" + +"You are?" and Tom fairly exploded the words. + +"Surest thing you know, though it's a beastly slow and unfashionable +place. We usually go to the shore. We have one cottage there, and +another in the White Mountains, but I persuaded dad to take one at Crest +for the Summer, just so I could be near the water here and get familiar +with the course we'll row next Fall. Nothing like knowing the course, +old man, really." + +"No, I suppose not," and Tom's mind was busy with many things. With +Boswell on the island, matters might not be so pleasant as he had +anticipated. + +"That's right. I'm going to get a professional coach, too." + +"You are?" Tom's voice was still indifferent, but Boswell did not notice +it. + +"Sure thing. When I go in for a thing I go in hard, and I'm going into +this rowing game for keeps." + +"Well, I hope we all do," and Tom tried to be pleasant as he turned away. + +"See you later," murmured the Freshman, in a patronizing tone, and, as +he turned aside he drew from his pocket a gaudy handkerchief. At the +sight of it Tom stared, for it was the same pattern as the strip of +silk found near the looted jewelry box. Tom stared at it intently as the +rich lad flourished it. + +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Boswell, "I've got that torn handkerchief +again," and he held it up, showing where a strip had evidently been +ripped from it. "I've got two," he explained, "and this one got torn +the other day. I thought I laid it aside, but, in my hurry, I must have +grabbed it up." + +"How--how'd you tear it?" asked Tom, when he could trust his voice. + +"Oh, it caught on a nail down at the boathouse, and a piece was ripped +off." + +"Why--why couldn't you have it sewed on?" asked Tom. + +"What? Carry a mended handkerchief? I guess not. Anyhow the piece fell +in the water and floated away. Hope you'll be in the eight next time we +practice, though I may get your place." + +"Maybe," answered Tom, and he did not take the trouble to designate +which clause the word modified. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE FIRST BREAK + + +"Say, where in the name of Diogenes's lantern have you been, Tom?" + +"Yes, come in you musty old deserter, and give an account of yourself. +You've been away so long that you must have forgotten the counter-sign." + +"It was a girl, fellows--I can smell the perfumery!" + +Thus Sid, Phil and Frank greeted the advent of our hero into the common +room, soon after he had left Boswell. Tom's brain had been so busy with +so many thoughts, after the sight of that torn handkerchief, that he had +eaten scarcely any supper, though his appetite just before that had been +of the best. + +"Shove over; can't you?" was all Tom said to Phil, who was stretched out +on the old sofa. + +"Sure I can. What's the matter? Got a grouch!" + +"No, but I'm dead tired." + +"Be careful how you flop," warned Sid, as he watched with anxiety Tom's +preparations to sit down. "That sofa doesn't gain strength with age--it +isn't like cheese in that respect." + +"Where were you?" asked Phil, as Tom managed to find a resting place +without bringing forth from the sofa more than a protesting groan, and a +series of squeaks. + +"Ruth and I were out for a row," said Tom shortly, knowing that the +truth would out sooner or later, and having nothing to conceal. + +"Oh, ho!" exclaimed Sid. + +"Where'd you go?" asked Phil, with brotherly interest. + +"Crest Island. That's what kept me so long. I got her home in good +season though, and rowed slow the rest of the way." + +"Crest Island!" exclaimed Frank. "Did you find any more clues, Tom?" + +The tall pitcher hesitated. He was in two minds about what had taken +place that afternoon. Should he tell his chums the secret he thought +he had discovered, and get their opinions in working it out? Or should +he play a lone hand? A moment's thought convinced him. He would tell +all--that is, all save Ruth's secret. That he had no right to divulge. + +"Well?" asked Frank, as his chum hesitated. "Did you find anything, +Tom?" + +"I sure did, fellows," and he tossed on the table the card of Boswell, +and the strands of silk. + +For a moment no one spoke, and then Sid, picking up the card remarked: + +"This looks suspicious, Tom. Did you and Bossy quarrel over a girl, +and go to Crest Island to have a duel? It begins to look that +way--exchanging cards and all that." + +"We didn't exchange cards," said Tom shortly. "I found that card near a +shack where a caretaker lives. And, by the way, fellows, we're going to +camp on Crest Island this Summer." + +"We are?" cried Phil. + +"I like the nice, easy way he has of laying out our vacation plans for +us," remarked Sid. + +"Just as if he was our manager," added Frank. + +"Well, I only thought it would be handy if we want to practice rowing," +went on Tom, holding back the other reason. "We could get a boat, and +drop down to college here every day or so, take out the shell and have a +spin. If we want to beat Boxer Hall we've got to do some tall hustling, +and practice like all get-out!" + +"Oh, I fancy I can practice rowing on Crystal Lake, where our folks +intend taking a cottage," said Sid. "No Crest Island for mine!" + +"The girls are going to cottage there," went on Tom, with a fine +appearance of indifference. "Madge Tyler's folks have a neat little +shack there, and Ruth, Helen and Mabel are going to spend some time +with her." + +"They are!" cried Frank. + +"Why didn't you say so at first?" asked Sid, indignantly. + +"I--er--I guess I can fix it to camp there," spoke Phil, just as if he +had never intended spending his vacation at any other place. + +"Oh, you fellows were so sure you knew your own business that I didn't +want to butt in," went on the pitcher. "But, boys, what do you think of +that?" and he indicated the card and silk. + +"It's the same material," spoke Frank after a bit, as he compared the +shreds Tom had pulled from the window-sill of the shack on the island, +with the torn strip found near the looted jewelry box. + +"And what would you say if I told you that Bossy had a handkerchief of +that same pattern, with a strip torn off?" asked Tom, slowly. + +"Has he?" asked Frank, looking sharply at his chum. + +"He has." + +"Then, by crimps! He's the fellow who has the cups and jewelry!" cried +Sid. + +"Go easy," advised Phil. "That's the worst of you--always jumping to +conclusions." + +"And why shouldn't I, when I can land on 'em as easily as I can on this +one? Isn't it as plain as can be?" + +"Not altogether. We'd make fine specimens of ourselves if we went and +accused him on this evidence. You say, Tom, that you found this card +near the Mexican's shack?" + +"Yes. And the shreds of silk there, too. It looks to me as if Bossy had +been there to buy a handkerchief. Two of 'em, if we're to believe him. +The Mexican probably has them as well as his 'push-work' as he calls +it," and he told all the circumstances of the visit to the island, +omitting only the search for Ruth's brooch. + +"I guess that part is right," admitted Frank. "I mean about Bossy going +there to buy one of these gay handkerchiefs. But just because he did +doesn't make him guilty. In fact, what object would he have in taking +some trophy cups that he could get very little for if they were melted +up, and nothing for, if he tried to sell them as they were? No one +would buy them, for on the face of them they show what they are. Some +were engraved with the Boxer Hall fellows' names. And the other jewelry +wasn't so very valuable. Bossy wouldn't have any object in taking that. +He's got more money now, than is good for him." + +"He might have been gambling, and gotten short of cash, and been afraid +of asking his folks," suggested Sid, remembering an ordeal he had gone +through in having a relative under similar circumstances, as I related +in "Batting to Win." + +"I don't believe it," declared Frank. "To my mind I'd sooner suspect +this Mendez. He seems a fishy sort of character." + +"Oh, I think he's straight," declared Tom. "I made some inquiries about +him while I was having grub. It seems some of the fellows here have been +buying stuff of him--last year when he was traveling around the country. +He bears a good reputation, and Hendell's father, who owns part of Crest +Island, was telling me that the property owners looked up his record +well before they let him succeed old Jake Blasdell as caretaker." + +"Hum!" mused Frank. "It doesn't look as easy as it did at first, in +spite of these clues, Tom." + +"That's right. Say, I'm not as much of a detective as I thought. I +wonder if that jeweler could be double-crossing us?" + +"What do you mean?" asked Sid. + +"I mean could he have lost the box of jewelry overboard before his boat +was carried away by the flood? If he did, he could make up the story +that he left it in the locker, and that someone else got it when the +boat was wrecked." + +"That's possible, though not probable," admitted Frank. "Fellows, my +advice is that we put these things away, and forget all about them +to-night. In the morning we may see matters clearer. I've got to do +some boning anyhow. Put 'em away, Tom." + +Soon only the ticking of the fussy, little alarm clock was heard, +mingled with the rattle of paper as books were leafed or as the lads +wrote out their lessons. Even the clock stopped after a bit, and the +sudden silence was so startling that Phil exclaimed: + +"She's run down! Hope nothing's the matter with her," and he picked up +the timepiece with an anxious face. + +"Probably got toothpickitis," suggested Tom. "Give it a shake." + +Phil did so, with the result that a piece of toothpick did fall out, and +then the clock went on ticking again. + +"That's better," sighed Phil, though often he had objected to the +incessant noise. "It would be like losing an old friend if that went +back on us." + +He settled into the depths of one of the old armchairs, Sid being in +another, while Frank, who had succeeded to the sofa stretched out +luxuriously on that, having ousted Tom, who, on a stool drawn up to the +table, was making an ancient war map that was to be used in class the +next day. + +Morning brought no clearer view to the puzzling problem of the clues to +the missing jewelry, and, having all agreed to keep silent about the +matter, the lads laid aside the articles and hurried to chapel. In the +several days that followed nothing new in that line developed. + +There came several baseball contests, in which Tom and his chums +distinguished themselves. The long vacation was approaching, and more +or less "boning" had to be done if the lads intended to pass their +examinations. All these things, with the rowing practice, kept them busy +so that Tom, as was the case with the others, had little chance to see +the girls. + +The other second-hand rowing craft were made good use of, and those who +were to go in the four were practically picked. So were the singles and +doubles, though of course a change might be made in the Fall, when new +material would come to Randall. + +All eyes, and most of the interest, however, was on and in the eight. +On this Randall built her hopes of becoming champion of the river and +lake league. Though when word came of the fast time made by Boxer Hall +and Fairview in their practice spins, there were doubtful shakes of the +head, for Randall was nowhere near as good. + +Then came the annual Boxer Hall-Fairview races. It was about an even +thing between the two colleges, until it came time for the eight-oared +contest. There was even a tub race, and the boys at Randall decided to +have one when it came time for them to take part in the regatta. + +But Boxer won the eight with ease over Fairview, and when Mr. Lighton, +who with most of those who had practiced in Randall's big shell, +witnessed the exciting finish, he shook his head. + +"We've got to do some tall hustling," he remarked, "and make some +changes. I'll start in on them to-morrow." + +There was a larger number than usual at practice on Sunny River the next +day. All Randall seemed to be at the boathouse. Adjoining the old one a +start had already been made on erecting the new structure, presented by +the alumni. Word had been received that the new shells would be ready in +ample time for the Fall races. + +"Young men!" exclaimed Coach Lighton, as the eight was slipped into the +water, "I'm going to make some radical changes in the crew, and I want +none of you to feel sore, because, you know, it is for the good of the +college. We have not been rowing well, of late, and there are several +faults to correct. The boat hangs a bit, and is a trifle heavy by the +stern. She drags. I know one reason for this, it is my own weight, and +so I am going to suggest that you now try one of yourselves as coxswain. +I am a little too 'beefy' for the place. + +"Jerry Jackson, you take the tiller ropes. You've had more practice than +any of the others, and you're too light to hope to be at the oars." + +"All right," agreed Jerry, cheerfully. After all it was an honor to +steer the eight. + +"Simpson, you'll stay at stroke, and, Parsons, I'm going to send you +back a bit. No offense, but you're not quite quick enough in picking up +the stroke. I think it's your baseball arm that's at fault. Molloy, you +take Parsons' place, and Tom will go number three. From three, Henderson +will go to bow. He's about the right weight for there when we get +Jackson in as coxswain. And, Jerry, you'll want to shift your seat a bit +aft, to make up for the extra weight they've been carrying in me. That +will make a good change, I think." + +There was some murmuring over the changes, and obviously nearly all were +pleased. Molloy especially, for he had been fretting lest he be kept out +of the eight. As for Tom he was rather glad, on the whole, that he did +not have the responsibility of picking up Frank's stroke, for it was a +responsibility, and it was telling on him. He had begun to realize that +his baseball pitching had made him a bit awkward in one arm. + +"Say, where do I come in?" suddenly asked Boswell. "I was at bow, and +now--I'm nowhere, Mr. Lighton." + +"I'll work you in another crew, Boswell," said the coach, sharply. + +"But I want to be in the varsity." + +"This isn't the varsity any more than any other collection of eight +rowers is. The varsity isn't picked yet, and won't be until the Fall." + +"Well, this looks very much like the varsity to me," sneered Boswell. +"All the fellows in it are on the varsity nine----" + +"That'll do you!" said the coach, snappily. + +"Then I'm not to row at bow?" + +"Not in this eight." + +"Then I don't row at all!" and, with a fierce glance at the selected +rowers, the rich lad turned sharply and walked off to the dressing rooms. + +"The first break," murmured Tom. + +"Take your places," spoke the coach, quietly. "I'm going to follow you +in the launch. Jackson, make 'em do as you tell 'em!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A FRIENDLY BRUSH + + +There was a small motor-boat, the property of the rowing association +at Randall, having been acquired since the new interest in racing, and +several times Mr. Lighton had used it to coach the lads in the fours, +singles or doubles, running alongside of them. He now proposed to make +use of it to coach the eight, since this was the first time (save for a +few practice runs of short length) that he had not acted as coxswain. +In the latter tries Jerry Jackson had steered, and, as he owned a +motor-boat of his own, which he ran every Summer, he was an apt pupil. + +Little was said of the changes made, until the shell was well out in +the river, and then Phil, who was, in the new arrangement, next to Tom, +remarked: + +"How do you like it, and what do you think of it?" + +"I think Bossy was a calf to show his temper that way, and I like it +here better than in the stern. I can row better when I don't have to +worry about picking up Frank's stroke." + +"Say, but he's a peach at it!" exclaimed Sid, admiringly, from his place +at bow oar. + +"Silence in the bows!" came the sharp command of Jerry Jackson. + +"Listen to him," spoke Bricktop, who was at number seven. + +"That won't do, boys!" came the sharp voice of the coach, as he ran his +little launch up alongside. "If you're not going to accord to Jackson, +while he is in the position of coxswain, the same respect you gave me, +you might as well give up rowing now and for all. You can't talk and +row. You need too much breath for the latter. So if you want to talk, +and gibe the coxswain, then the place for you is on shore." + +"Right!" exclaimed Sid. "I'll be good." + +"Same here," came from Tom. + +"I beg your pardon, coxswain," said Phil. + +Bricktop Molloy, grinning while the sweat ran down from his forehead, +outlined in red hair, into his eyes, whispered: + +"What you say, goes!" + +And then Bricktop, being as loyal a Randallite as there was, proceeded +to row as he had never before, while Frank set a killing stroke. The +little lesson was not wasted. + +Running along in the launch, by means of which he could keep close to +the shell, Mr. Lighton gave valuable advice. He could do it to better +advantage now that he was not in the boat. + +"Cut 'em down some," advised the coach, after Frank's little spurt. +"About twenty-eight a minute will do now. We'll try a ten-mile bit +to-day." + +Some of the lads felt their hearts sink at this. Eight had been the +limit so far, but they realized that they were in for a grilling, and +they stiffened their backs to it. + +"Row out your strokes," went on the coach. "Use every ounce of strength +you have, and remember that your muscular force, applied at the +beginning, does ten times the work as if you put it in at the end. Keep +together. Get the oars in the water at the same time, and out together. + +"Feather a bit higher--the water is rough to-day and you don't want to +splash. Try to imagine you are all a part of one man rowing in a small +boat. Make your oars rise and fall together. They're a bit ragged now." + +With such good advice did the coach urge on the lads, and they responded +nobly. In a short time, though the rowing had gone a bit awkwardly at +first, there was a noticeable improvement. + +As Mr. Lighton had said, the boat had been a bit heavy aft, and had +dragged. With his weight gone, and with a lighter coxswain, and with the +other changes, there was great improvement. Instead of hanging in the +water the shell seemed to glide through it at a steady rate. There was +no jerking progress, but a steady onward movement, the perfection of +rowing. + +"Get a little more into the finish of the stroke!" called the coach +at one point. "You must get the beginning of the stroke with the body +only, but finish with the arms and shoulders. Send your elbows past your +sides. Drop your shoulders, but keep up your heads and chests." + +Thus he corrected fault after fault, until on the return from that row +not a lad but felt he had made great improvement. They were all grateful +for the change, even Tom, who had been shifted from the post of most +honor, next to the stroke. Of course, Boswell, who, like Achilles, +sulked in his room, could not be expected to be happy. + +"It wasn't a fair thing," he declared to his chum, Elwood Pierce. "I +ought to have been kept at bow, or they might have made me stroke." + +"That's right, old chap," agreed Elwood. "But what can you expect of +such beastly rotters? It wouldn't be that way over in Oxford." + +Rumor had it that Pierce had tried to enter Oxford, but had failed +miserably. He always declared that the English climate did not agree +with him. + +The Randall eight was within a few miles of their boathouse when the +rowers saw approaching around the bend of the stream the Fairview eight, +swinging along at a good pace. Instantly there came into the minds of +all the same thought. + +Mr. Lighton who was alongside, must have realized it, for he called out: + +"I won't mind if you have a brush with them, if they're willing. But +don't get too excited or anxious over it." + +"Ready!" called Jerry Jackson. + +Not get excited! As well tell a racehorse not to gallop when he hears +the pit-pat of hoofs behind him. The hearts of all quickened. + +On came the Fairview eight out for a final practice spin. Their season +was over, but they were keeping in training for the races in the Fall. + +"Want a brush?" asked Jerry of Roger Barns, who was coxswain. + +"Sure!" came the reply. "And we'll give you a start." + +"We don't want it!" snapped Tom. "Even terms or nothing!" + +"That's right!" murmured Frank, as he took a tighter grip on his oar. + +The two eights were now on even terms. Mr. Lighton, with a final nod of +encouragement, steered his craft out of the way. + +"Give way, boys!" cried Jerry, as he grasped the tiller lines. + +"Show 'em how we row, even if Boxer Hall did beat us!" called Roger. + +With eager strokes the lads took up the race, and, though it was but a +friendly brush it meant more to Randall than any realized, save those +thinly-clad lads in the shell. It was their first chance to see what +they could do against a formidable rival. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE LONG VACATION + + +"Come on now, fellows! Hit her up!" exclaimed Jerry Jackson, in a low +voice. + +"No, not yet!" whispered Frank, as he bent forward in his place at +stroke until he was nearer the lad at the tiller ropes. "Feel 'em out +first, Jerry. Don't go breaking our hearts in the first mile. We've got +a good ways to go in this little race, and the spurt will come toward +the end, if I'm not mistaken. It would be pie for them if we rowed +ourselves out, and then they would simply spurt past us. They're older +hands at it than we are." + +"I guess you're right, Frank," admitted Jerry, who took the advice in +good part. + +He had not been acting as coxswain long enough to feel resentment that +his orders were not obeyed. He realized, also, that the lads at the oars +had all the work to do, and, as it was not a regular race, when the +coxswain had to be the general, it was no more than fair that the ones +who had to do the labor should have a voice in saying how it was to be +done. + +"Wait until we--get into a--good swing. Let us pull at--this stroke--for +a while," went on Frank, speaking rather jerkily, and whispering every +time his head came close to Jerry, in leaning forward to make his +stroke. "Watch 'em, and when--you think we can spurt--then give--the +word." + +"All right," assented the coxswain. He looked over at the Fairview +shell, and noted that Roger Barns, the coxswain, was closely regarding +the Randall eight. + +"They're sizing us up," thought Jerry. "Well, we may not be such a +muchness now, but by Hector! When we start in regular training this +Fall, if we don't make 'em sit up and notice which side their tea +is buttered on I'm a Dutchman, and that's no wallflower at a dance, +either!" and Jerry shut his lips firmly and felt delicately of the +tiller lines, shifting the rudder slightly to learn that the shell was +in good control. She responded to the lightest touch, being indeed a +well-built craft and as light as a feather, though with sufficient +stiffness--that quality always hard to get in a frail shell. + +The two racing machines were now moving swiftly along, being about on +even terms. Now and then, seemingly in response to a signal from their +coxswain, the Fairview lads would hang back a bit, allowing the Randall +shell to creep up. Evidently it was a little trick, played with the +hope that Randall would spurt, and give her rivals an opportunity to +sweep ahead of them in splendid style, thus winning the impromptu race. +If such was the intention Randall did not bite at the bait, for Frank, +in a few whispered words to Jerry, advised him not to signal for a +quicker stroke. + +"Say, is this a race or a crocheting party?" grumbled big Dutch +Housenlager. "Vat you t'ink, Kindlings." + +"I'm thinking that--I'm--getting winded," panted Dan Woodhouse. + +"Silence up there!" exclaimed Jerry, sharply. "It isn't a talking match, +whatever else it is! You'll get all the race you want pretty soon. We're +coming to a good stretch and I think they'll hit it up there. Be ready +for the word, fellows." + +"Say, boys, he talks; but he won't let us!" complained Bricktop, winking +at Jerry. + +"That means you!" insisted the coxswain. He glanced ahead. The launch +with the coach had speeded off and was some distance up the river now, +evidently waiting for the finish of the little brush. + +The talk in the Randall eight had been carried on in low tones, for +sounds carry wonderfully clear over water, and the lads, realizing +this, did not want their rivals to hear them. + +Jerry stole another glance at the Fairview eight, and, unconsciously, +probably, nearly every Randall man did likewise. The result was some +uneven and ragged rowing, and a bit of splashing. + +"Eyes in the boat!" came the sharp command from the little coxswain. + +"Oh, you tyrant!" breathed Bricktop Molloy, but his smile took the sting +from the words. + +An instant later Jerry detected a movement in the rival shell. + +"The spurt is coming!" he reasoned. "We must be ready for it!" + +He hesitated but an instant, and then, as he noted Roger Barns +straighten up slightly in his coxswain seat, and take a fresh grip on +the tiller ropes, Jerry called: + +"Ready boys! Hit her up. Thirty to the minute!" + +At once the Randall shell shot forward almost as though raised from the +water, for the oars caught evenly and every man fairly lifted himself +from his seat, to urge the craft ahead. + +"Come on, now!" cried Jerry. "Keep it up!" + +He swayed his body to indicate the time of the stroke, and he was +pleased to note that all the lads in the shell were rowing in unison. +The blades of the oars dipped well--not too deeply--and the feathering, +while it might have been better, was fair for a raw crew. Jerry stole +one look over to the Fairview eight, and noted that he had not been +mistaken. They, too, had spurted at the same time. Randall had not been +caught napping. + +For several minutes this kept up, and Fairview could not seem to shake +off her rival, and shoot ahead. Then a command could be heard given in +that shell. What it was Jerry could not catch, but he saw the time of +the Fairview rowers quicken. + +"Can you stand another stroke or two, boys?" he asked in a low voice. + +Frank nodded without speaking. Indeed his breath, as well as the breath +of his companions, was all needed for the work. + +"A little livelier," ordered Jerry, and he added two more strokes to the +minute. + +Of course the effect was not so great as before, but it told, and +Fairview, which had begun creeping ahead, was held in check by Randall. + +Another minute passed, and then the superior training and practice of +Fairview told. Slowly she forged ahead, and nothing the Randall lads +could do could prevent it. They were at their limit now, or at least +the limit to which Jerry dared push them. With straining eyes he shot a +quick glance across, and noted with despair that Fairview was a good +quarter of a length ahead. Another minute and she was a half. + +"One more stroke!" pleaded the coxswain, and Frank nodded desperately. +Slowly Randall began creeping up again, but it could not last. + +And then came a narrow turn in the river, a rather dangerous place with +cross currents. + +"Easy all!" called Roger Barns, and his crew ceased rowing. It was a +signal that the impromptu race was over. + +"Easy all!" commanded Jerry, with a sigh that they had not won. But at +that Fairview was only a scant quarter of a length in advance. Randall +had been beaten, but not by much. + +"Congratulations!" called Roger to his rival steersman. "You're coming +on, Randall." + +"Oh, we'll beat you in the Fall," retorted Jerry, cheerfully. + +"We'd have walked away from you if it hadn't been the tail end of the +season," declared Hadfield Spencer, the Fairview stroke. "We're not in +training." + +"Oh, don't crawl," said the coxswain. "They rowed a good race." + +And this was praise indeed, from no mean rival, and from the coxswain of +a crew that had given Boxer Hall, the river champions, a hard race. + +"Well done, boys! Well done!" exclaimed Coach Lighton, as he came +puffing up in his launch. "You did better than I expected you would. +Fairview, we'll be ready for you in the Fall." + +"We'll take you on all right," replied Roger Barns, with a genial laugh. + +"And you steered exceedingly well, Jackson," went on the coach, as the +Fairview shell pulled off. "I was afraid you would spurt too soon, but +you held yourself well in." + +"I was watching the other fellows," said Jerry. + +"That's the way to do," was the comment. "Now take it easy to the float." + +There was talk all through Randall that night of the performance of the +eight. + +"I think we have just the right crew now," confided the coach to Dr. +Churchill, when he went to dine with the venerable head of Randall. + +"Ah, I am exceedingly glad to hear that. It will be a source of +gratification to the alumni who have so generously provided for the +racing material. And you say our boys nearly won from Fairview? How many +innings did the game go? What was the score, and did Parsons pitch?" + +"Ah--er--my dear Doctor,--er--we were talking about the crew," said the +coach, delicately. + +"Oh, yes, so we were," admitted the good doctor, in some confusion. +"I was thinking of football, was I not? And so we have a good crew. +Hum! Very well. I am so occupied with my translations of those Assyrian +tablets that I fear my mind wanders at times." + +At times! Ah, Dr. Churchill, more often than "at times" did your mind +wander! But what of that? It was keen enough on all occasions, though +running in various channels, as many an old graduate will testify. + +The practice at Randall went on. There were sore hearts, but it could +not be helped when the lads who thought they should be picked for the +tentative crews, or for the singles, were passed by. For Mr. Lighton was +impartial, and insisted on only the best no matter at what cost. + +Perhaps sorest of all was Boswell, he who had been displaced from what +had come to be regarded as the varsity eight, though, as the coach +pointed out, there might be changes in the Fall. Boswell was ordered +into what was termed the "second" eight, but refused to go. + +"I may not row at all," he said loftily to his crony, Pierce. "Or I may +go in the singles." + +"I would," suggested the latter. "My word! A man's his own boss in a +single." + +"I'll think of it," replied Boswell. + +Examinations came, with all their grilling and nerve-racking tendencies, +and were more or less successfully gotten through with by our friends +and their chums. Then came the long vacation. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OFF FOR CAMP + + +"See you soon again, old man!" + +"Yes, we'll get together in a couple of weeks. I've got to spend some +time with the folks." + +"I'll write when I have the camp site all arranged for." + +"And don't forget to plan for plenty of grub!" + +"I want a soft cot, anyhow." + +"Say, what about the girls? I suppose there's no doubt about their +going to Crest Island?" and Sid Henderson, who asked this question, +interpolating it among half a dozen others, as well as amid numerous +interjections, looked anxiously at Tom, as the four chums were saying +good-bye preparatory to dispersing for the vacation. + +"Of course they'll go," declared Tom. "I had a letter from Ruth +to-day----" + +"You did?" cried Phil. "I'll have to have a little seance with Sis. She +writes to you oftener than she does to me, of late. Tom, you rascal, +take care!" and he shook a warning finger at his chum. + +"And hark to Siddie, would you!" mocked Frank. "Sid's so anxious about +the girls that he won't play if they don't come; will you Siddie?" + +"I'll play my fist on your nose, you old allosaurus!" cried Sid, as he +made an unsuccessful reach for his tormentor. + +Books had been put away in the study of our heroes. The armchairs had +been covered with dust-cloths, as had the creaking old sofa; the alarm +clock had been wrapped in cotton, and put on the shelf. Its tick would +not be heard until September. It would have a vacation, too. + +Randall College began to take on a deserted air, but there was still +some activity around the boathouse. The shells were to be kept ready for +use--the eights, the fours and the singles. For Mr. Lighton had urged +all, who could, to come, if only for an occasional spin on the river to +keep in condition. + +As we know, our friends had arranged to camp on Crest Island, and from +there, as they had a boat, they could take a run down to Randall, and +get in a four for practice. If they could get four others, and someone +to act as coxswain, they would also row in the eight, they told the +coach. + +"An excellent plan," he declared. "It will give us a good crew for the +eight in the Fall, I'm sure." + +"The only drawback about Crest Island," said Phil, "is that Bossy is +going there. He'll be an unmitigated nuisance, if I'm any judge of human +nature." + +"Especially if he does as he says he will, and takes to practicing in a +single," added Tom. + +"But the island is big enough," added Sid. + +"Even if the cottage his folks have taken is near the Tylers'," put in +Frank, with a grin. + +"Is it?" asked Sid, eagerly. + +"It sure is." + +"Then he'd better look out!" declared Sid. + +"What's the matter? Afraid he'll take your girl?" asked Tom, with a +laugh. But Sid did not reply. + +Nothing more had been discovered about the missing jewelry, nor had Tom +and his chums been able to follow the clues which they had stumbled +upon. The torn handkerchief, the empty jewelry box, the shreds of silk, +had been put away, together with Boswell's card. Mendez, the Mexican, +had been seen around Haddonfield several times since Tom and Ruth had +met him on the island, and he seemed to be selling his wares, there +being little need of his remaining on the island as caretaker all day. +Whenever he met Tom, he was very polite, but our hero cared no more for +the swarthy man than he had at first. + +"He's altogether too nice," decided our hero, though he realized this +was nothing against the man. Certainly there seemed to be nothing to +point suspicion to him, any more than to Boswell, and the four chums did +not dare make an untoward move. It was too risky, Frank said. + +As for the Boxer Hall lads, though some might have held a faint thought +that their Randall rivals were responsible for the loss of the cup +trophies, no one said so in that many words. Still many Randallites felt +that a grim suspicion hung over the college, caused by the unfortunate +fact that Tom and his chums had been first on the ground when the +articles were discovered to be gone from the wrecked boat. + +"Hang it all!" exclaimed Tom, as he and his chums were about to separate +for the vacation, to meet soon again, "I wish we could get on the trail +of that stuff, and the man who took it!" + +"So do I!" added Frank. "Well, maybe something will turn up this Summer." + +As for Ruth, she had successfully kept her secret with Tom. If her girl +friends noticed the absence of her old brooch they said nothing. + +Mr. Farson, the jeweler, fretted much over his loss, but it did no good. +He even increased the reward, to no more purpose. It all remained a +mystery. He did not even know as much as the boys did about the affair, +and, for their own reasons, the students kept silent. + +Our four heroes dispersed to their homes, to meet warm welcomes there. +Then came preparations for going camping on Crest Island. The Tyler +cottage was opened by some of the servants and put in shape for Summer +occupancy. Madge wrote to Ruth, Mabel and Helen, bidding them get ready +to come when she sent word. + +Tom spent a week or two at the shore, "recuperating," as he put it, from +the hard study incidental to the examinations. + +"I guess, more than likely, it's to rest from the hard work of pulling +in that shell," said his father, grimly. + +Frank Simpson went on a short trip to his beloved California, and Phil +and Sid put in two weeks at various Summer resorts. + +Finally the time came to go to camp. Tom, who was in charge of most of +the arrangements, sent out letters to his chums bidding them assemble at +his home, as he was nearest to Randall College. + +And, one fine morning, with their baggage gathered, and with their +camping paraphernalia sent on ahead, they departed. + +"Off for Crest Island, and the mystery!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Not so loud!" cautioned Frank. + +"Say, rather," interpolated Sid, "off for Crest Island and--the girls!" + +"Hark to the lady-killer!" mocked Phil. "Talk about your Beau Brummels!" + +"Punch him for me, Tom," besought the badgered one. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE OLD GRADUATE + + +"Say, did you think to bring any spoons, Tom?" + +"What about the condensed milk?" + +"And say, Tom, this isn't a good brand of coffee!" + +"What made you get all canned corn? Why didn't you include some beans, +Tom?" + +"Say, if I've got to eat coffee with my fingers I'm going to quit right +now!" + +"Look here, Tom! Didn't I say I wanted a soft cot? You've given me one +as hard as a board. I won't stand for it!" + +You can easily imagine the scene. The boys had arrived in camp, and were +just unpacking. The tents--sleeping and dining--had been erected after +much labor, and with the aid of Senor Mendez, who courteously offered +his services. + +"And for the love of the seven wonders of the world, Tom, what made you +buy this brand of canned chicken?" demanded Sid, who was opening a case. + +Tom Parsons put down the blanket he was taking out of a trunk. He strode +to the middle of the tent, put his hands on his hips, surveyed his three +chums, and began: + +"Say, look here, you fellows! I've done most of the work around this +outfit. I saw to it that the baggage didn't go astray when you chaps +were trying to flirt with those pretty girls in the train! I ordered all +the eats, and most of the other stuff. I got Mendez to give us a hand, +though none of you wanted me to. I've looked after everything from A to +Z and you fellows have been loafing. And now you jump on me because I +didn't get mock-turtle soup instead of mulligatawny. You don't like the +kind of coffee, and I suppose you'll faint if you don't have condensed +milk. + +"Say, don't you want finger bowls? Will you have paper napkins, or +just the plain fringed style? Do you want your shaving water hot every +morning, and what time shall I have the 'bawth' ready? Are your nails +manicured? If not, I guess I can find time to do that. Would you like +silk pajamas, or will linen do? And if there's anything more that you +confounded dudes want in this camp--just get it yourselves--I'm done! +DONE! Do you hear? I'm through!" and, fairly shouting the words Tom +stalked out of the tent and went and sat down on a log near the edge of +Lake Tonoka. + +The other three stared at each other in amazement. The rebellion of +their chum had come like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky. + +"Er--what did--what did we do?" faltered Sid. + +"Did you ever hear the like?" came from Phil. + +"He's mad all right--clear through," spoke Frank. "I guess we have been +rather piling it on." + +"It's the first time I ever knew Tom to act like this," said Phil, +soberly. + +"He has done a lot of work," put in Sid. + +"And we have been finding a deal of fault," added Frank. + +"How can we square him?" asked Phil. + +"You go out and talk to him, Frank," proposed Sid. + +"No, I've got a better scheme than that," came from the Big Californian. +"Let's finish slicking up in here ourselves, go on and get grub +ourselves, and then invite him in. He'll see we didn't mean all we said, +then." + +"Good idea," declared Phil. + +"We'll do it," agreed Sid. + +Thereupon, paying no more attention to the justly sulking lad by the +water's edge, the three chums shortly had the sleeping tent in some kind +of shape. An oil stove had been brought, and on this some coffee was +soon steaming away, while the appetizing odor of ham and eggs wafted +itself over the camp. + +Through it all Tom never turned his head, nor did his companions speak +to him. He must have heard what was going on, but he never acknowledged +it. With merry whistles his chums drove away the suggestion of gloom. + +"Grub's ready!" came the announcement of Frank, as he walked over toward +Tom. "Wilt your most gracious majesty deign to partake of our humble +fare?" and he dropped on one knee, and offered to Tom, on a plate, a +slice of bread. + +For a moment the tall pitcher held out against the envoy, and then a +faint smile broke over his face. + +"If you fellows are done finding fault," he said, "I'll come in and +help. But I don't like to do all the work, and then have it rubbed in +the way you chaps did." + +"That's right, we did lay it on a bit thick," admitted Frank, contritely. + +"And I got a bit hot under the collar," spoke Tom, confessing in his +turn. + +"Come on and eat," urged Frank. "The stuff is getting cold. It isn't +such bad coffee after all." + +"I paid enough for it," retorted Tom. + +And thus the little cloud was blown away. Soon all were eating merrily. +The meal being finished, they began to get the cots in shape, for it +was drawing on to afternoon. + +The boys had two large tents, one for eating, and the other for sleeping +in, and lounging during the day. A smaller one served as kitchen and +storeroom. + +By evening they were in good shape, and accepted an invitation to take +supper at one of the cottages, the owner of which with his wife and +daughters, had learned that the boys were friends of the Tylers, who had +not yet arrived. + +"Well, now for a good snooze!" exclaimed Tom, as they got back to their +tent that night, having spent a pleasant evening with the Prudens. + +"Did you bring any mosquito netting?" asked Phil. "If you didn't I----" + +"Silence!" warned Frank. "A certain amount of mosquito bites will do us +good--put ginger into us for the rowing game." + +"All right--all right!" cried Phil, quickly. "I didn't mean that," and +he looked quickly at Tom, fearing a return of the morning outbreak. + +"When are the girls coming?" asked Sid, as he began to get ready to turn +in. + +"What do you care?" asked Tom, quickly. "Didn't I see you trying to hold +the hand of that youngest Miss Pruden under the table?" + +"Oh, fie!" cried Frank. + +"I was not!" cried Sid, indignantly. "She had lent me her ring, and it +was so small I couldn't easily get it off again. She was trying to help +me." + +"Say, when you tell 'em, tell 'em good and big!" laughed Tom. "'When are +the girls coming?' Say, you're a nice one, you are, and----" + +Tom ducked in time to avoid the shoe Sid threw at him. + +"Easy, fellows," cautioned Phil. "There are other people on the island +besides us, and they may want to go to sleep." + +"Then make him dry up!" demanded Sid. + +"I'll be good," promised Tom. "But when you hold hands don't be afraid +to admit it. I----" + +The other shoe came in his direction with such poor aim that the candle +was knocked over, the lanterns not yet being in service. + +"Cheese it!" warned Frank. "You'll have the place on fire. Light a +match, somebody." + +All began groping about in the dark tent. + +"Oh, for the love of tripe!" suddenly exclaimed Tom. + +"What's the matter?" asked Phil. + +"I stuck my foot in the water bowl!" exclaimed the lad. "It was on the +floor. I'm as wet as a duck." + +"Serves you right!" declared Sid vindictively. + +"'Be good, sweet lad, and let who will be clever,'" misquoted Phil with +a chuckle. + +But finally order was restored, and our friends fell into a deep sleep. + +"Well, what's doing to-day?" asked Sid, after breakfast. + +"I vote we take a trip down to college, and see if any of the fellows +are there rowing," proposed Frank. "If we can't scare up enough to make +the eight, we can take out one of the fours." + +"Second the motion," came from Tom, and the others agreed, too. + +They rowed down leisurely, being a bit stiff, not only from their +unusual exertions in making camp, but also because they were out of +practice. But finally Randall was reached, and, to their disappointment, +they found only one or two lads there, practicing in the singles. They +all declined to take a try in the eight, as they were going in for the +sculling races. Anyhow, there would not have been enough for an eight +with a coxswain. + +"We'll have to take a four," said Tom, with a sigh. "Frank, you'll have +to steer, as you can do it better than any of us." + +A four-oared shell, as I explained, and as doubtless most of you know, +is steered by a mechanical arrangement, worked by the feet of one of the +rowers. + +Soon the four chums were pulling down the river, gaining in skill each +moment, as the memory of what Coach Lighton had said recurred to them. + +They rowed a good distance, and then drew up at a private float and +got out to stretch their legs. As they were about to put off again, an +elderly man, with a pleasant face, approached and asked: + +"From Boxer Hall?" + +"From Randall," replied Tom. + +"Ah, yes, I noticed you rowing in. I think you might improve your stroke +a little if you would feather differently. You don't turn your hands +quite at the proper time." + +"You must be an old oarsman?" said Tom. + +"Well, I've been in the game. I used to row at Cornell years ago. +Pierson is my name." + +"Are you _that_ Pierson?" cried Frank, remembering the name as that of +one of the best scullers Cornell ever turned out. + +"I'm afraid I am," was the smiling answer. + +"Say," burst out Sid. "Would you mind watching us a bit, and telling us +our mistakes? We're new at it, as you probably noticed," he went on, +"and Randall is just getting into the water sports. We want to beat +Boxer Hall. Can you give us a few points?" + +"Where are you staying?" asked Mr. Pierson. + +"On Crest Island--we're camping there." + +"So! Well, as it happens, I have friends there, and I have been invited +to spend part of the Summer there. If I come I shall be glad to tell you +what I know of rowing, and coach you a bit. It is the best sport in the +world!" and Mr. Pierson's eyes sparkled as though he would like to get +in the shell himself. + +"That will be fine!" exclaimed Tom. "We shall look for you." + +They talked a little longer, the old oarsman giving them some good +advice about training. Then he bade them good-bye, and walked off up the +hill leading from the river. + +The boys got in the shell again, intending to row to Randall, and then +back to their camp. + +As they neared the college float, and noted the activity of the men +building the new boathouse, Sid exclaimed: + +"Look who's here!" + +"Who?" asked Tom. + +"Bossy, by all that's tragic! He's just taking out a single shell. I +wonder if he's going to the island?" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE GIRLS + + +Rowing on up to the float, the four chums took their shell out of the +water just as Boswell got his in. He looked over at them, and nodded in +what he evidently meant to be a friendly fashion, but which he succeeded +in making only patronizing. + +"Out for a row?" he asked, needlessly. + +"Just a bit of practice," answered Sid. + +"And you're going in for the same thing, I see," added Phil. + +"Yes, I've gone a bit stale since I was here last. I just came back +to-day, and I thought I'd take a little row before I went up to our +cottage on the island." + +"He's going there all right, then," murmured Tom. + +"Are you fellows in camp yet?" asked Boswell. + +"Yes," replied Frank. "We haven't got settled yet, we'll soon be in +shape." Then, with an effort, he went on: "Drop in and see us--when you +get a chance." + +Phil administered an unseen but none the less swift kick to his chum. + +"What'd you want to go and do that for?" he asked, in a whisper. It was +safe since Boswell was busy rattling the oars in his shell and could not +hear distinctly. + +"I couldn't do any less," retorted Frank. "It would look pretty raw not +to ask him." + +"I hope he doesn't accept," murmured Sid, and, the next moment the rich +lad replied: + +"Thanks, but I don't expect to get much time for calling. I'm going +to be pretty busy with my sculling, and I expect a friend or two up. +Besides, I never did like a tent. It always seems so musty to me. I much +prefer a cottage." + +"Thank the kind Fates for that!" murmured Tom. + +Boswell got in the shell, and rowed off, rather awkwardly, the four +thought, but then they had yet to see themselves row, though, truth to +tell, they were becoming more expert every day. + +"I'm going to have a professional oarsman coach me," Boswell threw to +them over his shoulder as he sculled off. "I expect to be in good trim, +soon. As long as you fellows didn't want me in the eight, I'm going to +win in the singles, just to show you what I can do." + +"We never said we didn't want you in the eight!" declared Frank. "In +fact I thought you did as well at bow as anyone. It was the coach's +doings." + +"All right," replied Boswell. "It doesn't matter. I rather think I +prefer this, on the whole. And I'm going to win, too!" he boasted. + +"Good! We hope you do!" exclaimed Tom. Then, to his chums he added: +"Come on, let's get back to the island and enjoy it before he starts his +monkey business there. I wonder when his cottage opens?" + +"I saw a woman and a man working around there to-day, just before we +left," volunteered Sid. + +"Then Bossy's folks must be coming soon--more's the pity--I mean as far +as he is concerned," put in Phil. "His folks may be decent enough, but +he's the limit." + +"I suppose he and that English pal of his--Pierce--will be drinking tea +every afternoon at five o'clock," said Tom. "They'll have their cakes +and Young Hyson out on the lawn, and--Oh, 'slush, isn't it fierce! A +bally rotter, dontcherknow!'" + +"The Knockers Club will please come to order!" exclaimed Frank, in mock +seriousness. + +"Say, I guess we have been piling it on pretty thick," admitted Tom, +with a grin. "Let's get in our old tub, and pull back. It's my turn to +rest this trip." + +Laughing and joking, with occasional references to the proper way to +handle an oar, and some talk of the offer of Mr. Pierson to coach them, +the lads rowed back to their camp. They spent the next two days in +getting the place in better shape. + +"For exhibition purposes," Sid explained. "The girls might come to lunch +some day." + +"Say, he's got girls on the brain!" complained Phil. "Duck him, Tom, you +aren't doing anything." + +But Sid discretely got out of the way. + +A day later the Boswell family arrived at the island. There were several +servants--almost too many for the simple cottage--and Mr. and Mrs. +Boswell, in addition to their son. It was hard to see from whom the lad +inherited his unpleasant mannerisms, for both his parents were of the +old-fashioned school of gentlemen and ladies, with exceedingly kind +hearts. Boswell had evidently been spoiled, unless he did the spoiling +process himself, which was more than likely. + +When Mr. Boswell learned that some of his son's college mates were on +the island, he paid a formal call on them, and invited them to the +cottage. They promised to come--some time. + +"When Bossy isn't home, I hope," murmured Sid. + +Pierce, Boswell's English chum, arrived that same week, and after +that our friends saw little of the rich lad. He and his friend were +generally off together in a boat rowing or fishing. + +Then another personage made his appearance, an athletic-looking man, +whom Boswell introduced as his "trainer." Then began the instruction in +sculling. Tom and the others heard and saw some of it. + +"He's teaching him a totally different stroke than we row," said Sid. "I +wonder if it can be right?" + +"I'll stick to Lighton's method," declared Frank. + +"Yes, for it's the same as that used by Mr. Pierson," added Tom. "It's +good enough for us." + +The Cornell oarsman had paid a visit or two to the lads in their camp, +coming from where he was stopping on the mainland, as his friend, whom +he expected to visit on the island, had not yet opened his cottage. + +Mr. Pierson gave the boys some good advice, and getting into the shell +several times, practiced what he preached. He had not forgotten his +early skill, and his illustrations were valuable. + +"He can pull a good stroke yet," declared Frank, one day, following some +spirited instruction and practice. Mr. Pierson had left, promising to +devote more time to the boys later on. + +"He sure must have been a wonder in his day," declared Tom. + +It was one morning just after the lads had finished breakfast, and were +getting their camp in shape for the day, preparatory to going for a row, +that Tom made a momentous discovery. + +He had been to the spring for a pail of water, and, on his return +he noticed on the porch of the Tyler cottage a number of trunks and +suitcases. Then a flutter of dresses caught his eye, and he heard a +chorus of musical laughter. + +"The girls have come!" cried Tom, and he raced for his own camp, as he +had on a pair of old trousers and a disreputable sweater, and wanted to +get in more presentable shape for making them welcome. + +"The girls have come!" he cried, springing into the midst of his chums +with such force that he spilled half the water. "The girls have come!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +AT PRACTICE + + +"Did you see 'em?" + +"Are they all there?" + +"What about Helen Newton?" + +"Say, where's my brown suit?" + +"Has anyone seen my purple tie?" + +"Give me those shoes, Sid! Who said you could take 'em, anyhow--my best +ones?" and Phil fairly upset his chum in order to rescue the footgear +that had been taken without his permission. + +I presume the reader can understand the meaning of the expressions +which open this chapter. They had to do directly with Tom's startling +announcement, and who said which or what does not matter. Sufficient +to state that Sid, Phil and Frank thus overwhelmed Tom with the above +questions. + +"I didn't see any of 'em," went on Tom, when he could get his breath. +"But I heard her laugh----" + +"Heard who laugh?" demanded Phil. + +"Your sister." + +"I thought you said they _all_ came!" reproached Sid. + +"So I did, and so they have. Do you think one girl would have four +trunks and four suitcases?" asked Tom, in indignant justification. + +"They might--I have known of such," said Frank. "But are you sure +they're all here?" + +"Of course. Didn't I hear 'em all laugh? Anyhow, Madge must be here, or +Ruth wouldn't be at the cottage. And if two of 'em are there the other +two are, too." + +"That's no reason at all," said Phil, firmly. "This will have to be +investigated. Where's my clean shirt? I'm going to see my sister!" and +he strode into the tent. + +"It's the first time Phil was ever so thoughtful of his sister, +fellows. I guess we'd better all get togged up a bit," said Frank, and +the activities, that had begun when Tom came in with the news (which +activities had ceased momentarily while the glad tidings were being +confirmed), were again resumed. + +"Glad rags," as the lads slangily designated their habiliments, other +than the ones in which they worked about the camp, were soon being +donned, and a little later the boys were on their way to the Tyler +cottage. + +"I wonder how long they're going to stay?" said Sid. + +"As long as we do, I hope," said Tom. "There they are!" + +"All four of 'em, sure enough," added Phil. + +"You were a good guesser, Tom, old man." + +"Oh, leave it to your Uncle Dudley!" declared Tom, puffing out his +chest. "Little Willie knows what he's about." + +"Hello, boys!" called Madge Tyler, as she caught sight of the advancing +four. + +"Welcome to our city," added Ruth, as she threw a kiss to--her brother. +At least Tom said so, when they accused him later of intercepting it, +and Tom ought to know. + +"Glad you're here." + +"Isn't this place lovely?" + +"Where is your boat?" + +"Have you a motor?" + +"Are you going to invite us to lunch in the tent?" + +These questions and comments were bandied back and forth among the boys +and girls, no one caring very much who said what, so glad were they to +see each other, and exchange greetings and experiences. + +"We girls just came up this morning," explained Madge. "We didn't wait +for mother, and father has some tiresome business to look after so he +couldn't come. But I just said that Jeanette, our maid, was chaperone +enough, and so we came. I guess the man on the boat thought we had +baggage enough." + +"But he was nice about it," added Ruth. + +"Yes, after I gave him a quarter," explained Helen. + +"Oh, you dear! Did you really tip him?" asked Madge. + +"Certainly--he--er--well, he seemed to expect it," and the boys laughed +at her naive explanation. + +"Won't you come in?" invited Madge. "It isn't much of a cottage, and we +can't even offer you a cup of tea, for we're all out, and I had to send +Jeanette for some." + +"Don't worry about that," remarked Phil. + +"We've got all the food we can eat over at the tent," went on Tom. + +All entered the charming little cottage, and the boys told of their +experiences since coming to camp, while the girls detailed the +happenings of their journey that morning. + +A small steamer, making regular trips about the lake, had left them and +their baggage at the island, which was beginning to be quite a Summer +resort. A new store had recently been built on the place, and provided a +variety of articles, including foodstuffs for the cottagers. + +"There's a boat or two with this cottage," explained Madge. "We'll have +to get them in the water to soak up, I suppose, and then we girls will +give you boys some lessons in rowing; won't we, girls?" + +"We might try," said Ruth, drily. + +"Your boats are in the water, I think," said Sid. "I saw that Mexican +'take-care' man, as he calls himself, at them the other day, caulking up +some cracks." + +"That's good," retorted Madge. "I know father wrote on to have this +done, but I've been so busy, getting ready to come here, that I forgot +to ask if it had been attended to. I wish we had a motor-launch, but +father is so old-fashioned, if I must say it, that he won't hear of it." + +"Haven't you boys a launch?" asked Helen. + +"No," replied Tom, "but perhaps we can hire one," and he looked at Ruth, +who had been trying to signal him when the Mexican's name was mentioned. + +"That's a good idea," declared Phil. "We'll see about it this afternoon." + +Then Jeanette, the maid, having come from the store with the tea, the +boys took their leave, to allow the girls time to change into more +comfortable and camp-like garments, and also to enjoy their beverage. + +"We'll see you after lunch," called Phil. + +"We'd ask you to stay," spoke Madge, "but really we haven't quite found +ourselves yet. Later on----" + +"Come on over to our tent," invited Sid. + +"No, thank you," laughed the young hostess. "Some other time. We have +to unpack our dresses, or they'll get wrinkled." + +The boys thought lunch time would never pass, but it did, though they +made a hasty meal of it. Then they hurried back to the cottage, and +a little later four pairs of young persons were strolling in four +different directions over the beautiful island. + +"Oh, Tom!" exclaimed Ruth. "I've been just wild to get you alone for a +moment to ask if you've found out anything about my brooch?" + +"Not a thing, Ruth, I'm sorry to say. In fact the whole business is at a +standstill. We had some suspicions, but they didn't lead anywhere, and +we're up against a stone wall so far in the game." + +"Well, perhaps something may develop," she said with a sigh. "I hope so, +for I'm afraid every day some of my folks will discover that I'm not +wearing the brooch. When I went to bid grandmother good-bye I wore a +large bow tie, so she couldn't see the place where the pin ought to have +been, but wasn't. Isn't it dreadful to be so deceitful?" + +"Not at all," Tom hastened to assure her. "It isn't your fault, and, as +you say, something may develop." + +They strolled on, as did the others, and the afternoon seemed +wonderfully short. + +I note, in looking back over some pages I have written, that I headed +this chapter "At Practice," and really I meant to devote considerable +space to detailing the doings of Tom and his chums in the shell, under +the guidance of Mr. Pierson. But I find that the girls have taken up +such a large proportion of my available space that I have not much left +for rowing matters. And, in fact, the boys found themselves in the same +predicament. After all, I suppose, it is not an unforgivable crime. + +Tom and his chums kept promising themselves, from day to day, after the +arrival of the girls, that they would buckle down to hard work in the +shell, but each day saw them over at the cottage as early as decency and +good manners would allow, and the same thing kept them there as late as +possible. + +They hired a small gasoline launch, that was continually getting out of +order, and stopping out in the middle of the lake. They had to be towed +in so frequently that they became very well known. But it was all the +more fun. + +"There's something about this launch that you don't often find," +remarked Frank, one day when they had been drifting helplessly about. + +"And it's a good thing you don't," added Tom. + +"What I meant," said Frank, "was that it never gets monotonous. The same +thing never happens twice." + +"I should say not," declared Sid. "Everything on the old tub has +broken one time or another, from the old cups to the piston rings, +and everything from the spark coil to the batteries has given out! +Monotonous? I should say nixy!" + +Yet the boys did practice. Frank grew desperate when a week had gone by +without their getting into the shell, and he spoke to such advantage, +dwelling on the necessity of keeping in condition, that the others +agreed with him. So they left the girls to their own devices one +morning, and rowed down to college. + +They found quite a number of their chums there, and considerable +practice was going on. Mr. Lighton had paid one of his flying visits and +was giving the lads some instruction. + +Our friends told him of Mr. Pierson's offer, and the coach said: + +"You could not do better, boys, than to follow his advice. I wish we +could get him to come to Randall in the Fall." + +"Maybe he will," suggested Sid. "We'll ask him." + +Mr. Lighton said he had word from Bricktop Molloy, and one or two of +the others, that they were getting in some practice during the Summer +vacation. + +"I hope we have a good eight when college opens again," he concluded, as +Tom and his chums rowed off in the four-oared shell. + +Mr. Pierson was staying on the island now, and for the next few days +he was with the boys considerably, giving them valuable advice. They +kept at practice, setting aside certain hours for it, and manfully +withstanding the temptation of going off on little excursions with the +girls. + +So far as solving the mystery of the missing jewelry was concerned, no +progress was made, though the boys talked about it often. The faint +suspicions against the Mexican and Boswell were still maintained, but +that was all. + +As for Boswell, he and his English friend and his "trainer," as he +called the athlete, kept pretty much to themselves. Mendez was the same +over-polite Mexican as before. He opened his store, and did a good +business, our friends patronizing him to some extent--partly to get a +look inside his place. But, though their eyes were used to the best +advantage, they saw nothing that would aid them in their quest. + +"But I'll get Ruth's brooch back yet!" declared Tom, to himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +"SENOR BOSWELL" + + +"Shoulders back a little more! Heads up! Don't feather quite so high. +That's all right to do when there are little choppy waves, that would +cause splashing, but in calm water the lower you feather the less you +have to raise the spoon of the oar. Of course don't do any 'riffling.' +That holds back the boat. When I see you in an eight, with a coxswain, +so you don't have to think about steering, I can tell better how you +will do." + +This was Mr. Pierson giving some coaching advice to the four boys, who +were out in the shell. He was following them in the launch owned by his +friend, at whose cottage he was visiting. + +"I'm wondering if I'll have wind enough for a four-mile race, pulling +even thirty to the minute?" said Sid. + +"And we may have to hit it up to thirty-two or three," put in Tom. + +"Don't worry about those things now," advised the Cornell graduate. +"They will work themselves out when you get in training. Of course +you're not training now, and that makes a difference. My chief anxiety +at present is to get you in the way of taking the proper stroke, to +teach you how to sit, how to slide in the moving seats, how to bring +your whole weight where it will do the most good, and how to depend on +the toe stretchers. Your wind will take care of itself when you get down +to hard practice. If it doesn't--well, you can't row in an eight, that's +all." + +The old graduate glanced sharply at the lads, and, noting a look of +anxiety on their faces, he hastened to add: + +"But I'm sure it will come out all right. Don't think about it. Now +then, hit up the stroke a little." + +And so he accompanied them over the course, giving them advice almost +invaluable, which they could have obtained in no other way. The boys +appreciated it deeply. + +Camp and cottage life on Crest Island was endless delight to the +boys, even with the hard practice they put in occasionally. I say +"occasionally" advisedly, for they did not forget, nor did Mr. Lighton +or Mr. Pierson want them to forget, that they were on their vacations. +Truth to tell, the girls took much of the time of our heroes. And +this was as it should be. We can never be young but once, if I may be +pardoned that bit of philosophy in a story book--a bit that is not +original by any means. + +"Well, thank our lucky stars, we don't have to grind away in the boat +to-day!" exclaimed Sid one morning, as he got up ahead of the others, +for it was his turn to prepare breakfast. + +"That's right," called Tom, in a sleepy voice from his cot, as he turned +over luxuriously amid the scanty coverings, for the night had been warm. +"I vote we get the launch in running order, if that's possible, and take +the girls off for a picnic." + +"Second the motion," exclaimed Sid, "with the amendment that the girls +provide, and put up, the lunch." + +"We'll pay for it, if they put it up," said Frank. + +"That's better," remarked Phil. "I'll tip Sis off, and I guess they'll +do it." + +Behold then, a little later, the eight young persons, lively and gay, in +the wheezy and uncertain launch, voyaging over the lake toward a distant +dell of which they knew, on the mainland, where they proposed to picnic +for the day. + +They ate the lunch which the girls had put up in dainty fashion, sitting +on a broad, flat rock near the edge of the lake, with the wind rustling +in the trees overhead, and the birds flitting here and there. + +"Isn't it glorious here?" mused Sid. + +"Gorgeous!" declared Madge. "It's just a perfect day." + +"'O, perfect day!'" began Phil. + +"Cut out the poetry," interrupted Tom. "There's a little snake crawling +toward you, old man." + +"Oh!" screamed four shrill voices, and there was a hasty scramble, until +the snake was discovered to be only a tiny lizard, which the girls +declared to be "just as bad." + +Then came saunterings two-by-two off in woodland glades until it was +time to think regretfully of returning to the island, for the shadows +were lengthening. + +It was just as they were about to start off in the little gasoline +launch, which, strange to say, had been behaving wonderfully well that +day, that they saw Mendez, the Mexican, rowing toward them in a small +boat. He seemed in much of a hurry. + +"Senors and senoritas!" he hailed them. "Wait a moment, I pray of you." + +"Gracious--I hope nothing has happened at home!" exclaimed Madge Tyler, +for her mother was not at the cottage. + +"Perhaps it's a telegram for some of us," suggested Ruth. "Oh, dear, I +do hope I don't have to go home." + +They all regarded the approaching Mexican curiously. + +"Pardon," he began with a smile that showed all his white teeth, "but I +seek Senor Boswell. Is he with you?" + +"With us? No," answered Tom. "He doesn't train in with our crowd." + +"Most likely he's having tea on the lawn, and talking about 'beastly +rotters,'" suggested Sid. + +"Oh, Sid!" exclaimed Ruth. "He isn't such a bad sort." + +"Oh, do you know him?" asked Tom, quickly. + +"He called one evening," explained Madge, while just the faintest +suggestion of a blush suffused her pretty face. "He and Mr. Pierce." + +"They did!" exclaimed Phil, looking keenly at his sister. + +"Hush!" she exclaimed. "Silly boy. Don't make a scene!" + +"Senor Boswell--is he not here?" went on the Mexican, and there was +anxiety in his voice. "I was inform that he come off on a boat, and in +this direction. I see your launch moored here, and I am of the belief, +perhaps, that he may be here. Is it not?" and again he smiled. + +"No, he isn't here, and we haven't seen him," said Tom. + +"Pardon, senors and senoritas," said the Mexican, bowing as well as he +could in his small boat. "I shall look farther. I have the honor to bid +you good afternoon," and he rowed away, up the lake. + +"What do you suppose he wanted of Boswell in such a hurry?" asked Sid in +a low voice of Tom, as they were getting in the launch. + +"Give it up," was the answer, but Tom was doing some hard thinking just +about that time. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +JEALOUSY + + +"We've got to do some pulling to-morrow," remarked Frank, as they rowed +toward the island. "Mr. Pierson said he'd show us a new wrinkle or two." + +"And we want to begin to hit up the speed a bit," added Tom. + +"That's right," agreed Phil, who was fussing with the motor, that missed +every now and then. + +"But say!" exclaimed Sid. "I thought we were going to take the girls +down to watch some of the other fellows row opposite college to-morrow?" +and there was a rueful look on his face. + +"Well, I know we did speak of that," said Tom, "but----" + +"The implied invitation is declined with thanks," broke in Ruth. "We +girls simply have to do some house-cleaning to-morrow. The cottage is a +perfect sight, and it's sweet of Madge not to have found fault before." + +"Oh, it's nothing of the sort!" declared the young and pretty hostess. +"Don't decline on that account." + +"No, don't!" besought Sid. + +"But we really must stay home," declared Mabel. "I know we have upset +things terribly, and tossed our belongings about until I'm sure that +poor maid must be distracted picking things up. Besides, Mr. Tyler is +coming up to-morrow and I know your mother will want the place in some +sort of decent shape, Madge. We must stay and help." + +"Indeed, yes," echoed Helen Newton. + +"Too bad!" declared Phil. + +"Besides, it's all you boys' fault that it is so upset," went on Ruth. + +"How do you make that out?" demanded Tom. + +"Why you're always coming along, begging us to go out with you, and +you're always in such a hurry that we can't wait to pick up things. So +there!" + +"Any reason, even if it's a poor one," remarked Frank, drily. + +They glided along for some time, and then the motor suddenly stopped. + +"Now what's wrong?" asked Frank. + +"I knew something would happen if Phil didn't stop monkeying with it," +declared Tom. + +"Monkey yourself!" retorted the lad who had been acting as engineer. +"All I did was to screw the spark plug in a bit tighter, and shut the +pet-cock." + +"Then you probably cracked the porcelain on the spark plug, and there's +a short circuit," spoke Frank. "Here, let me take a look, and see what +the trouble is," and as Frank had been successful in times past, when +the others had failed, they made room for him at the motor. + +He looked it over a moment, and then, seeing that the switch was on, +gave the flywheel a couple of turns. There was only an apologetic wheeze. + +"He knows so much about motors," sarcastically murmured Tom to Ruth. + +"He knows enough to turn on the gasoline, at any rate, and not try to +run the motor with what's in the carburetor," snapped back Frank, as +he opened the cock in the pipe leading from the tank in the bow. "Who +started this motor, anyhow?" + +"I did," confessed Tom, the tables thus being turned against him. + +"Next time turn on the gas," repeated Frank. "It's one of the first +things to do in running a motor-boat, sonny. You may write the word +gasoline twenty-five times before you go to sleep to-night," and all +joined in the laugh against poor Tom. + +"Huh! I supposed it was always kept turned on," he said in defense. + +"The carburetor leaks a little, so I always shut the gas off at the +tank," explained Sid. "I guess I forgot to mention it." + +"And I can easily guess why," spoke Frank, with a significant glance at +the pretty girl beside whom his chum was sitting. + +"Well, it's another little wrinkle--one of a number--we've learned about +the boat," spoke Tom, when they were once more under way. + +"All good things have to come to and end, I suppose," remarked Sid, +when they had landed and were bidding the girls good-bye. "But we hope +there'll be more excursions." + +"You can always ask us--at least as long as we're here," said Mabel. +"Though I'm afraid we'll have to go next week. It's been perfectly +lovely of Madge to keep us this long----" + +"Indeed you're not going so soon!" declared the hostess. "Why, you +haven't been here any time at all yet, and when you do go I'll be so +lonesome----" + +"So will we!" chorused the lads. "Don't go," and the girls laughingly +promised to stay as long as possible. + +True to their determination, the lads went out in the four-oared shell +the next day, with Mr. Pierson in the launch to coach them. He put them +through some stiff practice, and increased the stroke to a number where +the boys were almost on the point of protesting. But they realized that +they needed it, though they were glad to stop when the word was given. + +"A few days of that will put you in the way of bettering your wind," +said the old college graduate, with a whimsical smile. I have spoken of +him as an "old" graduate, but, in point of fact he was not at all an +elderly man. I merely used "old" in a comparative sense. + +"I wonder what's the matter with Boswell?" ventured Sid, as they rowed +the shell back to the college float, and prepared to motor back in the +launch. "I haven't seen him out practicing to-day." + +"That's right," agreed Tom. "And say, did it strike any of you as queer +the way that Mexican was looking for him?" + +"Somewhat," admitted Frank. + +"There must be something between them," went on Tom. "I wonder if, after +all, it can have anything to do with the missing jewelry?" + +"What makes you think so?" asked Phil. + +"I don't know that I do, very definitely. But that Mendez was certainly +anxious to find Bossy, though for what reason I can't even guess. +Wouldn't it be queer if Bossy had found those cups and other things, and +gotten rid of 'em through the Mexican, after he found he had carried the +joke too far?" + +"I believe you," replied Frank. "But it's pretty far-fetched to my way +of thinking. I'd hate to believe that any Randall man would be guilty of +such a thing." + +"So would I," added Phil. + +"Oh, well, I only mentioned it as a supposition," said Tom, in +self-defense. "Anyhow, Bossy sure does practice hard in his single. I +guess that trainer of his knows his business." + +"Yes, he's a good trainer," admitted Frank. "I've heard of him, but it's +pretty near the limit for a fellow to have a private trainer. It's too +much like putting on lugs." + +"It is that," said Phil. "And I suppose, when we get back in the Fall, +about all we'll hear will be Bossy and his shell." + +"I wonder if he has a chance to win?" asked Tom. "They have some expert +scullers at Boxer Hall." + +"Well, they ought to have; look how long they've been at it," retorted +Frank. + +"I'll be rather glad to get back to college again," went on the tall +pitcher. "This loafing life is good, but I'm anxious to get in the +eight." + +"So am I," came from Sid, "but it's sport here," and he looked toward +the island they were approaching, probably thinking of the girls. So far +the four chums had not been able to get five others, one the coxswain, +with them so that they could row in the eight-oared shell. But the four +gave them sufficient practice, Mr. Pierson thought, since, after all, +it was a matter of the stroke, and could be acquired in one craft as +well as in another. + +Meanwhile, a little scene was taking place near the Tyler cottage, +that, had our friends beheld it--or, rather one of our friends in +particular--might have caused some trouble. + +The girls were kept busy with some light housework, helping Mrs. Tyler +and the maid, after the boys left. Then, having put their rooms in +order they attired themselves in fresh gowns and walked off toward the +water. Near the cottage Boswell occupied, the four young ladies met the +rich lad and his English chum. The two were out for a walk, and, as +the youths stopped to chat for a moment with Madge, whom they had met +formally, she could do no less than halt a moment with the other girls, +who had been introduced to the lads. + +"Come down and I'll take you out in my launch," invited Boswell. "I've +just got a new one, and it's quite fast." + +"Oh, come on!" cried Ruth, impulsively. "That one Phil and the boys have +is so slow, and something is always happening to it." + +"My word! I should say so!" laughed Pierce. + +"But we declined an invitation to go out with--our boys," said Mabel +Harrison, in a low voice. + +"Oh, well," spoke Ruth. "They had to go to practice anyhow, and we +won't be long. Come on." + +It was a delightful day, and the invitation was hard to resist. Behold +then, as a Frenchman would say, behold then, a little later, the four +pretty girls in Boswell's launch, with himself and Pierce making +themselves as agreeable as they knew how. And to give them their due, +they knew how to interest girls, and were deferential and polite in +their demeanor. + +"Your pin is coming unfastened," remarked Boswell to Ruth, as they were +speeding along, and he motioned to a bit of lace at her throat--lace +caught up with a simple gold bar clasp. + +"Oh, thank you," she answered, as she fastened it, and then she blushed, +and was angry at herself for doing it. + +"Where is that lovely old-fashioned brooch you used to wear?" asked +Madge, looking at her chum. + +"Oh--er--I wouldn't wear it out in a boat, anyhow," said Ruth, blushing +redder than before. "I--I might lose it. See, wasn't that a fish that +jumped over there!" and she pointed to the left, glad of a chance to +change the subject. + +"Yes, and a jolly big fellow, too!" declared Pierce. "Why can't we get +up a fishing party, and take you girls?" he asked. "My word, it would +be jolly sport! We could take our lunch, and have tea in the woods, a +regular outing, dontcherknow." + +"That's the ticket!" exclaimed Boswell. "Will you girls come?" and he +looked particularly at Ruth. + +"I don't know," she replied and then, in the spirit of mischief, she +added: "I'll ask my brother. Perhaps he'd like to come. He is a good +fisherman." + +"Oh--er--it wasn't so much about the fish that I was thinking," spoke +Pierce, a bit dismayed, and then he dropped the subject. + +"Are you fond of old-fashioned jewelry?" asked Boswell, in a low voice +to Ruth. "I mean old brooches and the like?" + +"Yes--why?" asked Ruth rather startled. + +"Oh, I only just wanted to know. I'm a bit that way myself. My mother +has a very old brooch that I gave her. I mean it was old when I came +across it and bought it. I'll borrow it some day and let you see it." + +Ruth murmured a polite rejoinder, scarcely knowing what she did say, +and then, as one of the lake steamers approached rather dangerously +close to the launch, there was a moment of excitement aboard both craft, +for Pierce, who should have been steering, had neglected it for the +agreeable task of being polite to Mabel Harrison. + +But nothing more than a scare resulted. When matters had quieted down, +the talk turned into another channel, and Ruth was glad to keep it there. + +The topic of the brooch, she thought, was a rather dangerous one for +her, since she wanted to keep from her friends, and especially from Tom +and her folks, the knowledge of the missing pin. She was hoping against +hope that it would be found. She wondered what Boswell meant by his +reference, but did not dare ask him. + +The ride was a pleasant one, though the girls--all of them--felt that +they had, perhaps, been just a bit mean toward their boy chums. Still, +as Madge had said, Tom and his friends did have practice. + +"We better go back now," said Ruth, after a bit. "It has been +delightful, though." + +"And the engine didn't break down once," added Helen. + +"Oh I don't get things that break," spoke Boswell, with an air of pride. +"But you don't want to go in so soon; do you?" + +"We must," insisted Madge, and, rather against their wishes, the boys +turned back. + +As Fate would have it, the new launch got to the Boswell dock just as +the craft containing Tom and his chums hove in sight. Their wheezy boat +puffed slowly along, and as it was steered in toward the dock they had +improvised near their tent, the boys saw Boswell and his chum helping +the girls out. Then Boswell walked alongside Ruth, seeming to be in +earnest conversation with her. + +"Say, would you look at that!" cried Sid. "The girls were out with those +chaps!" + +"And after refusing to come with us!" went on Frank. + +"I like their nerve!" declared Phil. + +Tom said nothing, but there came a queer look in his eyes. + +"Well, I suppose we're not the only fellows on the island," spoke Frank, +philosophically. "We couldn't expect them to stay in, waiting for us to +come back, on such a fine day as this." + +"But they said they were going to be busy," objected Sid. + +"Oh, well, I guess what they had to do could be dropped and picked up +again, when there was a launch ride in the offing," went on the Big +Californian. "We'll call around after supper and take 'em out. There's +going to be a glorious moon." + +"Fine!" cried Sid. But when evening came, and the others attired +themselves more or less gaily, ready for a call, Tom did not doff his +old garments. + +"What's the matter, sport; aren't you coming?" asked Sid. + +"Nope." + +"Why not? Ruth won't want to go unless you're there." + +"I don't care. I'm not going. I don't feel like it." + +"Oh, come on." + +"Nope." + +"What shall I tell her?" asked Sid, looking to see that Phil and Frank +had gone on ahead. + +"Nothing," and Tom began filling a lantern, this being one of his duties +that week. + +Sid stood regarding his chum for a moment, and then without a word, but +with a suggestive shrug of his shoulders, went out. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A STRANGE CONFERENCE + + +"You missed it, old man; we had a dandy time," remarked Frank, when he, +together with Sid and Phil, drifted into the sleeping tent some time +later. + +"That's right, Tom," added Sid. "The cake was good." + +"And the lemonade, too," added Phil. + +"Um!" sleepily grunted Tom. Or was he only simulating sleep? + +"And the girls were jolly," went on Frank. + +"And Ruth wanted to know why you hadn't come," proceeded Sid, keeping up +the chorus of description. + +"Oh, let me go to sleep," growled Tom. + +"Bossy and his chum blew in, but they didn't stay long," added Phil. "I +guess they didn't expect to find us there." + +"Was Boswell there?" demanded Tom, sitting up on his cot. + +"Sure," retorted Sid, at the same time giving Frank a nudge in the ribs +as much as to say: "There's where the shoe pinches." + +"I've got a headache," said Tom, only half truthfully. "I guess that row +in the hot sun was a little too much for me to-day." + +"Can we do anything for you?" asked Frank, trying to make his voice +sound anxious. + +"No, I'll sleep it off," and turning with his face toward the tent wall, +Tom proceeded to slumber--or pretend to. + +It was two days after this when Tom and Ruth met. He had studiously +avoided calling at the Tyler cottage, though the other boys went over +each evening. Tom gave some excuse, and each time Sid and the others +came in at night they would remark about the good time they had had. + +"You're missing it," declared Phil, winking at his chums. "Boswell is +filling in your place fine." + +"Was he there again?" snapped Tom. + +"Sure thing. He and Sis seem to get on well together, though I don't +care for the chap. Still he isn't such a bad sort as I thought at first." + +As a matter of fact Boswell had not called since that first evening, but +Phil guessed Tom's secret, and wickedly and feloniously egged it on. + +"What's the matter, Tom; why haven't you called?" asked Ruth with +perfect sincerity when she and the tall pitcher did meet, following +some busy days devoted for the most part by the boys to rowing practice. +"I wanted to ask you about something?" + +"I--er--I've been busy," he said, trying to make himself believe that. +Ruth didn't. "Besides," he blurted out, with a school-boy mannerism that +he hated himself for disclosing, "I thought Mr. Boswell could keep you +interested." + +"Tom Parsons!" and Ruth's eyes flashed dangerously. + +"He seems to be quite a steady caller," he stumbled on, growing more and +more confused and uncomfortable. He felt more childish than ever, and I +am not saying he was not. "I didn't know whether there'd be room for me +and----" + +"Tom, I don't think that's fair of you," and Ruth was plainly hurt. "Mr. +Boswell has only been over one evening, when the other boys were there, +and----" + +"Only once?" cried Tom. + +"That's all. The same evening of the day when we were out in his launch. +I couldn't help talking to him then, and if you think----" + +"I don't think anything!" broke in Tom. "I've been a chump. They said +he'd been over there every night. Oh, wait until I get hold of your +brother!" + +"Did Phil say that?" + +"He did." + +"Then I'll settle with him, too. But, Tom, I wanted to ask if you +thought there was any chance of finding my brooch?" + +"I don't know, Ruth. It begins to look rather hopeless." + +"That's what I thought, and, as long as I'm not going to get it back I +may as well admit that it is gone. I can't go on deceiving people this +way, even in so small a matter. I suppose it was careless of me to let +the clasp get broken in the first place. I put it on in a hurry one day, +and strained it. And in the second place, I suppose I ought to have +given it to a more reliable jeweler. + +"But that Mr. Farson called at the college one day soliciting repair +work to do. He said he had some from Boxer Hall, so I thought he was all +right, and let him take my pin. I'm sorry now." + +"Yes, it is too bad," assented Tom, "but it can't be helped. I don't +really believe, Ruth, that there's any use looking on this island for +the pin. I have been keeping my eyes open for it, but I'm beginning to +think that it's like hunting for the proverbial thimble in the straw +pile." + +"You mean needle in the haystack." + +"Well, it's the same thing. I never can get those proverbs straight. The +only hope is that we might, some day, discover who took the things, and +your brooch might be recovered. But it's a pretty slim chance, now that +all our clues seemed to have failed." + +"That's what I thought. So I guess I'll confess and brave grandmother's +wrath. But, oh! I know she'll never leave me her lovely pearls!" + +"Maybe someone else will," suggested Tom. "Will you come down to the +store and have some soda water? He's got in a fresh lot, I believe." + +"I will, Tom, for I'm thirsty enough to drink even the lemon-pop Mr. +Richards sells. Come on," and the two walked on, the little cloud that +had come between them having blown away. But Ruth said nothing about +Boswell's promise to show her his mother's old-fashioned brooch. Perhaps +she thought he had forgotten the matter, and, she reasoned, there was no +need of awakening Tom's jealousy. + +It was after Tom had parted from Ruth, with a promise to call that +evening with the other boys, that, walking along the island shore, +taking a short cut to the camp, he heard voices coming from the +direction of the water. He looked through the screen of bushes, and saw +Boswell and the Mexican caretaker, sitting in a boat not far from shore. +The college lad was handing Mendez something, and by the sun's rays Tom +caught the glitter of gold. At the same time a puff of wind brought +their voices plainly to him, the water aiding in carrying the tones. + +"Do you think you could get an old-fashioned pin like that?" Boswell was +asking. "You know something about jewelry; don't you?" + +"Of a surety, senor. But this would be hard to duplicate. It is very +old." + +"I know, but I want one like that, or as near it as possible. Can't you +get one the same place you got that?" + +"No, senor, that was the only one there was, and when I sell him to you +for your respected mother I regret that I can get no more of him." + +"Where did you get that?" asked Boswell, as he took back from the +Mexican what Tom could now see was some sort of breastpin. + +"Why do you ask, senor?" retorted the man, quickly. + +"Oh, nothing special. Why, you act as though you thought that I was +going to accuse you of stealing it." + +"Never, senor!" exclaimed the man quickly. "I get this from a friend, +and I sell it to you for very little more than I paid." + +"Oh, it was cheap enough," went on the lad. "I'm not kicking. Only I'd +like to get another. I knew mother would like this, and she did. She +loves old-fashioned things." + +"And you want another for one who also loves of the time that is +past--is that it, senor?" + +"You've guessed it, Mendez. But keep mum about it. I want to surprise +her." + +Then the wind, blowing in a contrary direction, carried the voices away, +and Tom kept on, having only halted momentarily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN THE SHACK + + +"Jove!" murmured Tom, as he hurried on, "what have I stumbled upon?" + +For the time being his thoughts were in a whirl, for like a flash it had +come to him that the pin he had seen being handled by Mendez and Boswell +was Ruth's missing brooch. + +"I couldn't get close enough for a good look, but it sure was an +old-fashioned pin, from their talk, and it looked like the one I've seen +Ruth wear. The one with the secret spring." + +He walked on a little farther. + +"Now what's to be done?" he asked himself. "I guess I'll sit down and +think this thing out." + +Rapidly Tom went over in his mind what he had seen and heard. + +"This seems to let Boswell out of it," he murmured. "And I'm glad of +it--for the honor of Randall," and Tom thought of the events that had +taken place some time ago, when the honor of Randall seemed to be +threatened, events which I have narrated in the book of that title. + +"If Boswell bought the pin of Mendez, then it must be the Mexican who is +the man we're after," Tom went on. "He deals in jewelry, though most of +it is that filigree silver stuff that I don't fancy. And Boswell wants +Mendez to get him another old-fashioned pin like the one he already has. +I wonder who for?" + +But Tom did not wonder long on this point. + +"The insolent puppy!" he exclaimed, clenching his fists. "If he tries to +give Ruth a pin I'll----" + +And then he calmed down, for he realized that, aside from the ethics, or +good taste of the matter, Boswell had as much right to present Ruth with +a token as had he himself. + +"I guess I'd better reason along a new line," he told himself. "I'll +have to let the boys know about this, and----" + +Then, like a flash something else occurred to him. + +"No, I can't do that," he said. "Phil isn't supposed to know that +Ruth has lost her pin--that is, not yet. It would be too bad if the +grandmother were to turn cranky, because of the loss of the brooch, and +give her pearls to someone else--at least until I can buy Ruth some +pearls myself--and that's a long way off, I'm afraid," thought Tom, +ruefully. + +"No, I've got to play this hand alone," he went on. "I can't bring the +fellows in--just yet. And I must tell Ruth not to admit that she has +lost her brooch--at least, not yet. I may be able to get it back for +her. The idea of Boswell having it--at least, I think it's the same one. + +"And then by Jove! If Mendez had the brooch he has the other stuff that +was in the jewelry box--the Boxer Hall cups and so on. Tom Parsons, +you've stumbled on the solution of the mystery, I do believe. And you've +got to work it out alone, for if you tell any of the fellows Ruth's +secret will come out. Now, how are you going to do it?" + +He pondered on the matter, and the first thing he decided on was that +Ruth must be warned not to admit her loss. + +"I'll attend to that right away," murmured the lad. + +"Why, Tom, is anything the matter?" asked Ruth, when he saw her, a +little later, at the Tyler cottage. + +"Well, yes, something, but----" + +"Oh, is Phil hurt?" and she clasped her hands. + +"No, nothing like that. What made you think something was up, Ruth?" + +"Because your face told me. What is it?" + +"Well, if I were you, I wouldn't tell--just yet--that you haven't your +brooch." + +"Oh, Tom! Do you mean you think you can get it back?" + +"I think so, but I'm not sure. But don't say anything." + +"I won't. Oh! I'm only too glad not to have to admit it, though I'm +afraid it's only postponing the fatal day. But what have you found?" + +"I can't tell you Ruth--just yet. I've got quite a problem to work out. +Later on I may need your help." + +"Why, can't some of the boys?--oh, I see, you're keeping my secret for +me. That's fine of you!" + +"Just wait--that's all," was Tom's final advice. In the exuberance of +his youth he imagined, that, should it prove that Boswell had bought +Ruth's pin from the Mexican, the brooch could, by some means or other, +be recovered. + +"And now I am up against it," he went on, still communing with himself, +after he had left Ruth. "I can't get the boys to help me, so I've got to +go alone. And what's the first thing to be done?" + +There were several points that needed clearing up. + +"In the first place," reasoned Tom, "if Mendez had the brooch, which +was in the jewel box, he has, or had, the other things. The question +is--has he them yet? If he sold Boswell the pin he may have sold the +other articles. I guess the only thing for me to do is to try and get in +his shack--when he's not home. It would be a ticklish piece of work to +stumble in there, and be searching about, and have him find me. I wonder +if I can get in when he's out? He does go out quite often." + +Tom went on to camp, and his absentmindedness caused his chums no little +wonder, until Sid exclaimed: + +"Oh, it's all right--Tom's got the symptoms." + +"What symptoms?" demanded our hero. + +"The love symptoms. A lovers' quarrel made up is worse than falling in +at first. Look out!" for Tom had shied a shoe at his tormentor. + +"Practice to-day," announced Frank, the next morning. "Mr. Pierson said +he'd be over early and we've got to go down and get the shell. He's +going to put us through a course of sprouts to-day." + +"All right," yawned Tom, with a fine appearance of indifference. "But +I've got to mix the stuff for cake if I'm going to bake it." He had +promised to show his skill in pastry-making. "So if you fellows will go +down and get the shell I'll be ready when you come back." + +"Three of us can't row a four-oared shell," protested Sid. + +"Well, tow it up by the launch, then. I'm not going to have the cake +spoiled." + +"That's right," declared Frank. "The cook is a sacred person. We'll tow +up the shell," and they went off, never suspecting their chum. + +And how Tom had dissembled! The making of the cake, he knew, had only +been a subterfuge, for he had made up his mind he would buy one at the +store, and offer some excuse to his chums that the camp-made one had +"fallen" which, I believe, is the technical word to use when the top +of a cake displays a tendency to lie on the bottom of the pan, and not +stand up properly. I was once a camp cook, and some of my friends are +still alive to bear witness against me. + +Now what Tom planned was this: As soon as his chums were out of the way +he decided to enter the Mexican's shack, having learned the evening +before, by skillful questioning, that Mendez had some work to do around +a distant cottage, and would be away all morning. + +"And we'll see what I can find there," murmured Tom, as he set out. + +It was an easy matter to enter the shack, at least that part where the +Mexican lived. The store section was closed, but Tom knew there was an +entrance to it through the main shack. + +A carelessly-fastened window gave admittance, and soon after his chums +had departed to get the shell (which was kept now in the new college +boathouse, that structure having been nearly completed), Tom found +himself inside the shack. + +He began rummaging about, taking care not to unduly disturb objects. Tom +was looking in a trunk, that appeared to contain some clothing, as well +as some of the Mexican drawn-work, and some silks and satins, when he +heard a noise outside. + +"Someone is coming!" he whispered. "I've got to hide!" and he made a +dive under the cot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE PAWN TICKETS + + +"Well, I'm certainly going to be in a nice pickle if that's Mendez +coming back," thought Tom, as he gave the blanket on the cot a +surreptitious pull to better conceal his person. "I guess I was seven +kinds of a chump to come here. I ought to have told the fellows, and +then one of them could have done sentry duty for me. As it is, if anyone +comes in here I'm as good as caught. A nice story it will make, too--a +Randall man found in a caretaker's shack." + +He listened intently, and heard the approaching steps pause outside the +door. Then came a key rattling in the lock. + +"Just my luck," murmured Tom. "It's Mendez coming back. That job didn't +last as long as I thought it would, or else he's forgotten something. +Whew! If he sees me there'll be a fight all right. He'll take me for a +burglar, sure, or else he'll know why I'm here. I wonder if all Mexicans +carry knives? There isn't much here for a fellow to defend himself +with." + +Tom peered out from under the cot, and made up his mind, if worst came +to worst, that he would roll out, and grab up the heavy stove poker he +saw. + +"That will make a pretty good club," he reasoned. "Hang it all! why +didn't I tell the fellows? If this Mendez does me up he may hide my body +here, and the fellows will never know what became of me. I ought to have +told them--and yet I did it this way to keep Ruth's secret. I meant it +for the best." + +Again Tom listened. The fumbling at the lock of the door continued. + +"If that's Mendez he doesn't seem to know how to open his own door," +mused Tom. "Maybe he's got the wrong key." + +This seemed to be so, for there was a jingling as of several keys, and +then a voice was heard to mutter. Tom started in his hiding place under +the cot. + +"That's not the voice of Mendez!" he exclaimed. "What am I up against?" + +A wild idea came to him. + +"Maybe some of our fellows got wise to the same thing I did, and they're +trying to get in here," he thought. "If they see me there'll be a +surprise," and he smiled grimly. + +The unknown person outside the shack seemed to be trying a number of +keys, one after the other, in the lock. At the same time there was an +impatient muttering. + +"That's not Mendez," decided Tom. "And from the voice it's none of our +fellows, either. I wonder if it can be Boswell?" + +The complications that might ensue if it was the rich student, who +seemed to be sharing some secret with the Mexican, kept Tom busy +thinking for a few seconds, and then his attention was further drawn +toward the person outside. + +"Hang it all!" exclaimed a voice in nasal tones--plainly the voice of +an elderly man--"he's got some newfangled kind of a lock on here, and I +can't get in. I wonder if a window is open?" + +There was the rattle of a bunch of keys being returned to a pocket, and +then the sound of footsteps coming around to the side of the shack. + +"He's going to try my game," thought Tom. + +"Well if it isn't Mendez it's someone who hasn't any more right in here +than I have, and I'm not in so much danger. But who can it be?" + +There was a struggle at the window, the sound of a fall, as if the +attempt to enter had failed. Then came muttered words of anger and pain, +and they were followed by the sound of feet beating a tattoo on the side +of the shack. + +"He's scrambling up to the window," thought Tom, pulling the cot +blankets farther down. A moment later someone dropped down inside the +shack, and remained quietly in the middle of the floor, as though taking +a survey of the place. + +"Humph! It ain't much changed from when I was here last," a voice +said, and Tom peered out from beneath a cautiously-raised blanket. The +identity of the unexpected visitor startled him. + +"Old Jake Blasdell!" murmured Tom, in a whisper. "The former caretaker! +What in the world does he want here? I thought he had cleared out of +these diggings." + +[Illustration: "OLD JAKE BLASDELL!" MURMURED TOM, IN A WHISPER.] + +Blasdell, for it was he, stood in the middle of the room of the shack +where Mendez cooked, ate and slept--did everything, in fact, save +conduct his small store, which was an addition. + +"It's better than when I had it," Blasdell murmured, for, as I have +said, when Mendez succeeded the former caretaker he had moved the +shack from the place where Blasdell had built it, and had considerably +improved it. "Much better," went on the old man. "Them Mexicans ain't +so lazy as I've heard. Lucky for me I knowed of that window that didn't +close very tight or I mightn't have gotten in. And lucky I happened to +see Mendez as I did, and learned that he would be away all day. Now I'm +in here where can I hide 'em. I don't dare carry 'em around with me much +longer. Folks is beginning to suspect. And I'll take away that piece I +left here, too." + +"What in the world am I stacking up against?" thought the puzzled Tom. +He looked out eagerly. Blasdell's back was turned toward the cot, but +the old man did not appear to have anything to hide. + +"Can he be out of his mind?" thought Tom. + +He heard the man fumbling about, but from his position could not see +what he was doing, and Tom dared not put out his head from under the cot. + +"There, I guess nobody'll think of lookin' for 'em there," went on the +old man. "I s'pose mebby I ought t' destroy 'em, but they may come in +useful some time or other. I'll leave 'em here, and take away that +trinket." + +Then came a sound as if the man had stepped down off a chair, or bench. +Tom wished he could see what he had done, but at least he knew that +something had been hidden on that side of the room were the stove was. + +"Now I wonder if I can get out of the consarned window?" the man +murmured. Tom heard him cross the room, and, after a struggle, there +came the sound of a jump on the earth outside. + +"He's gone!" murmured Tom, as he listened to the retreating footsteps. +Then he scrambled out from under the cot, and began making a hasty +search of the room. + +If he had hoped to find Ruth's pin, the cups from Boxer Hall or any of +the missing jewelry, Tom was disappointed. He made a thorough, but +quick, search, not only in the shack proper, but in the store, though he +knew Blasdell had not gone in there. + +"What could he have hidden?" thought Tom. "I've got to get out of here +soon, or the fellows will be waiting for me." + +He saw a small wooden clock on the mantle over the stove. An idea came +to him. + +"Maybe that clock hides a secret hole in the wall," he thought. Stepping +on a chair he moved the timepiece. As he did so the door came open, and +in the lower part, where swung the pendulum, he saw several bits of +paper. There was no hole in the wall, but, wonderingly Tom picked up the +papers. Then he started. + +"Pawn tickets!" he cried, "and some of them for silver cups! I'm on the +trail at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +TWO MISSING MEN + + +"Well, what do you know about that?" + +"So that's where you sneaked off to when we went after the shell?" + +"And that's why you didn't bake the cake?" + +Tom's three chums gave expression to these sentiments as they looked +over the bunch of pawn tickets he had brought away with him from the +Mexican's shack. A hasty glance through them had shown Tom that none was +for a brooch, and realizing that he could still keep Ruth's secret, he +had decided to tell his friends the whole story. Which he did, keeping +back only as much as was necessary not to let them know of Ruth's loss. + +He related how he had overheard a "certain" conversation between Boswell +and the Mexican, hurrying over that part of the story so they might not +ask what the talk was about. Then he told of his own and Blasdell's +visits to the shack. + +"Say, this beats anything I ever heard of!" declared Frank. + +"That's right, but what did the old beggar hide--if anything?" asked Sid. + +"The pawn tickets, of course," declared Phil. + +"I'm not sure of that, of course," spoke Tom. + +"I didn't see him, for I couldn't look out far enough from under the +cot. But he was certainly on that side of the room. And he didn't hide +the cups and jewelry, for they're in pawn, as these tickets show. So it +must have been the tickets." + +"Then if he had the tickets he took the stuff!" declared Sid. + +"Not necessarily," objected Frank. "The Mexican and this Blasdell may be +in partnership in crime. Either or both may have taken the jewelry, and +Blasdell may have pawned it. Anyhow, I think this lets Boswell out, and +I'm glad of it." + +"So am I!" exclaimed Tom, and yet he wondered what the rich student +and the Mexican could have in common, and he wondered about the +old-fashioned brooch he had seen flashing in the sun, when the two +talked in the boat. Also he wondered what Boswell wanted of another like +it. In fact Tom was doing considerable wondering, and it was a puzzle in +the solution of which he could not ask his chums' aid. + +"So that's why you wanted us to go get the shell, and leave you here; is +it?" asked Phil. + +"Yes, I wanted time to investigate, and I didn't want you fellows to +give me the ha ha! if nothing came of it." + +"But lots did come of it!" declared Frank. "We can clear ourselves of +the faint suspicion that I believe Boxer Hall thinks hangs over us, +and we can get them back their trophy cups, and the other people their +jewelry." + +"Yes, I suppose the pawnbroker can be made to give up stolen stuff," +said Tom. He was puzzling his brains to think of some reason why Ruth's +brooch was not pawned with the other things. Recalling the list of +missing articles, given out when the jeweler offered the reward, it was +seen that all were represented by the pawn tickets, save Ruth's trinket. + +"They're made out in the name 'A. Smith,'" said Phil, as he scrutinized +the bits of paper. "Might be a blacksmith for all you can tell--probably +a fake name. And the pawnbroker's place is in Munroe," he went on, +naming a town about twenty-five miles away. + +"Well," spoke Tom, "I suppose the thing to do is to go there, see the +police, get the stuff, and return it to the jeweler. Then he can do as +he likes with it." + +"Incidentally we'll collect the reward," declared Sid. + +"We'll donate it to the new racing association," suggested Frank. +"Wouldn't it be a joke, if we did take that part of the reward offered +by Boxer Hall, and use it to help beat them in the race!" + +"Sort of adding insult to injury," suggested Tom. "But I'm thinking we +ought to let the Boxer Hall lads know about these tickets, and that +there's a prospect of them getting back their trophies." + +There were two opinions about this. Tom and Sid were one side, while +Frank and Phil held it would be better to first get the stuff and then +let Boxer Hall know. + +"'There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip,' you know, Tom," said +the Big Californian. "Not meaning a pun, either. But there may be some +complications and it may take some time to get the stuff away from the +pawnbroker. A delay would only fret all those who have lost things, and +would be unpleasant for us. Get the stuff first, I say, and then hand it +around." + +And in the end this idea prevailed. + +"Well, I can see where we get in precious little practice to-day," +remarked Tom. "I think we'd all better go to Haddonfield and give these +tickets to Mr. Farson. Let him get the police busy." + +"All right, we're with you," said Phil. "But we need the practice, for +it won't be long now before we're back at college." + +"What about arresting Blasdell and the Mexican?" asked Sid. + +"Let the jeweler attend to that," suggested Frank. + +Without telling the girls of their discovery, the boys went to town in +their launch, which, for a wonder, did not break down. Frank declared it +was because he had put in a new set of batteries. + +That Mr. Farson was astonished, is putting it mildly. He could not thank +the boys enough. Privately, to Tom, who managed to get him a word in +secret, the jeweler said he could not account for Ruth's pin not being +represented by a ticket. + +"But I'll look all through that pawnbroker's stock for it," he said. + +Mr. Farson decided that they would first go to Munroe and get the cups +and jewelry, and later see about causing the arrest of the guilty +person, or persons. + +"The pawnbroker would have to identify the thief, anyhow," he explained. +"Now you boys go back to the island and stay there. I'll hire an auto +and go to Munroe. As soon as I get back I'll run over and let you know +how I make out. Oh, this is good news for me!" + +"What became of Blasdell after he jumped out of the shack, Tom?" asked +Phil. + +"How could I tell? I was under the cot." + +"That's so. And he doesn't seem to be around these diggings any more. +He just showed up with these pawn tickets, and then lit out again. And +to think he was the fellow who had the stuff all the while!" + +"He or Mendez," said Tom. "I'm not sure which. It's queer that Blasdell +should come all the way back to hide the tickets in the shack. I heard +him speak of getting something that belonged to him, but I don't know +what it was." + +They argued the matter, but could come to no agreement. Going back to +their island camp, they found time for a little practice in the shell, +Mr. Pierson coaching them. Then they waited impatiently for the return +of the jeweler. + +"I wonder what Mendez will think when he gets back and finds his place +has been ransacked?" suggested Sid. + +"He won't know it," declared Tom. "I was mighty careful, and Blasdell +wasn't inside more than a few minutes. Let's take a stroll around there, +and size it up." + +"No, keep away," decided Frank. "It might make trouble. Let's wait until +Mr. Farson comes." + +It was nearly dusk when they saw a small launch approaching the island, +and they recognized the jeweler as one of the occupants. + +"He doesn't seem very joyous," remarked Tom. "He isn't waving his hat, +or anything like that." + +Somehow his words brought a feeling of doubt to his chums, yet they +could not tell why. Nearer came the launch. It drew up to the little +dock the boys had made. + +"Well?" queried Tom, nervously. "How did you make out?" + +"Not at all," was the surprising reply. + +"What! Didn't you get the things?" demanded Phil. + +"No. The pawnbroker closed out his place of business last week, and the +store is vacant." + +For a moment no one spoke. Then Frank said: + +"But look here. You know a pawnbroker has to be licensed. He can't go +out of business that way. He may move, but he has to let people know +about it. And he can't dispose of their things inside of a year, either. +That man had no right to do that." + +"I don't know about his rights," said the jeweler, "but the fact remains +that he has skipped out. He may have taken the cups and jewelry with him +for all I know. The police say he was a sort of 'fence' through which +stolen property was often disposed of. He's been arrested several times, +but nothing could be proved against him." + +"What did you do?" asked Sid. + +"The police in Munroe promised to try and trace him. I'm going to have +circulars printed, too, and sent to other cities, asking for news of +this pawnbroker." + +"Say, this is tough, to almost get the stuff and then lose it!" remarked +Phil. "It's a good thing we didn't tell the Boxer Hall lads." + +"That's what," declared Tom. + +"Fellows, I've got an idea!" exclaimed Sid. + +"Chain it so it doesn't get away," advised Frank. + +"I say let's go to that Mexican's shack, and see if we can get anything +out of him," went on Sid. "We got on the trail there, and he must be +mixed up in it some way. Come on, Mr. Farson, you've got a right to +question him." + +"I believe I will!" decided the jeweler, and he followed the lads toward +the shack, through the lengthening shadows. + +"I guess he isn't home," remarked Tom, as they saw no light in the place. + +"Knock and see," suggested Phil. + +A tap on the door brought no response. Tom peered a bit closer. + +"The place isn't closed," he exclaimed. He pushed open the door. Someone +struck a match. Then came an exclamation of surprise from all. + +For there was evidence that Mendez had hastily fled. The room was in +confusion, things being scattered about, and a look into the store +showed that everything he had had for sale had been removed. Mendez was +missing, as was the pawnbroker and the jewelry. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +BACK AT RANDALL + + +"This is the limit!" + +"Where could he have gone?" + +"He smelt a rat all right--he's sure mixed up in this business." + +"And the quiet way he sneaked off! Let's find out if anyone saw him go." + +Thus the chums exclaimed as the queer situation dawned upon them. Mr. +Farson, too, was surprised, and did not know what to make of it. + +"I think I will devote all my efforts to locating the pawnbroker," he +said. "If I get the stuff back that belongs to other persons, I don't +care so much about an arrest." + +"But we'd like to solve the mystery, seeing that we had a hand in it," +said Tom. "I wonder where Mendez could have gone?" + +But no one knew--no one had seen him go. Later that evening, when the +young men, after the jeweler had gone to his store, made inquiries of +the owner of the cottage where the Mexican had been working all that +day, they were told by a servant that a boy, coming in a boat, had +brought a message to the caretaker. He had seemed surprised, and had +hurried off, leaving his work partly finished, promising to return. But +he did not, and that was the last seen of him--at least for the time +being. + +Evidently he had taken alarm at something, had hurried to the shack, +hastily packed up his belongings, and fled in a boat. In fact the +rowboat he generally used was missing. + +As far as it went there was nothing criminal in his actions. There was +no direct connection between him and the missing jewelry. He bore a good +reputation among the cottagers, and had always done his work well. He +was honest in his dealings, and his word could be taken in regard to the +things he sold. Some of the cottagers even owed him for work performed. + +"It's another mystery connected with this strange affair," said Tom, as +he and his chums turned in for the night. "We may get to the bottom of +it some day." + +"I hope so," murmured Frank. "We've been doing more detective work than +rowing of late. We'll have to buckle down from now on. College opens in +three weeks." + +Of course the flight of Mendez was known to the girls, as well as to all +others on the island, but the circumstances connected with it, and the +finding of the pawn tickets, was kept a secret. + +I say from all, but that is not quite correct. Tom did tell Ruth all, +and they both puzzled over the fact that there was no ticket for the +brooch. But Tom did not tell Ruth what he had overheard between Boswell +and Mendez. + +"It might be Ruth's brooch that Boswell bought of Mendez, for his +mother," reasoned Tom. "If Ruth thought so she might make a fuss and +insist on having it back. Then, again, it might not be hers, and that +would make trouble. I've got to investigate a little more before I tell +her." + +The Boswell family closed up their cottage the next week, and left for +their mountain home, where the rich lad and his parents were to spend +the rest of the vacation. + +Our boys put in some hard practice in the shell, once or twice getting +enough rowers so that they could use the eight. Mr. Pierson gave them +valuable coaching. + +Then, on his advice, they gave themselves up to a good rest, and the +enjoyment of camp life. + +"You'll want a week or two when you don't see an oar," he explained. +"There is such a thing as overdoing it. And you will soon be back at +college you say, and begin hard training. So take a rest now." + +And the boys did, though their "rest" consisted chiefly in giving the +girls a good time. The wheezy little launch was worked to the limit. + +Then came the approach of the college season. Several cottages on the +island were closed. The girls said farewell to Madge, for they must +spend some time with their own folks, and one day Tom remarked: + +"Say, fellows, let's break camp. It's no fun here without the girls." + +"That's right," agreed Sid, and so the tents were struck, and our heroes +went their several ways to enjoy what was left of their vacation before +again gathering at Randall. And in that time nothing new developed about +the missing cups and jewelry. Nor was any word heard of the pawnbroker +or Mendez. + + * * * * * + +"Hello, there's Dutch Housenlager, bigger than ever!" + +"Yes, and there's Bricktop redder than ever. I say, Brick!" + +"Hello, Parsons, you look as brown as a berry. What have you been doing +with yourself?" + +"Camping." + +"You look it. I was at the shore--beastly hot, too!" + +"Say, isn't the new boathouse swell?" + +"Nothing like it. Oh, it's going to be great at Randall this Fall." + +"Over this way, Henderson! Where's Phil and Frank?" cried Tom. + +"I don't know. I just got in. Have you been up to the room?" + +"No, I just landed, too. Have you fed your face?" + +"Not since I got here. Let's grub and then we'll open up the place. Hi, +there, Snail! How's the night work?" + +"Oh, so-so," replied Sam Looper, re-christened "Snail," because of his +slowness, and his propensity for night prowling. + +"Here come the Jersey twins!" + +"That's right. I hope Jerry makes a good coxswain in the varsity eight," +went on Tom. "We need him." + +"Hear you did some practicing this Summer," remarked Dutch, as he +playfully dug his elbow into Tom's ribs. + +"We did. I'm anxious to get hold of an oar again. Have the new shells +come?" + +"I haven't heard. We'll inquire. I saw Mr. Lighton a bit ago." + +It was the opening of Randall College for the Fall term, and our +friends, as well as their chums, had returned not only to lessons but +to sports as well--cross-country running, football--ever glorious +football--and now and chiefly, rowing, for the regatta was to be held +before the big battles of the gridiron took place. + +"Come on!" cried Tom, as he spied his three chums. "Let's slip up to our +room and talk things over." + +This was after a more or less hurried meal had been eaten. + +"And we sure have lots to talk about," remarked Sid. "But let's get +through with it and take a run up to Fairview. I guess----" + +"You guess the girls are there--that's what you guess!" interrupted Tom. +"Hark to him, fellows. Isn't he the limit!" + +And then, linking arms, the four inseparables strolled across the +campus, through groups of students, toward their room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE NEW SHELLS + + +"Say, aren't they beauts!" + +"All to the cream!" + +"Nothing like 'em ever seen on this river before!" + +"And look at the eight! Isn't that a peach?" + +"Easy there, Housenlager, that isn't a ferry-boat!" and Jerry Jackson +kept the big lad from stepping into the new eight-oared shell. The other +exclamations, as may easily be surmised, came from the college lads as +they gathered about the new float and boathouse, in front of which were +the new craft that had been put in the water that day. It was a week or +so after the opening of Randall, and matters were shaping themselves up +in some kind of order. + +"Two fours, four singles, two doubles and the eight!" remarked Tom. +"Say, that committee of old grads certainly did themselves proud all +right!" + +"They sure did," agreed Sid. + +"And this boathouse can't be beat!" added Phil, as he and the others +inspected the new structure. + +"I only hope that same thing applies to our boats," remarked the Big +Californian, grimly. "There'll be something coming to us if they can't +be beaten." + +"Let's get in and have a trial," suggested Sid. "Come, we've got enough +for two eights--one crew in the old shell and one in the new. We'll find +out if she's stiff enough." + +"Better wait until Mr. Lighton gives the word," suggested Tom. "They'll +want to soak up a bit, anyhow, being new; and our weight might open up +the seams too much." + +In fact the boats had only been in the water since that morning, a +committee of the rowing association superintending their removal from +the freight station on trucks. + +The letter announcing that they were on their way had been received +some little time before, and the advent of the rowing craft was eagerly +waited. Then had come a simple ceremony, when a committee of the +presenting graduates had formally turned over the boathouse and outfit +to Randall College. + +"Well, we'll have to organize soon, pick out a coxswain and captain, and +arrange for hard training," said Tom. + +"Yes, there isn't much time between now and the football season," +agreed Frank. "Boxer Hall and Fairview will want to wind up the rowing +game as early as they can. It's been a double drill for them, since they +raced in the Spring. Next Spring we'll get in the game with them." + +"Here comes Mr. Lighton," suggested Sid. "Maybe he'll have something to +say," and he indicated the coach coming down toward the boathouse. + +"Well, boys, how do you like them?" asked Mr. Lighton, as he indicated +the new craft. + +"Swell!" + +"Peachy!" + +"Pippy!" + +These were only a sample of the many expressions of approval. + +"I guess I'll slip in one of those singles and have a try at it," +remarked Boswell, starting for the dressing rooms to change into rowing +costume. + +"No, don't, please--not just yet," said Mr. Lighton. "I want to look +them over first, to see if there are any flaws. You can take out one of +the old ones." + +"Say, you don't seem to want me to do anything in the boating line!" +exclaimed the rich lad. "You shifted me out of the eight, and now you +don't want me to practice in a single. I tell you I know something about +a boat--I've done as much work this Summer as those fellows," and he +indicated Tom and his three chums. + +"That's all right," responded Mr. Lighton, quietly. "I'm not denying +that, but I want you to understand that I did not shift you out of the +eight without good reason, and there is still time for you to try to +make good--even yet." + +"No, I'm going to stick to the single--and I'm going to win!" snapped +Boswell. + +"Good--I hope you do," assented the coach. "Now, boys, we've got to get +together, select a captain for the varsity, also the coxswain, as well +as officials, and rowers for the other boats. It won't do to go at this +slip-shod fashion. What do you say to a meeting to-night to select the +officials?" + +"Good!" came the general cry, and then matters were talked over at +length. As far as arrangements with Boxer Hall and Fairview were +concerned, they had been practically completed in the Spring. All that +remained was the selection of the day for the regatta, the marking of +the course, the settlement of rules, which would be practically the same +as those governing Boxer Hall and Fairview, and the selecting of the +officials. + +The other two colleges had very little to do to get ready for the +races, but Randall had considerable. However, under the guidance of Mr. +Lighton, affairs soon shaped up. + +There was some wire-pulling in regard to the election of a varsity +captain, but the choice eventually fell upon Frank Simpson, who pulled +stroke. It met with general approval, for all liked the Big Californian, +and no one who had been tried at stroke did anywhere nearly as well as +did he. For coxswain the choice fell upon Jerry Jackson--in fact there +was no opposition, for many who might have liked to try for it, felt +that they were not equal to the responsibility. But Jerry seemed to fit +in there naturally. He was just the right weight, Mr. Lighton said; he +had a certain delicacy, yet firmness, in steering, and he could use +judgment. + +As for the singles, their disposition was simple. A number of lads +signified their desire to enter into a competition among themselves, the +best to be picked to meet Boxer Hall and Fairview contestants. Boswell +was to be one who would enter the elimination trials, and he accepted +the responsibility with an air of confidence that caused much secret +amusement, and no little disgust. Snail Looper also expressed a desire +to try, as did a number of others. + +In the doubles a number of new lads, with whom we are not immediately +concerned, entered, and as for the fours, some juniors and sophomores, +together with a few freshmen, made up three combinations, the best one +of which was to meet the rivals. + +"As for the eight," said Mr. Lighton, "which craft, in a measure will +be regarded as the main varsity boat, we now have two crafts--the old +one and the new. I suggest that there be elimination trials, and several +friendly races between the two crews. + +"In this way not only will you get practice, but you will have +experience in pulling against another boat, which will stand you in good +stead. + +"I have also to announce that Mr. Pierson, whom some of you know as the +old Cornell oarsman, has kindly consented to help me in coaching you. We +will draw up a set of training rules, and I expect every man to follow +them faithfully. Otherwise there is no use in going into this thing. +Remember the condition of this magnificent gift to Randall was that she +should prove herself a victor." + +"And she will!" cried Tom, while the others echoed his words. + +There remained a few other preliminaries to arrange, and minor officials +to select, and then the meeting of the athletic committee ended. + +"Oh, I say!" cried Phil, at the conclusion. "I wonder if it's too late +to go see the girls?" + +"Guess not," agreed Tom. "I'm with you." + +"Same here," echoed Frank and Phil, and they hurried to catch a trolley +for Fairview Institute. + +As they walked up the steps to the building where the young ladies were +permitted to receive visitors, they saw a lad standing there. Just as +Tom was about to ring the bell, the door opened, and a maid announced to +the waiting lad: + +"Miss Clinton can see no one." + +"She is out, do you mean?" + +"I do not know. That was the message Miss Philock told me to give you." + +"Oh, all right," and, turning so that the light from the hall shone on +his face, the countenance of Boswell was disclosed to our friends. + +"Oh!" he exclaimed blankly, as he recognized them. Then looking at Tom +he added: + +"Perhaps you'll have better luck than I did, Parsons!" + +"Perhaps," admitted Tom, drily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +"ROW HARD!" + + +The four chums watched Boswell go down the steps and get into a waiting +auto, the maid, meanwhile, regarding them half curiously, for she knew +them well, from frequent visits. + +"Some class to him," remarked Sid. + +"Yes, he's finding his way here all right," added Tom. + +"Well, it's a free country," added Phil. "He came to see Ruth, if I'm +any judge." + +"And got turned down," added Frank. + +"I wonder if the girls are really out?" ventured Tom. + +"I'll see if the young ladies are in," remarked the maid. She did not +have to ask which young ladies were meant. + +She returned shortly to say that, while it was almost too late for +visitors, Miss Philock had consented that the four chums could see their +friends for ten minutes. + +"Say, what's gotten into the old Ogress--she's so pleasant to us?" Sid +wanted to know. + +"Probably this is the calm before the storm," suggested Phil. "We may be +turned down after this, the same as Boswell was." + +"I wonder what he wanted?" mused Tom. + +"Oh, probably to ask the best way to darn socks without tying a string +around the hole," suggested Frank, with delicate sarcasm. + +"Here come the girls!" exclaimed Tom, and the murmur of voices bore out +his remark. + +While the conversation that followed was probably of intense and +absorbing personal interest to those who took part in it, there was +not enough of general interest to warrant me setting it down here. +Sufficient to say that all sorts of matters, from the coming regatta to +the opening of the football season, were discussed, and commented upon. +Needless to say the Fairview girls, with commendable loyalty, declared +that their college was going to be the champions of the gridiron and +river. + +Tom found chance for a quiet word with Ruth just before the ringing +of a warning bell announced that visiting hours were nearly over. She +explained that it was a surprise to her when Boswell called, and she and +her chums decided not to meet him. + +"I haven't found out anything more about your pin," Tom said. "That is, +I haven't located it," for he did not want to go into details about the +missing pawnbroker and Mendez. Nothing more had been heard of either. + +"Too bad," Ruth declared. "I suppose, though, I might as well keep quiet +about the loss of it until some one of my folks notice that it's gone," +she said. "It will be time enough then to confess, though I suppose I'll +be in for a wigging from grandmother for keeping still about it so long." + +"Yes, it can't do any harm to keep quiet now," decided Tom, "and +something may turn up at any minute." + +"Then you really have some hope, Tom?" + +"Yes--a little," he admitted. "But I can't talk about it, Ruth. It +involves others." + +"Oh, tell me Tom! I'll keep it a secret!" she pleaded. + +"No, really I can't," he said, and though she made it rather hard for +him, he kept to his resolve. + +"It is time your friends left, young ladies!" announced the rather +rasping voice of Miss Philock, a little later. "I have been lenient with +you to the extent of ten minutes, but now I must insist." + +"Thank you for your kindness," exclaimed Phil, with a low bow. "We +greatly appreciate it." + +"I am glad that you do," declared the preceptress, not allowing a smile +to change the hard contour of her face. Poor Miss Philock! Doubtless +she did not have a happy time of it, and her responsibilities must have +weighed on her. It is not an easy task to be the dragon, guarding a +number of pretty girls, when two colleges for young men are not far off. +And Miss Philock did her duty, however unpleasant it was. + +Tom was awakened that night, shortly after one o'clock. At least he +judged it to be about that hour, for he dimly recalled hearing a distant +clock booming out twelve; then he had fallen into a doze, and it could +not have been over an hour later when a noise and movement in the main +apartment, out of which all their rooms opened, roused him. + +"Wonder who that is?" he thought, sleepily. "Maybe we did a little too +much to-day, and some of the boys can't rest. I'll take a look." + +He raised himself upon his elbow, but, though he had a partial view of +the sitting room from that position, he could see no one. The scuffling +of feet on the carpet, however, and the faint rattle of paper, told that +someone was up and about. + +Softly Tom put his legs over the edge of the bed, so that it would not +creak, for, somehow, he had a faint suspicion that perhaps the person +in the other room might not be one of his chums, and, in that case, he +wanted to be prepared. + +Gently he stepped out until he stood in the door of his own room, and +had a view of the main apartment. Then he saw a white-robed figure +standing looking out of the window that gave a view of the campus, over +which a faint moon was then shining. + +"That looks like Sid," thought Tom. "I wonder if he's getting spoony--or +loony or moony? Maybe he couldn't sleep and got up to change the current +of his thoughts. Well, shall I go out and keep him company, or----" + +Tom reconsidered the matter a moment. + +"No," he thought, "if I go out there, and we get to chinning, even in +whispers, it will rouse Frank and Phil, and then we'll all be wide +awake. And the land knows we need all the sleep we can get. I can find +my way to dreamland without being sung to, anyhow." + +For a moment he watched the figure by the window. It was Sid, Tom felt +sure of that, though night-garments, be they pajamas or the more prosaic +shirts, do not make for identifying individuals. There is little of +character to them. + +Then the figure by the window turned partly toward Tom, but, as the face +was in the shadow, the watching lad could not see it plainly. The figure +approached the table, on which was a litter of paper, where the lads had +been doing some studying earlier in the evening. + +"By Jove!" thought Tom. "Old Sid is writing poetry--or he has been +courting the muse! This is rich! He can't sleep and he gets up in the +night to jot down a verse or two. That's it! And about a girl, too, I'll +wager! Oh, Sid!" and he chuckled silently. "I'll rig you for this in the +morning! Loony, spoony, moony Sid! This is rich!" and Tom doubled up +with silent mirth. + +The figure continued to approach the table, and from the other rooms the +deep, regular breathing told of sound sleepers. Then the figure began +fumbling with papers and Tom saw a pencil taken up. + +"How the mischief can he see to write in the dark?" the watcher wondered. + +But that was evidently not the intention. For, after hesitating a few +seconds over the table, the white-clad figure turned and went out of the +door into the hall. + +"Well, what do you make of that?" Tom asked himself. "He has got 'em +bad! Sneaking out to some other room to write his slushy poetry. He's +the limit! Wait until we get at him in the daylight--there won't be any +loony-moon then. But I should think he'd want to put on a bath robe. It +isn't the warmest night of Summer," added Tom to himself, being aware of +a distinctly chilly feeling about his legs. + +"Wait!" he counseled with himself. "I'll find out about this. I'll just +follow him and give him a scare. I'll catch him with the goods." + +Pausing to make sure that none of the others were awake, and waiting to +give Sid a chance to get a little way down the corridor, Tom slipped +out of the door, his feet encased in a pair of bath slippers, that +lent themselves better to soft movement than not, for they avoided the +scuffling that always goes with bare soles. + +Tom reached the corridor, and, looking down it, saw at the farther end +the white-robed figure. + +"He made good time all right," Tom mused. "Where can he be going to +though, in that rig? Oh, probably to the reading room," and Tom recalled +the large room at the end of the hall, a sort of library fitted up for +the use of the dwellers of the dormitory--a room seldom used by the way, +for the lads preferred the seclusion of their own apartments. + +"Maybe he's looking for a rhyming dictionary," thought Tom. "That's it. +I'm on to his game now." + +Tom thought he understood it all. Sid, who used to care nothing for the +girls--indeed having a veritable aversion for them--had, of late, been +quite different, as Tom and all the others saw and knew. There was one +in particular--and it would not be fair for me to mention her name--one +in particular about whom Sid, if he did not talk, thought much. + +"And he's going to finish out some poem he began, and got stuck with," +decided Tom. "Probably he knows we'd rig him if we saw him writing that +Valentine stuff. + +"A rhyming dictionary though. I don't see what he needs of that. +Love, dove, above--you true--eyes of blue. Heart--part--die, +sigh--moon--soon--spoon--no, not that. But hair--fair--ever +there--thine--mine--valentine. There you are, done without the aid of +a net, and with nothing concealed up my sleeve," mused Tom, shivering +slightly as a chilling breeze from the corridor not only crept up his +arm, but over other parts of his anatomy. + +The figure ahead of him glided on, and Tom followed. Then, instead of +turning into the library, it mounted a flight of stairs that led to the +rooms above, where other students slept. + +"For cats' sake!" thought Tom. "What is Sid up to anyhow? Is he going +to snare someone else in on this game? Or is he playing some trick? The +bell in the tower! Jove, if he dares to ring that at this hour!" + +For, when the new dormitory had been built, a bell had been hung in an +ornate corner tower, though it pealed forth but seldom, being more of an +ornament. Still it could be rung if desired. + +"That's what old Sid is up to!" decided Tom. "He must be going daffy. +He's sure to be caught, for Simond has a room up there, and he's a light +sleeper." Simond being one of the new teachers, who had been assigned +to this dormitory as a sort of moral-policeman. He was, however, a +well-liked instructor. + +"I wonder how it would be for me to tip Sid off not to do it?" thought +Tom. "If he does jingle the chimes they'll say we all had a hand in it, +and it will be bad for the bunch. I guess I'll call him off. No use +going too far for a joke." + +Tom was about to sprint forward, when, to his surprise, the figure +turned and entered one of the student's rooms, the door opening +noiselessly and closing again as silently. + +"Well, what do you know about that?" asked Tom of himself. "Who rooms +there, I wonder? And what is Sid going in there for? Can it be that +he isn't up to dashing off a fervid love poem himself, and has to get +someone else, under the cover of night, to do it for him?" + +Tom came to a halt, some distance from the door that had opened and +closed, and remained gazing down the corridor. He seldom came up here, +and did not know which students occupied the different rooms. And, as +the corridor was long, and as Tom was looking down it on an angle, he +could not be exactly sure which door had opened, they being all alike, +and many without numbers. + +"I'll just stay here and wait," he decided. "He can't stay in there very +long," and then Tom began to wish he had slipped on his bath robe, for +he was getting more and more chilly each minute. + +"Hang it all! Why doesn't he come out?" he asked himself half a dozen +times. "I'm not going to stay here all night." + +But even at that, while calling himself all sorts of a foolish person, +Tom remained. + +"It's too good a joke to pass up!" he decided. "I'll surprise Sid when +he comes out. Poetry! Bah! We'll write a love verse for him!" + +Several minutes passed. Tom moved about, and began to do some exercises +with his arms, to bring up his circulation. He was striking out +vigorously, feeling in quite a glow, when his elbow, as he drew back his +arm, came in sharp contact with the door behind him. Unaware of it, he +had been standing in front of some portal while he waited. + +"Oh, for cats' sake!" thought Tom, in grim despair as the sound boomed +out with startling distinctness in that dim and silent corridor. "Now +I have gone and done it. I guess I'd better pass up Sid and his poem, +and get back to my little bed. I wonder if I can make it before someone +sticks out his noddle, and wants to know what I'm doing here?" + +With this thought in mind he started to glide away, but he was too late. +The door he had banged with his elbow suddenly opened, and a voice +demanded in peremptory tones: + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Great Scott!" gasped Tom. "It's Simond!" for the countenance of the +instructor was thrust from the half-opened portal. + +"Well?" went on the rather grim voice, as Tom hesitated. "You knocked." + +"It--it was an accident," stammered Tom. + +"Oh. Then you don't want me?" + +"No, sir." + +"Is anything the matter?" + +"No, Mr. Simond." + +"Then what are you doing up on this floor? You're Parsons, aren't you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And you room on the floor below?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then what are you doing up here at this hour of the night; knocking at +my door?" + +"I--er--it was an accident, you see. I was--I was exercising." + +"Exercising?" There was a note of incredulity in the voice. + +"Yes, exercising." + +"What for?" Cold sarcasm now took the place of surprise. + +"To keep warm." + +"Look here, Parsons!" exclaimed the instructor. "You may think this is a +joke, but----" + +"No, sir; it's no joke. I was exercising to keep warm. Arm exercising +you know, and my elbow banged your door--I didn't know I was so close." + +"I see. Well, are you warm now?" + +"Oh, yes, sir." Indeed Tom was in a veritable rosy glow. + +"But what was the necessity of getting cold?" went on Mr. Simond, and +Tom became aware that others were listening to the talk, for he could +hear doors down the hall cautiously opened, and faint snickers of +laughter here and there. + +Tom was in a quandary. He did not want to tell the real object of coming +upstairs as he had, for it would only make trouble for Sid. + +And yet if he kept silent he would be put down for having tried to play +some prank on his own account. Still if Sid had "gotten away" with +whatever he had attempted, and it seemed so, for no sound came from the +neighborhood of the room he had entered--in that case Tom could not +bring him into the game. + +"I guess I've got to take my medicine," thought Tom. + +"Well?" demanded Mr. Simond in a cold voice. + +"I--I just came up here for a--for a walk," explained Tom. "I--er--I +couldn't sleep, and----" + +"I see. You thought if you came and waked me up that you _could_ sleep; +is that it?" + +"Oh, not at all, Mr. Simond." He could be funny when he wanted to, +thought shivering Tom. "I--er--I was just going back to bed," he +explained lamely, for that was true enough. + +"Very well, then you'd better go _now_," concluded Mr. Simond. "And +don't knock on any more doors, or I shall have to look further into the +matter. Good-night!" + +"Good-night!" gasped Tom, surprised to be let off thus easily. "It was +all a mistake, I assure you," he added, as he glided away. + +"Well, don't _repeat_ the mistake," was the grim injunction of the +instructor, as he closed his door, and Tom vowed that he would not--at +least that night. + +"I'm a chump!" he told himself as he hurried back to his room. "I might +better have let Sid grind out his mushy poetry in peace, and gotten my +sleep. Now I may be in for a lecture to-morrow." + +As he entered the room he saw, grouped in the middle of the apartment, +his three chums. The sight of Sid, with Phil and Frank, caused Tom to +halt. + +"Where in thunder have you been?" demanded Phil. "We were just going to +get up a searching party for you." + +"That's right," came from Sid. "What do you mean by chasing out at this +hour?" + +"What do _you_ mean, I guess it is!" exclaimed Tom. "I've been chasing +you, Sid." + +"Chasing me? What rot is that?" + +"It's all right. I woke up when I heard you moving about in here, +followed you out to the corridor. You were going to write a poem, you +know." + +"Say, am I crazy or is he?" demanded Sid, appealing to the others. +"Writing poetry?" + +"Yes; weren't you?" asked Tom, beginning to think he had more of a +mystery on his hands than he had at first suspected. + +"Worse and more of it," murmured Frank. + +"Do you mean to tell me?" demanded Tom, "that you didn't sneak out of +here a while ago, and go to one of the rooms on the next floor?" and he +looked defiantly at Sid. + +"I certainly won't tell, or admit, anything of the kind, because it +isn't so," replied Sid. "Admitting that I had, will you kindly explain +how _I_ could be here when _you_ came in; in that case?" + +"That's so," admitted Tom, scratching his head in perplexity. "Unless," +he added as an afterthought, "unless you came down the back stairs, when +I was chinning with Simond." + +"Chinning with Simond?" demanded Phil. "Do you mean to say you were +caught by him?" + +"Yes. I banged on his door." + +"Banged on his door?" + +"Yes, by accident. You see I was exercising to keep warm." + +The three paused and looked at each other. Clearly they did not +understand. + +"Look here, Tom," began Frank in a gentle, soothing voice. "How long +have you been this way? Did it come on suddenly, or are you subject to +these fits? Have you seen a doctor? Don't you think we'd better wire +your folks? Maybe if you lie down it will wear off. Isn't it sad, and +him so young, too!" and he sighed in mock distress. + +"Look here, you chump!" cried Tom indignantly. "You think I'm stalling; +don't you? But I'm not. Here's how it happened," and he told of the +circumstances, and of his suspicions against Sid. + +"And while I was waiting for him--as I thought--to come out of that room +upstairs," he went on, "I got chilly. So I exercised. My elbow banged on +Simond's door, and he opened the oak. Then I had to explain." + +"That's a rich one!" declared Phil. + +"He must have thought you were crazy!" said Frank. + +"Exercising at that hour of the night!" exclaimed Sid. "This is too good +to keep!" and he laughed outright. + +"Not so loud," cautioned Phil, "or we'll rouse the place. Anything else, +Tom?" + +"Isn't that enough? But say, Sid, are you sure you weren't out?" + +"Of course I am. Ask Phil and Frank. They woke me up in bed." + +"That's right!" chorused the two. + +"I heard a noise," explained Phil, "and woke up. I was just in time to +see you going out of the room, Tom, and----" + +"That was when I was after Sid," Tom explained. + +"You mean you thought it was me," put in Sid. + +"Well, have it that way if you like. But if it wasn't you I chased, who +was it?" demanded Tom, after the manner of one propounding a difficult +riddle. + +"That's up to you to find out," spoke the Big Californian. "Are you sure +you _did_ see and follow someone, Tom?" + +"Of course I am. Do you think I'm crazy?" + +"I don't know," was Frank's simple remark. + +"There's something wrong," went on Sid, "but we can't get to the bottom +of it now. If there was someone in our room we want to know it." + +"Well, there was," declared Tom, positively. "_I_ know it!" + +"Anyhow, I saw you going out," resumed Phil. "I wondered what was up, +but I thought maybe you felt sick, and was going to the medicine +cabinet at the end of the corridor. So I went back to bed, and when you +didn't return in ten minutes I roused Sid and Frank." + +"And you found Sid in bed?" demanded Tom. + +"Sleeping like a babe--the result of an innocent conscience. Was it +not?" asked Sid, with an air of virtue. + +"Yes, little one," came from Phil, with a bow. + +"Then we all speculated on what could be the matter with you," added +Frank. + +"And we were about to organize a relief expedition, with six months' +supply of rations, and start out," was Sid's contribution. + +"When in you came prancing as though you had been out for a +constitutional," concluded Phil. + +"Telling us that you had been _exercising_," commented Sid, +sarcastically. "Talk about following _me_ in a suspicious manner, I +rather think the dancing slipper is on the other foot, my friend." + +"Well, this gets me!" confessed Tom, blankly. + +"Then it's the second time you've been gotten at this night," declared +Frank. "For Simond had you first." + +"Oh, he was decent about it," Tom said. "I don't believe anything will +come of it. I'm going to get to bed. It's as cold as Greenland here," +and he made a dive for his room. + +"What time is it, anyhow?" asked Sid with a yawn. "Did we take the +toothpick out of the alarm clock, I wonder?" + +The three of them glanced toward the table where the timepiece was wont +to tick. It was the custom to wind and set it before going to bed, +the last one to retire being charged with the duty of removing the +toothpick, which was used to silence the ticking that annoyed the chums +when they were studying. + +"Why--why--it's gone--gone!" gasped Tom, halting on his way to his room. + +"That's right!" chorused the others. + +"Tom Parsons, is this your joke?" demanded Sid, sternly. + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean did you take that clock away for a joke, and then, when you got +caught, made up that fake story about chasing me?" + +"I--did--not!" exclaimed Tom in such a manner that they could not help +believing him. + +"Then where is it?" demanded Frank. + +There was silence for several seconds, while the white-clad figures +regarded one another. Then Tom burst out with: + +"I have it!" + +"I thought you did," said Sid significantly. + +"No, you gump! I mean I have the solution. It was that chap who was in +here, and whom I took for you, Sid. He has our clock. I'll get it back!" + +Tom was about to rush out into the corridor, when Frank laid a +restraining hand on his shoulder. + +"Hold on, son," he began mildly. "There's been enough running around for +one night. It won't be healthy, for one thing, to do any more, for it +is beastly cold. And, for another, there is no use in running our heads +into a noose. Simond was decent, you say, Tom, and there's no sense in +putting it on him--rubbing it in, so to speak. We'll just lay low until +morning and then we'll get our clock. You say you know where it is?" + +"Well, I saw the fellow that was in here enter some room on the floor +above. I couldn't pick it out exactly, but I can come pretty near it." + +"That'll be all right. Who do you think it was?" + +"Dutch Housenlager!" declared Tom. + +"He doesn't room up there," retorted Phil. + +"Well, he may have slipped in some room up there to throw me off," said +Tom. + +"More likely it was Jerry Jackson," was Frank's opinion. "He was poking +fun at the clock yesterday." + +"As long as he doesn't poke anything more than fun at it, all right," +said Phil. "We're the only ones licensed to use toothpicks and +battle-axes on it." + +"Poor old clock," sighed Sid. "It does get abused, but still it is a +faithful friend. Remember the time that duffer--what was his name--took +out some of the wheels to make some machine he was crazy over? Remember +that?" + +"I should say so!" exclaimed Tom. "But this chap wasn't satisfied with a +single wheel--he wanted the whole works. I wonder who it could be?" + +"I shouldn't wonder but what the Snail had a hand in this," opined Phil. +"He's so fond of roaming about nights." + +"He stays over in the North dormitory now," declared Frank. "Besides, he +wouldn't get in here at this hour of the morning--at least I think it +must be near morning. The doors are locked after hours, you know. No, it +was someone from here all right, who took that clock." + +"And the nerve of 'em!" exclaimed Phil. + +"And to think Tom took that lad--whoever he was--for me," put in Sid. +"Did he really look like me?" + +"He sure did." + +"Maybe it was Bean Perkins," suggested Frank. + +"No, Bean wouldn't do a trick like that. He couldn't keep quiet enough," +declared Tom. "He'd want to give a class yell or sing a song in the +middle of it, and that would give it away. Say, but I have a scheme +though." + +"Out with it, and then let's get to bed," yawned Frank. + +"We won't say anything about this," spoke Tom, "and----" + +"Not say anything about it!" cried Sid. "Well, I guess we will! Think +we're going to let our clock disappear, and keep mum over it? I guess +not!" + +"I didn't mean that," explained Tom. "I meant that we'd not come out +boldly, and admit that we didn't know enough to keep our clock from +being taken. But to-morrow--at chapel--or whenever we can, we'll just +sneak up back of Dutch, the Jersey twins, or whoever else we suspect, +and say 'clock' to them. That will make the guilty one start, and we'll +have our man." + +"I see--a sort of detective stunt," remarked Frank. + +"Sort of," admitted Tom. + +"How would it do to make a noise like a tick," suggested Phil. + +"Say, I'm not joking," exclaimed Tom. + +"Neither am I," asserted Phil. "But let's be real mysterious about it, +and we'll get the guilty one so much more easily." + +"Oh, don't be silly!" snapped Tom, who, truth to tell, was getting a bit +short-tempered. + +"I'm not!" + +"Yes, you are!" + +"Say, let's all get back to bed, and fight this out in the morning," +suggested Frank, and they took his advice, though it was but a troubled +sleep that any of the four got the rest of that night. + +Talking it over by daylight they decided that Tom's plan might not be so +bad. Accordingly, they put it into practice. + +"Clock!" suddenly exclaimed Sid, as he slid up behind Dutch Housenlager +after chapel. "Tick-tock!" + +"Tag. You're it!" quickly responded Dutch. "What's the signal?" + +"You're not guilty, I see," spoke Sid, with a sigh. + +"Of course not. What's the answer?" + +"Someone took our clock last night." + +"Oh, that battered chronometer? Say, do you know what I thought?" + +"Couldn't guess it." + +"That you were trying to initiate me into a new secret society, and that +you were practicing the password--tick-tock!" + +"Nothing doing. Say, Dutch, if you hear of anyone who has it, tip me +off, will you?" + +"I sure will," and then, to show how much in earnest he was, Dutch +tripped Sid up and deposited him on the grass of the campus. + +Nor was Tom, or his other two chums any more successful. Each time they +tried the surprise plan on any suspect they received an answer that told +they were on the wrong track. + +And then, most unexpectedly, the clock came back, as it had done once +before. Wallops, the messenger, brought it. + +"I found it down in the furnace room," he explained. "It was on top of +one of the boilers." + +"Well, for the love of tripe!" cried Tom. "How in the world did it get +there?" + +"Our unknown visitor put it there," declared Frank. "Maybe he thought +we were on his track, and he took this method of getting rid of the +damaging evidence." + +And they had to let it go at that--at least for the time being, for all +their inquiries came to naught. + +"Everyone who wants to try for the varsity eight come down to the river +this afternoon," was the notice Captain Simpson posted on the bulletin +board the next day. He and the coach had had a conference, and it was +decided to try and definitely settle on the crew for the first boat. +Then the second choice could be made, and some practice races arranged. + +In order to be absolutely fair, Mr. Lighton and Mr. Pierson shifted +about those who had been rowing together. I mean Tom and the seven lads +with whom he was more closely associated than with any others--Sid, +Phil, Bricktop Molloy, Frank, Holly Cross, Dutch, and Kindlings. Jerry +was kept as coxswain in the new boat, but Tom, Phil, Holly and Dutch +were sent out in the old one, with Bean Perkins for steersman, while +four lads who had not been given much practice were imported into the +new shell with Frank, Sid, Kindlings and Bricktop Molloy. + +"Now, boys, see what you can do!" urged the coach. + +It was the first time the new shell had been tried, and it was found +fully up to expectations. But it was a little differently made from the +old one, and this made the lads a bit awkward in it. However, they rowed +fairly well, though in a short trial race the old shell came out ahead. + +"We'll do some more shifting," decided Mr. Lighton, and he and Mr. +Pierson tried different combinations, but still separating the eight +lads who had rowed together from the start. + +This was kept up for some days, the lads all, meanwhile, being on +training. But when a week had passed, and the old and new boats had +see-sawed back and forth, first one winning and then the other, Mr. +Lighton shook his head in doubt. + +"Something is wrong," he said. "We'll never be able to pick a varsity +crew of either of them. We need a consistent winner." + +"That is right," agreed Mr. Pierson. "Why not try the same eight you +had at first--the four lads whom I coached this Summer, and their four +intimate friends? I fancy they would do better together in the new boat." + +"We'll try it," assented the coach. + +The result was an improvement at once. Even with the awkwardness of the +new shell as a handicap, Tom and his seven friends at once opened water +between their craft and the other one. And it was not surprising when +you consider that they had had considerable practice together, and had +played baseball and football through several college seasons. + +"I think that's the varsity crew all right," declared Mr. Pierson, after +watching the test. + +"I agree with you--unless something unforeseen occurs," said Mr. +Lighton. "Now we must give some attention to the others in the fours, +singles and doubles." + +Practice in these craft had been going steadily on, and in time the +crews that were to try to make Randall the champion were picked, +subject, of course, to change, a number of substitutes being arranged +for. + +Word came that the Boxer Hall and Fairview varsity crews in the +different shells were doing hard work. They had the advantage of not +having to pick new and somewhat green crews. But the spirit of Randall +was not affected by this. + +"Now, boys!" exclaimed Mr. Lighton one afternoon, when the two eights +had gone out for a practice race. "I want you to do your best. Row +hard! Try to imagine you're in a race. Row hard, everybody!" + +"There may be a race if those fellows will consent to a brush with us," +said Bricktop to Frank, as he looked down the river and saw the Boxer +Hall eight approaching. "I wonder if we can chance it--to see which of +our boats would win." + +"I guess so," assented Frank. + +"Silence in the boat!" cried Coxswain Jackson. "Save your breath to row +with!" + +"Sure he's getting to be a regular fussing martinet!" declared Bricktop, +with a smile. + +"Silence in the boat!" commanded Jerry again, and he meant it. Meanwhile +the Boxer Hall eight came sweeping on. Would she give Randall an +impromptu race? + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A BRUSH WITH BOXER + + +"What do you think about it, boys?" called Mr. Lighton, from the launch +where he and Mr. Pierson were sitting to do the coaching as they glided +along. "Do you want to try it?" + +"Sure thing!" answered Tom. + +"Of course," assented Pete Backus, from the second eight. + +"All right. Just row along then, and don't make any allusion to a race," +advised Mr. Lighton. "If they want to pick up and come in, let them. +Only--don't let them win!" he added, significantly. "Even if it is only +a friendly brush." + +"Let them win! I should say not!" declared Frank. "Be ready to pick me +up quick now, fellows, when Jerry gives the word to spurt." + +"Aye, aye, sir!" echoed Bricktop Molloy, from his position behind the +stroke oar. + +"And say, we don't want to let those fellows do us, either," went on +Percy Pineford, coxswain of the second eight. "Let's beat the varsity +and Boxer Hall, too." + +"If we can," remarked Harry Chapin, who was at stroke. + +"We can if you'll pull hard enough and fast enough," retorted the +coxswain. + +"Naturally. That's as easy as _pons asinorum_ to say, but not so easy to +do," commented number six--Billie Burden. + +"Say, if you lads want to have any breath left for rowing you'd better +stop talking," commented the coach, and after that there was silence in +the varsity as well as in the second eight. + +On came Boxer Hall, and not a Randall lad but envied their long, +powerful stroke, so evenly done, and with such seeming power back of it. +But Boxer Hall had been turning out winning crews for several years, and +they had had much practice. + +But, with all that, as Mr. Lighton and Mr. Pierson watched the two crews +of Randall, out of whose numbers they hoped would come a varsity winner, +the head coach remarked: + +"Our boys do very well." + +"Very well indeed," responded the Cornell man. "In fact I like their +stroke better than that of Boxer Hall's. It is likely to last longer, +and is not so tiring. Our boys feather better, too." + +"Yes, thanks to your instruction this Summer to Tom Parsons and his +three chums. Four good rowers in a boat help to put it in the champion +class." + +If it was the intention of Boxer Hall to indulge in a race with our +friends the river champions gave no intention of it at this time. They +rowed on slowly, being some distance down the stream. The water was wide +at this point, and there was room for several craft abreast, even with +the long oars in the outriggers which set well out over the gunwales. + +"Watch out for a sudden spurt," advised Frank, in a low voice to Jerry, +who nodded in his coxswain's seat, and got the tiller ropes in a firm +grasp. + +Boxer Hall was known to be foxy, and if she could creep up on her rival, +and, by a sudden increase in the stroke, gain such an advantage that +Randall would find it hard to overcome the lead obtained, it would look +as though our friends were outclassed. But there were wise boys at +Randall, too. + +The two Randall eights--the old and the new--had separated to allow +Boxer Hall to come between them, if it was her desire to have a friendly +brush. At first it seemed as though Boxer would decline, but, at the +last moment, the course of the boat was changed, and she shot straight +for the open water between the other two craft. + +"Now for it!" murmured Jerry in a low voice. "Be ready, fellows!" + +Hardly had he spoken when, at a shout from their coxswain, the Boxer +rowers suddenly increased their stroke. They had waited until almost on +even terms with the other two boats, and evidently hoped to catch our +friends unawares. + +But they reckoned without their host, for Jerry and his fellow coxswain +gave the order to increase, and the sixteen lads responded nobly. + +Only for an instant did Boxer Hall hold her advantage. She did shoot +ahead, but in a moment her two rivals were on even terms with her, and +there they hung for more than a minute. + +"Well, it didn't work--did it?" called Jerry over to Pinky Davenport, +who had succeeded Dave Ogden as coxswain of the Boxer eight. + +"What didn't work?" asked Pinky, innocently. + +"Oh, you didn't jump us," and Jerry laughed, for he saw by the confused +look on his rival's face, as well as on the countenances of the others +that their little trick--fair enough in its way--had been discovered. + +But if Randall hoped to have matters all her own way, or even remain on +even terms, she was much mistaken. For a time the impromptu brush had +all the appearances of a real race, and the three boats seemingly tried +as hard to win as though the championship of the river depended on it. + +Then the second eight began falling behind. The lads made a gallant +effort to keep up, but the grind was too much for them. + +"It's up to us now!" declared Jerry, in a low voice. "I'm going to push +you fellows!" and he set the stroke at a heart-breaking pace. + +His lads stood the "gaff" for a while, and then, noting the distress on +the faces of several, Jerry, much against his will, had to lower the +rapidity of the stroke. + +Boxer Hall had held pace with her rival, giving them stroke for stroke, +and now as Pinky saw his opponents in distress, he called for a quick +spurt. And to the credit of Boxer Hall, be it said that her men +responded in excellent style. They kept up the pace until, in a swirl of +water, they had passed the varsity Randall eight, leaving that and the +second craft behind. And then, to show that they had their nerve with +them, the Boxer Hall rowers did not let up for another minute, sending +their craft on at racing speed, even after they had won, and Randall was +resting on her oars, completely "tuckered out." + +It was a bad beating for Randall, and the faces of the two coaches as +they came up in their launch showed the disappointment they felt. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +FAINT HEARTS + + +"Pretty punk; wasn't it?" + +"Regular ice wagon as far as we were concerned." + +"I didn't think they had that spurt in 'em." + +"And yet we seemed to be rowing pretty well. I guess it takes more than +one season to make a winning eight." + +Silence followed these discouraging observations on the part of the four +inseparables as they sat in their room the evening following the beating +of the first and second shells by the Boxer Hall crew. There had been a +meeting of the coaches with the Randall rowers immediately after coming +off the water, and several plans had been talked over, involving a +shifting of the crews. But in the end it was decided to wait another day +or so. + +There was no disputing the fact that Randall had expected at least the +varsity boat to keep up to, if not beat, their rival. And they had +failed. It was a bitter pill to swallow, with the time of the regatta so +close at hand. + +"It sure was rotten," said Tom musingly, as he sat staring vacantly at +nothing. No one took the trouble to comment on his last remark. They had +about exhausted their stock of bitter reflections and observations. + +"Something's got to be done," went on Tom. Still no one answered him. +The fussy little alarm clock ticked on, as though trying to be cheerful +in the midst of all that gloom. It was as though it said: + + "Cheer--up--I'm--here-- + You'll--win--next--year!" + +"I wonder what we can do?" Tom mused on. + +Sid shifted uneasily in one of the easy chairs. Phil duplicated in the +other. Frank turned to a more comfortable position on the old sofa, +thereby bringing forth creaks, groans and vibrations of protest from the +ancient piece. Tom was trying to get used to an old steamer chair, that +had been picked up, with other relics, at an auction held by a retiring +senior the previous June, but as the chair had lost one leg, which had +been replaced by part of a Turkish rocker, and as the foot-rest had, in +some former day, been broken off and put back upside down, Tom's effort +to be at ease was more or less of a failure. + +"Something has got to be done!" went on the pitcher. Once more the +silence. + +"Say, for the love of tripe!" Tom finally burst out. "Have none of you +any tongues?" + +He sat up so suddenly that the steamer chair, probably rotted by too +much salt air on many voyages, collapsed, letting him down with a bump, +and raising a cloud of dust from the old rug. + +"Good!" cried Phil. + +"See if you can do it again," urged Sid. "Frank had his head turned, and +didn't see it all." + +"Yes, do," begged the Big Californian, chuckling. + +"Humph!" grunted Tom. "I thought I'd make you find your tongues +somehow--you bunch of mourners!" and he limped across the room, to lean +against the mantle, surveying the wreck of the chair. + +"Hurt yourself much?" asked Phil, solicitously. + +"A heap you fellows'd care," was the retort. + +"Think you can row?" Sid wanted to know. + +"What's the good of rowing if Boxer walks away from us like that?" +demanded Tom, fiercely. "That's what I've been putting up to you fellows +all evening, and you never opened your mouths. We're going to lose, I +can see that. What's the good of trying?" + +He was so bitter--it was so unlike Tom's usually cheery self--that his +chums looked at one another in some alarm. As the pitcher went to the +bathroom to get some arnica for a slight bruise that had resulted from +the chair's collapse, Sid murmured: + +"I guess Boswell has gotten on his nerves." + +"How Boswell?" asked Frank. + +"Ruth," Sid further enlightened him. + +"Don't you believe it," broke in Phil. "Sis wouldn't have anything to do +with Bossy, while Tom was around." + +"Talking about me?" suspiciously demanded the tall pitcher, entering the +room at that moment. + +"Oh, nothing serious," replied Phil, coolly. "We were just wondering +what gave you the grouch." + +"Grouch! Wouldn't anyone have a grouch if he'd practiced in the shell +all Summer, and rowed his heart out, only to be beaten by Boxer--and not +in a regular race, either? Wouldn't he?" + +"You're no worse off than the rest of us," declared Frank, sharply. "We +feel it just as badly as you do, Tom." + +"You don't act so. You've been sitting here as mum as oysters!" came +the bitter retort. It was the nearest in a long time Tom had come to a +breach with his chums. + +"What was the good of talking?" asked Sid. "Talking and shooting off a +lot of hot air isn't going to make the varsity eight the head of the +river; is it?" + +"No, but you might find some way of doing it if you said something, +instead of acting like Sphinxes," snapped Tom. + +"I wonder if that chair can be fixed?" broke in Phil, anxious to turn +the subject, for matters were being strained to the breaking point. "You +sure did come down with an awful crash, Tom. Poor old chair! I'm glad it +wasn't one of our good ones." + +"Good ones!" cried Tom, who had bid in the steamer affair at the +auction, much against the wishes of his chums. "Say, this has those +other ancient arks beaten a mile," and stooping over he began trying to +solve the twisted puzzle of the arms, legs and foot-rest that seemed to +have gotten into an inextricable tangle. + +"Oh, I give it up!" he cried, after several unsuccessful efforts. "We'll +let one of the janitors play doctor," and he laughed. + +"That sounds better!" exclaimed Phil. + +"It would sound better if we had won to-day," went on Tom. "Why in the +name of the binomial theorem couldn't we?" + +"The answer is easy," spoke Frank. "They've had more practice than we +have, they pull better, they have more power; three things that they +excel us in. What's the result? Power, practice and skill added together +equal a win." + +"But isn't there any way we can get those three things?" demanded Tom +fretfully. + +"Next year, maybe," assented Phil. + +"We've got to get 'em this year!" cried Tom, smiting his open palm with +his clenched fist. "I won't admit we can't get 'em. We've got to beat +Boxer Hall and Fairview, and we've got to get in condition in the next +two weeks! Do you fellows hear? We've got to double up on our work! +We--we----" + +"Hear! Hear!" broke in the voice of Bricktop Molloy, as he entered the +room at that moment. "What's all the row about? Tommy, me lad, you're +getting to be a regular orator, so ye are!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE REGATTA + + +"Come on in, Bricktop, and help us settle the row," invited Sid. + +"Row! I should say so!" cried the red-haired lad. "Who's been breakin' +up th' furniture?" and he dropped into his broadest brogue. + +"Tom here," laughed Frank. "He isn't satisfied with the way the eight +rowed to-day." + +"Faith! an' I guess none of us are," replied Bricktop. And then the five +students fell to discussing the matter from all viewpoints. Presently +Holly Cross dropped in, and then Kindlings, so with nearly the whole +varsity crew present the room was well filled. + +There were opinions _pro_ and _con_, there were periods of doubt, to be +succeeded by others of some hope. And the result of it all was that they +decided they had underestimated Boxer Hall's prowess, and would have to +"perk-up" and do more and harder practice in the time that was left. + +Communicating this decision to Mr. Lighton the next morning, the lads +found that he agreed with them. + +"Mr. Pierson and I have talked it over," he said, "and we have come to +the conclusion that to make a shift in the varsity eight now would be +fatal. We must stand or fall by what we have. It is too late now. And, +mind you, I am not so sure that even if there was more time that I would +make a shift. I'm certain, in my own mind, that we have a championship +boat. Now it's up to you lads to confirm my belief in you." + +"And we will!" cried Tom, a sentiment that was echoed by his chums. + +Then began at Randall a period of hard and exacting practice, such as +had never been known before. The two coaches were fairly overworked, for +by this time the first of the football squads was beginning to form. +Many of the rowing lads were to play on the gridiron, but they were +cautioned only to do light practice until after the regatta, as it would +not do to have them overtrained. + +The weather was exceptionally warm that September, just right for rowing +and a little too close for heavy football work, so in one way Randall +had an advantage as regards her crews. It was an advantage, though, +shared by her rivals, for both Boxer Hall and Fairview had made up their +separate minds to be champion of the river. + +Boxer Hall, to be sure, now held this title, having defeated Fairview +in the annual water sports in the Spring. But now with the new triple +league formed, the title of "champion" was more or less uncertain. Not +until this Fall regatta could it be definitely settled. + +It had been decided to follow the same rules and customs as obtained +between Boxer and Fairview. That is, there were to be a certain number +of races--singles, doubles, the four, and the eight-oared shells, and +the count was to be as follows: + +A total of twenty points was decided on. Winning the eight-oared contest +would count ten, the single shells would add two points, the double +would count as three and the four would secure five. So that it can +easily be seen that the winning of the eight-oared race meant much. Of +course if one college should come out ahead in the singles, doubles and +four-oared races she would have ten points, and should another win the +eight, the score would be tied. But the possibility of this was remote. + +In addition there was to be a tub race, which would not count in the +championship, but for which several prizes were offered. + +But if Randall worked hard, so did her rivals. From the other two +colleges came news of cross-country runs for the improvement of the wind +of the rowers. The training was reduced to a more scientific basis. +It was even rumored that Boxer Hall had imported a well-known physical +instructor to assist the coach. And Fairview had summoned a number of +old graduates, who had made their marks while at college, to assist in +turning out a championship crew or crews. + +Though the other races were regarded as important, most of the interest +centered in the eight. Little was heard but about this shell, which in +a way, perhaps, was unfair to the other rowers, who were practicing +faithfully. + +Much was heard about the advantage Boxer Hall and Fairview possessed, in +that they had been rowing on the river for years. In a measure this was +true, and Randall was under somewhat of a handicap in this respect. + +Yet, in another way, it was a good thing, for Randall came into the +game fresh, without any preconceived notions, and her boys had learned +what they knew from the ground up. They were not hampered by college +traditions as regards a certain stroke, and Mr. Lighton and Mr. Pierson +had developed a logical one--differing somewhat from either Boxer Hall's +or Fairview's--a combination of the two, modeled after the famous +Cornell stroke. + +And how Tom and his chums did work, train and practice! Lessons suffered +in a way, but the lads were well enough along in college now to know +that they could make them up that Winter. And Dr. Churchill, bless his +big heart! Dr. Churchill was not too inquiring. On one occasion Prof. +Emerson Tines went to the head of the school to complain that he would +have to condition a number of his Latin pupils unless their work showed +improvement. + +"And most of them, my dear Dr. Churchill," he said, "are of the boating +class. A lot of foolishness--a mere waste of time. It was bad enough +with baseball and football, but now that rowing has started, it is worse +than ever. I wish those old graduates had never made their gift!" + +"Tut! Tut! My dear Professor!" remonstrated Dr. Churchill. "Rowing is +a form of exercise that develops muscles never brought to the owner's +attention in any other way. I have been reading up on the subject since +the eleven has taken to the shell, and I find that the ancient Romans, +in their galleys, had rowing down to a perfection rarely attained +to-day. It is an ancient and honest sport, and I'm sure I hope our +nine will win the regatta," and then, good old soul, unaware that he +had mixed the football and baseball squads most woefully with the +crew, turned to his work on his dictionary, which to-be-famous work +had progressed as far as the Cha. to Dem. volume, and bade fair to be +completed in about fifty years, but Dr. Churchill did not think of that. + +The chums were all tired enough this night to sleep, as Sid put it, +without being rocked. They had retired early, for there was to be sharp +practice the next day. + +Lessons had been gone over, with as much attention as it was possible to +concentrate on them, considering all that was going on, the alarm clock +had been relieved of the "toothpick in its appendix," as Tom remarked, +and it was cheerfully ticking away. + +"Queer about that time the clock disappeared, when someone came in our +room, and you took him for me; isn't it, Tom?" asked Sid, as he got his +shaving apparatus in shape for quick use the next morning. + +"It sure is. We've never had another visit from the unknown." + +"And I hope we don't," put in Phil. + +"Say, did you hear the latest?" asked Frank, as he untied the string of +his shoe. + +"No, is there going to be another shift in the varsity boat?" asked Phil. + +"No, but a lot of the fellows have been missing little things from their +rooms; scarf pins and the like. And the funny part of it is that it's +all on the next floor of our dormitory. A regular epidemic, one of the +fellows was telling me." + +"Have we a kleptomaniac among us?" demanded Sid. + +"Maybe it's one of the new janitors," suggested Tom. "There's one that +has a bad eye." + +"Well, as long as they stay off this floor, we'll be all right," +asserted Sid. "Only we'd better keep our valuables locked up." + +"Anyhow, they can't take the old chairs and sofa," remarked Frank with a +chuckle. "They're too heavy." + +It seemed to be Tom's fate to see the end of the little happening, as it +had been his to note the beginning. Late that night he was awakened by +a noise in the main apartment. At first he paid no attention to it, and +then, as he heard the rustle of papers, he thought of the time he had +followed, as he thought, Sid, in the dark, cold corridors. + +"By Jove!" he exclaimed to himself, as he sat up without making the bed +creak. "He's at it again! And this time I'm going to find out who it is!" + +Softly he crept to the door of his room. He saw the same white-clad +figure as before, standing near the window. This time he knew it was not +Sid, although the two looked much alike. The only sound was the ticking +of the alarm clock. + +Then, as Tom watched, the figure approached the table once more. The +change in the tone of the ticking of the clock told Tom what had +happened. + +"He's got our clock!" thought Tom. "Here is where I catch him +red-handed, so to speak." + +The figure glided from the door into the hallway, and Tom followed, +pausing but a moment to make sure that his three chums were in their +beds. From their opened doors the sounds of three different styles of +breathing assured him of this. Then he glided on. + +Once more he followed the white-robed figure until it ascended the +stairs to the story above, but this time Tom was close behind when the +door opened. + +"Hold on there!" exclaimed Tom, as the portal was about to close, and +reaching forward he laid his hand on the shoulder of a student. "I'll +trouble you for our clock!" said Tom, sternly. + +Then he got one of the surprises of his life. With a startled cry the +lad he had grabbed turned about, and his widely opened eyes suddenly +changed their expression--changed so queerly that Tom knew he had the +solution of the mystery. + +"A sleep-walker!" he gasped, as he recognized Harry Johnson, one of the +Juniors who did not enter much into the sporting life of Randall. "He's +been doing this in his sleep!" + +"What--what is it--where--have I? Oh, I've been at it again!" gasped the +lad as he was aroused. "I beg your pardon, Parsons. Hope I haven't done +anything very bad this time." + +"Nothing but our clock, old man. Are you in the habit of doing this?" + +"Not often, though the spell does come on me once in a while. It's a +relic of my childhood days. And so I went to your room and took your +clock?" + +"Yes. This is the second time. Do you recall the first?" + +"Not in the least. And yet I must have done so if you saw me. Probably +some night later I went down in the cellar with it and put it on the +furnace. Say, I'm mighty sorry." + +"That's all right. Better lock your door after this." + +"I will. Come in, and tell me what a fool I made of myself." + +Tom, who had on a warm bath robe this time, consented, and in a whisper +related the details of the first occurrence. Johnson was contrite, and +admitted that it must have been he who had taken the clock, though in +his waking hours he recalled nothing of it. + +"It must have been the tick that attracted me," he explained. "Well, I +guess I'd better take some treatment. Have a glass of ginger ale?" + +"Don't care if I do, though it's breaking training." + +As Johnson got a bottle from a closet he uttered an exclamation of +surprise. + +"Look here!" he called to Tom. "Where did these things come from?" and +in the bottom of a little case, where the bottles had been, he pointed +to a collection of things. + +"By Jove!" cried Tom. "I've solved the other mystery! You've been taking +this stuff in your sleep!" + +And so poor Johnson had. There was found all the articles missing from +the rooms of various students. Johnson had, in his sleep, entered and +taken them, concealing them in a closet, and, in his waking hours, +forgetting about them. They were returned the next morning, with +suitable apologies, and the matter was quietly dropped, for the students +all understood how it could have happened. Johnson consulted a doctor, +and was soon cured of his propensity to night wanderings. + +"Well, I'm glad I solved the mystery, since I started it," remarked Tom +the next morning. + +Day after day passed, and the crews of the eights, as well as the other +rowers, fairly lived on the river. The weather was remarkably fine, +which was in their favor. Day after day the practice and training were +kept up, and the coaches were faithful. A number of the old graduates +who had been instrumental in providing the gift, came to Randall, and +offered suggestions, some of which, being valuable, were adopted. + +And then the natural result followed all this hard work. The time of +the eight, especially, began to improve. The boys rowed with more snap +and vigor. They could stand the "gaff" better, and when Jerry Jackson, +sitting crouched up in his coxswain's seat, called for a spurt, there +were not so many "bellows to mend" in the shape of panting lads, as +there had been. + +"We're coming on!" cried Mr. Lighton proudly, at the close of an +exciting brush between the first and second boats one day, when the +varsity had won. "We're coming on!" + +"If we can only keep it up," breathed Frank, who, being captain of the +eight, as well as stroke, felt his responsibility. + +"Oh, we'll do it, old man," declared Tom, and he succeeded in infusing +some of his spirit into his chums. The faint hearts of the weeks before +had become strong. + +"But you boys needn't think you are going to win!" declared Ruth, when +the four lads called on the four girls about a week prior to the date +set for the regatta. "We have a championship crew in the eight, if +nowhere else." + +"Never!" cried Tom. "We're going to win the eight if we lose everything +else; eh, fellows?" + +"That's what!" his chums chorused. + +"Anyhow, I'm glad of one thing," remarked Ruth, in a low voice to Tom, +"Phil is so interested in this rowing game that he hasn't said a word +about my lost brooch. The other day I had on the new pin I bought to +take its place, and he stared at it without making a remark. But, oh, +Tom! I wonder if we'll ever find it?" + +"It doesn't look so--not now," replied Tom, mournfully. + +"Never mind," she consoled him. "We did our best." + +"And lost out by a narrow squeak," thought Tom to himself, recalling the +pawn tickets and other clues that had gone for naught. The police had +not been able to get a trace of either Mendez or Blasdell, nor had the +missing pawnbroker been found. + +Finally the great day came. The last practice had been held, the lads, +not only of Randall, but at the rival colleges, were "trained to the +minute." The coaches had made their last appeals. + +"Well, fellows, to-morrow tells the tale," said Frank to his seven +chums, on the night before regatta-day. They had all met in the +gymnasium for a final conference with Mr. Lighton, and had partaken of a +light lunch. + +"I'm as nervous as a cat," declared Sid. + +"Don't you dare be!" exclaimed the captain of the eight. "But if you +must be--be it now, and steady up for to-morrow. Now off to bed, and +everybody sleep soundly." + +And then regatta-day broke--calm, with a bright sun overhead, a hint +of Fall coolness in the air that sent a little tingle through the +blood--just the day for the races. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A CLOSE FINISH + + +"Come on now, fellows, hit her up again! All together and I want every +man to sing! Ready now!" and Bean Perkins, the official cheer-leader, +the "shouter" of Randall, signalled with his megaphone to his cohorts +who were lined up near the boathouse, in and around which the +various crews or single-shell men were gathered. "Tear it out now!" +commanded Bean, and that glorious old Latin song--"_Aut Vincere, Aut +Mori!_"--"Either We Conquer or We Die!" welled out over the river. It +was the song that, time and again, had urged Randall on to victory. +Would it once more? + +"When are we going to start?" asked Tom, as he walked back and forth on +the float, clad in rowing togs, as were a score of others, for a number +of substitutes had been provided. + +"Don't get nervous now, old man," advised Frank. "The shell will be in +the water soon, and then we'll go down to the starting point. They're +going to run off all the other races first, you know. We're last. We've +got more than hour yet. Better get on a sweater and a blanket, you might +be chilly. You fellows do the same thing," he commanded, to his crew. + +"I wish we were going in first--and get it over with," said Sid. "This +waiting----" + +"Say, cut it out!" cried Frank. "If you fellows want to have a case of +nerves go off by yourselves somewhere. I want to watch the other races." + +"I think our fellows have a good chance in the four," said Dan Woodhouse. + +"We've got a good chance in everything--do you hear that, me boy?" cried +Bricktop, in his rich brogue. "We're going to win everything! Just +because you're in the eight you mustn't be selfish." + +"I'm not, only----" + +"Here comes our four!" interrupted Frank. "A cheer for 'em, boys!" and +the echoes vibrated as the rallying cry went forth. + +"Come on now, fellows," cried Bean, dancing about, the colors of Randall +on his megaphone fluttering in the wind. "All yell-- + + "We can row you on the water, + We can race you on the land. + We can wallop you at football + And at baseball beat the band! + +"That's us--Randall!" and the song and cry sent the members of the +four-oared crew rejoicing on their way. They were Joe Jackson--Jerry's +twin brother--Bert Trendell, Pete Backus and Sam Terry. + +Early in the season Bean Perkins had been picked for the four, but he +had not made good. Anyhow, he declared, he could help Randall more with +yelling than any other way, and many agreed with him, for Bean was +certainly a "shouter." + +The river presented a gay scene. It was fairly covered with boats, until +it seemed an impossibility that a race could be held. But the course had +been marked off, and soon the boats of the officials would patrol the +water-pathway and clear it. + +Owing to the different lengths of the various races, several starting +points had been selected, and the races had been timed so that the +crowds could get from one to the other to watch the beginning if they +desired. Of course the eight-oared race was the longest--three miles in +this case, since the course of the river, narrowing as it did at several +points, did not offer any longer course at any place available to the +colleges. And three eight-oared shells take up considerable room abreast. + +Launches, rowboats, and a sailboat or two, made up the craft holding the +spectators. In addition the banks of the river, for a mile or more, +were gay with those who had come to witness the aquatic sports. The +finish of all the races was to be at the Randall boathouse. This had +been decided by lot, and our friends had been lucky. They were glad, +too, since they could offer the hospitality of their new building +to their rivals. And, in a way, Fairview and Boxer were glad, as +their boathouses were rather ancient, and could accommodate only a +comparatively few guests, while Randall's was large and roomy. + +Fairview and Boxer Hall had their crews or individual rowers nearly all +assembled. A few were not yet on hand, and some of the shells had not +yet arrived. But all was in readiness for the three-cornered four-oared +shell contest. + +"Say, who's going to win?" challenged Tom of Ruth, for the girls, as you +may well suppose, had been provided with choice places by our friends, +where they could see all the finishes well. + +"Who's going to win?" repeated Madge Tyler. "Why, we are, of course! See +our colors?" and she flaunted them in Tom's face. + +He looked at Ruth, and beneath a bow of the ribbon of the hues of +Fairview, Tom caught a glimpse of his own college colors--a tiny bow. +Ruth saw his glance, smiled and--blushed. + +"You may win some, but the eight comes to us!" declared Sid. + +"Oh, aren't we the sure ones, though!" mocked Helen Newton. + +"Wait until it's all over," advised Mabel Harrison. + +"They're going to start!" suddenly cried Madge, as the three four-oared +shells moved off down the stream. + +"No, they're only going to the starting point," said Frank. "This is +only a mile race, and they decided to row down to it instead of being +towed, so as to get a little warm-up practice. I thought it would be a +good thing for our crew to row down to the start, but Mr. Lighton says +he has provided a launch for us, and the shell will be towed." + +"I wish it was all over," murmured Tom. + +"So do I," agreed Ruth, in a low voice. + +"Come on now, boys! Another song!" demanded Bean Perkins, and the +strains welled forth. + +"Three cheers for Boxer Hall!" came the demand, and it was given with a +will. + +"Three big ones for Fairview!" called an adherent of that co-educational +institution. + +The four-oared crews, selected after much elimination work, were +approaching their starting point. They were out of sight of those at +the boathouse now, and it would be a little time before they appeared, +rowing to the finish line. + +The band began to play. There was gay laughter and talk, and some +nervous walking about by those lads who were to race next. The course +had been cleared, though now and then some craft would trespass on it, +to be hustled out of the way by the official boats. + +It seemed an almost interminable time before the shout sounded: + +"Here they come!" + +There was a craning forward by all. Many who had fieldglasses used them. +Ruth produced a pair. + +"Who's leading?" begged Tom, in an agony of doubt. + +"Fairview!" she replied. + +"No, really?" and he almost grabbed the binoculars from her hands. +"That's right," he admitted, grimly. "But our boys are pulling strong." + +"If they can only win!" breathed Sid. + +"Keep still!" commanded Phil, whose nerves, as were those of his chums, +were at a tension. + +Cheers began to drift along the shore, coming from the crowds lining the +banks. + +"Randall has pulled up!" cried Sid. "Our boys are rowing strong!" + +"They've got a ways to go to finish," murmured Tom. "Oh, if they can +last it out!" + +Randall had a good lead now, and it was seen that Fairview was splashing +badly. It developed later that two of her four-oared crew were +overtrained--they could not stand the heart-breaking strain at the +finish. + +"Come on, you Randall! Come on!" was the cry. + +"Boxer's creeping up!" + +"No, Randall's taken a spurt!" + +Conflicting were the cries. The boats were see-sawing now. They were +getting nearer and nearer to the finish line. The crowds leaned forward. +Pandemonium broke loose. All three colleges were being cheered. + +"It's going to be a tie!" yelled Phil, as he pointed to the Boxer and +Randall shells, now almost bow and bow. "A dead heat! Fairview is out of +it!" + +"Come on, boys!" implored Tom, stretching out his hands as though to +pull their shell forward. + +There came a momentary hush. Then a great roar broke out. + +"Boxer! Boxer Hall wins! Wow, look at that spurt!" + +And, with sinking hearts, our friends watched their rival's shell dart +over the line, a winner by a bare quarter of a length--but still a +winner. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE TUB RACE + + +Randall's adherents seemed stunned at first. They had been so sure of +winning when the two fours swept up to the finish line, with Randall so +close to Boxer, that, when victory was snatched from their very grasp, +it seemed hard indeed. No one knew what to do, while the victors rested +on their oars, justifiable smiles of triumph on their faces. + +As for the losers, they hung their heads dejectedly, and that tears of +mortification came into their eyes is not to their shame. + +Then Tom Parsons found himself, and cried out: + +"Three cheers for Boxer Hall! It was a good win!" + +"That's right," echoed Sid Henderson. + +And the cheers were given, none the less hearty because they came from +the defeated side. + +"Clear the course!" came the command from the judges' boat, and then +came the formal announcement of Boxer winning. She had five points to +her credit now. + +The Fairview lads, in the bitterness of their hearts, for they realized +that it was overtraining, and, in a way, over-confidence that had made +them third, rowed up to the float, disembarked and walked away in +silence--at least there was silence until Bean Perkins yelled: + +"Three cheers for Fairview--she knows how to take a licking the same as +Randall!" + +And at once the river echoed the cheers. + +"Well, you did us that time, Boxer!" went on Bean. "But our time will +come--we're going to do you in the eight." + +"Not if we know it," retorted Pinky Davenport. + +"Oh, I'm so sorry--for you, Tom," breathed Ruth, as the tall pitcher +stood close beside her on the balcony of the boathouse. "Does it bother +you much?" + +"Well, of course I'd like to have seen our four win," he replied, "but +it doesn't bother me. It only makes me mad. We'll win that eight if we +have to break every oar." + +"Don't do that, Tom, old man," advised Frank, who heard this last. +"Breaking an oar is worse than catching a crab. It will lose us the race +sure. Be moderate." + +"It's hard, after all the work we did," complained Sid. + +"But look at it," put in Phil. "We beat Fairview, and that's something +for a green crew to do." + +"So we did!" exclaimed Sid, brightening up. + +"Awfully sweet of you to remind us of it," said Madge, making a little +bow. + +"Oh--er--I didn't mean it that way," stammered Sid. "I didn't think." + +"We'll forgive you," spoke Mabel, gently. + +The single races were to have come next, but at the last moment it was +discovered that one of the outriggers on the shell to be used by the +Boxer Hall contestant was split, so a halt was called until he could get +out one of the spare Randall boats. Then he was allowed a half hour to +"get acquainted with his craft," this being generously allowed by the +other two colleges. + +"The tub race! Have the tub race now!" came the general cry, and as none +of the other competitors wished to fill in the vacant time, and as the +tub race would not count in points, it was decided to advance that on +the program. + +Accordingly, a number of washtubs, of good size, which had been +provided, were brought forward. There were to be two contestants from +each college, making six that would compete for first and second prizes, +in the shape of silver cups. + +Snail Looper and Dutch Housenlager were to represent Randall, Dutch +being the only regular rower who dared to brave the laughter of the +crowd. + +"Why shouldn't I?" he demanded, when questioned. "It'll be fun, and it +will keep me from thinking of the big race. Besides, I think it will be +good exercise, and I'm heavy enough to weight my tub down in the water, +and that's a point. It won't turn so easily." + +"Well, don't strain yourself, that's all," counseled Mr. Lighton. "We +don't want any slip-up in the eight-oared race just because you want +some fun." + +"Oh, sure, I'll be careful!" promised Dutch, making a playful grab for +Sid, who jumped back, thereby nearly upsetting an elderly gentleman who +was sitting near the edge of the balcony to see the sports. + +"Careful! Careful!" he exclaimed testily. + +"Look out what you're doing, Dutch!" warned Tom. "He's one of the +committee that gave us this rowing outfit. He'll get you down on his bad +books if you don't look out." + +"Just my luck!" cried Dutch, ruefully. + +"Tub racers this way!" cried the starter. "Lively now!" + +With but a single paddle to propel them on, the six lads, amid much +laughter, took their places in the tubs. They were to paddle to a stake +boat, about half way across the river, turn there, and come back. + +Anyone who has seen a tub race knows how almost impossible it is to +prevent the craft from whirling about. It doesn't seem to want to +advance in a straight line. This was the case here, and when the lads +started off it was only to go swirling madly about in concentric circles. + +"Go the other way!" was shouted at them. + +"Yes, reverse--you'll get dizzy!" + +"Waltz me around again, Dutchy!" called Tom to Housenlager. + +"You watch!" he shouted back. "I'm going to win!" + +And it did seem as though he had a good chance. Whether it was his +weight, or the way in which he used the paddle, was not manifested, but +he certainly forged ahead. + +He managed to turn the stake-boat first, though Snail Looper was a close +second. Boxer Hall was out of it in this race, her two representatives +seemingly not able to do much. But the two Fairview lads were pressing +Dutch and Snail closely. + +"Here I come! Here I come!" cried Dutch, as, amid increased laughter, +the four lads neared the finishing line close to the float. But he did +not see how near one of the Fairview lads was to him. + +Then one of the latter tubs collided with that of Dutch. He uttered a +surprised exclamation, turned to look, and his paddle slipped from his +grasp. + +[Illustration: THEN ONE OF THE LATTER TUBS COLLIDED WITH THAT OF DUTCH.] + +"Come back here!" yelled he, making a grab for it. + +Alas for Dutch! He over-balanced himself, or perhaps he was dizzy from +the whirling. At any rate overboard he went with a splash. + +"There! I knew something would happen!" cried Mr. Lighton, in vexed +tones, as he saw the accident, and he hurried down to see that Dutch +quickly changed to dry rowing togs, for the tub racers had worn their +light garments. + +Meanwhile Snail Looper came steadily on, finishing first, with a +Fairview lad second. + +"First win for Randall!" yelled a Boxer Hall adherent. "You fellows had +better stick to tubs!" + +"Wait!" murmured Tom. "This may put Dutch in just the right trim to pull +the race of his life." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +BOSWELL'S CHANCE + + +"How about you, Dutch?" asked Tom eagerly, as he hurried up to his +dripping chum, while others followed. The lads in rowing costumes did +not hesitate to crowd close, while the other spectators, and there were +many on the float, rather held back, for Dutch, in the exuberance of his +mirth, was shaking himself like a Newfoundland dog, scattering drops all +over. + +"Fine and dandy!" was the answer of the big lad. "I just needed a bath." + +"Look here!" exclaimed Mr. Lighton, somewhat sternly, "you had better +get a good rub-down, and put on some dry togs. Have you any dry ones +here?" + +"No, but----" + +"He can take mine, I guess I'm not going to get a chance to row," +spoke Harry Morton, a Freshman, and he smiled gamely in spite of the +disappointment he must have felt, for he had practiced hard, as a +substitute. + +"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Lighton, and he gave Morton a look that meant +much. "Hurry now, Housenlager." + +"Did you see me tumble in?" demanded Dutch, with a cheerful grin. + +"Yes," assented Tom, somewhat sharply. "Quit your fooling now. We'll be +in the race soon." + +As the lad whose outrigger had delayed the race for single shells was +not satisfied with the boat provided for him, another was gotten out. +This further delayed matters, and it was decided to run off the doubles +in the meanwhile. The singles would follow and then would come the great +eight-oared contest, on which so much depended. + +"Now boys, go in and win!" pleaded Mr. Lighton, to George Carter and Ben +Blake, who were to uphold the honor of Randall in the doubles. "Remember +about keeping on your course. If you are in your own water you're all +right. Once you get off the course, and there's an accident, you'll have +to abide by it. And pull hard! Save your breath for the spurt that is +sure to come. And look out for Boxer. They're straining every nerve to +beat us in every event to-day. They want to prove that it isn't possible +to make rowers in a single season, and I want you to prove that it can +be done. It's up to me--in a way--but I want you to do your share. Will +you?" + +"We sure will!" cried Blake. "Eh, Carter?" + +"Surest thing you know," assented the other. + +"Remember, Blake, you're the bowman," went on the coach. "Mind your +steering. That new mechanical contrivance on this boat works very well. +It's delicate, though. The least touch of your foot will shift the +rudder. And give your orders so Carter can hear you, but don't waste too +much breath doing it." + +"Carter, mind your stroke. You may offset the change of the rudder if +you pull too hard or too easy. Now go ahead--and may the Fates be kind +to you. Randall needs those three points." + +The three pair-oar boats moved off to the starting point and the crowd +prepared to watch another exciting contest. Dutch had gone into the +dressing rooms, accompanied by one of the trainers, who was directed to +give him a rub-down. Tom followed, and as he went in he passed Boswell, +who was also headed in the same direction. + +"I guess they don't ever intend the singles to be rowed," remarked the +rich lad, with some disgust in his tones. "Here I've been fiddling +around just because that chump from Boxer Hall can't get a shell to suit +him. Why didn't they look over their outriggers before they came?" + +"Oh, they'll be ready soon," spoke Tom. Boswell had, as you may have +assumed, been picked to uphold the Randall end in the singles. To do +him justice he had trained hard and well, and had been faithful. He +was not a favorite, chiefly because he boasted so much, and talked so +incessantly of his "private trainer," and other "possessions." + +"I'm going to get a handkerchief for my neck," explained Boswell, as he +approached his locker. "The sun's hotter on the back of my neck than I +thought it was." + +Tom passed on, paying no more attention to the single sculler. The tall +pitcher was chiefly concerned to see that Dutch did no more "cutting +up," and dropped the horseplay with which he was wont to amuse himself +at all times. + +"His monkey business may cost us the race," thought Tom, a bit angrily. + +But Housenlager managed to contain himself, and was soon in dry rowing +togs again. He and Tom lingered in the dressing rooms of the boathouse +until someone called for the loser of the tub races to come out. Tom +followed slowly, and, as he did so, he passed Boswell, who was restoring +some of his garments to the locker, having tied a silk handkerchief +about his neck. It was the same gaudy-hued one that had a strip torn +from it, and, at the sight, Tom's memory went back to the hut on Crest +Island, to Ruth's lost brooch, and to the robbery. + +"Well, I hope we get off soon," remarked the rich lad. He was stuffing +something into the pocket of his trousers. The garments fell from a +hook, and dropped to the floor. As they did so something fell from them +and rolled over, stopping at Tom's feet. He stooped to pick it up, and +to his surprise he saw that it was a gold brooch. His wonder grew as +he noticed that it was exactly like the one Ruth had described to him +as missing, and similar in pattern to the one he had often seen her +wear--an old-fashioned pin, heavy and massive in design. + +"Thanks," began Boswell, holding out his hand for it. + +Tom held it back. He glared at Boswell. + +"Where--where did you get that?" exclaimed Tom. + +"Well, I don't know that it's any of your affair," was the rather cool +reply. + +"Well, I intend to make it mine! Do you know to whom that pin belongs?" + +"Yes, to me, and I'll trouble you to hand it over." + +"Wait!" exclaimed Tom. "Wait, Boswell. That pin isn't yours, and you +know it." + +"Well, I like your nerve! Whose is it?" + +"Ruth Clinton's!" blurted out Tom. + +"Ruth Clinton's?" cried Boswell. "She never saw that pin. I--I intended +giv--look here, Parsons, what business of yours is this, anyhow? I know +you and Miss Clinton are----" + +"You let her name alone!" cried Tom, fiercely. "As for her never seeing +this pin before--look here!" + +He pressed on the secret spring in the back--a trick Ruth had taught +him. A tiny panel of gold flew open, disclosing the girl's photograph +beneath it. + +"There!" cried Tom. "I suppose that got there by magic. Ruth never saw +it; eh, Boswell? I don't know what to think of this--of you. You must +have heard about the jewel robbery--of the missing Boxer Hall cups. And +now you have this pin----" + +"Stop!" cried Boswell. "If you dare, Parsons, say that I----" + +"Ready for the singles! Boswell, are you there?" called a voice at the +door of the dressing room. "Hurry out--Boxer wins the doubles!" + +The two lads, almost ready to come to blows, started. This was news +indeed. + +"Randall loses in the doubles!" cried Tom, aghast. + +"Yes," went on Joe Jackson, who had come to call Boswell. "Carter broke +an oar near the finish line, and it was all up then. It's tough luck, +for our boat was leading." + +"Fate seems to be against us!" thought Tom, bitterly. Boswell was +staring at him and at the gold brooch, which he still held. + +"Look here!" blurted out Tom. "I know more than you think I do. I saw +you and Mendez in the boat one day. You had a gold brooch then--you were +talking about old-fashioned jewelry." + +"Wait--stop!" burst out Boswell. "I'll talk to you about this. I'll tell +you----" + +"Boswell, they're waiting for you!" interrupted Joe. "The race is +called. For the love of tripe win it! Randall sure is in the soup +to-day. Win!" + +"I will!" cried the rich lad. "I can't stop now!" he cried to Tom, as he +hurried out. "You keep that pin. I'll explain later. The man I got it +from may be around here yet!" + +"You'd better guess I'll keep this pin!" murmured Tom. "As for an +explanation, you'll have some tall talking to do to convince me. I begin +to see how things are now!" + +Boswell ran out. There was a cheer from the float--from the crowds along +the river bank. + +"Come on, Tom!" cried Joe. "You and your crew are next. Oh, for the love +of Randall win that race! Boxer Hall has eight points now--the four and +the double. But if we win the eight and the single we'll have twelve, +and be the champions." + +"Then we'll win!" cried Tom, desperately, as he clasped Ruth's brooch in +his hand and raced out. As he came from the dressing rooms he heard Bean +Perkins yelling: + +"All together now, boys! The 'Conquer or Die' song, and sing it as if +you meant it. Randall is nearing the finish!" + +Blake and Carter, bitter over the unforeseen accident that had robbed +them of victory, were getting out of their shell. Boswell and the +others, in the singles were being sent off after brief instructions. Tom +looked at his rival, and many thoughts came to him. + +The crowd was now so dense on the float, and on the stairway leading to +the balcony, that Tom could not make his way up to tell Ruth the good +news--that he had her brooch. He made the effort, but it was next to +impossible. + +"Come on, Tom!" called Frank, behind him. "Mr. Lighton wants the crew of +the eight in the dressing room for a last conference. Oh, cats! But the +time is getting close." + +"Don't get nervous, you chump!" exclaimed Dutch. "Look at Kindlings, as +cool as an icehouse." + +Elation, worry, wonder and apprehension were Tom's mingled feelings as +he followed his chums and the coach. What Mr. Lighton said he hardly +comprehended. But the coach impressed on the lads the necessity for +coolness, the need of a spurt at the right time, and then the keeping up +of the stroke until the bow of the boat had crossed the finish line. + +Boswell, rowing with the others to the start, was almost upset in his +mind as was Tom. + +"So, he thinks I stole that pin--all the jewelry, I expect!" he mused. +"What can I do? What shall I do? I wonder where in the world Mendez is? +If I could only find him----" + +"Mind where you're going, Randall!" called a sharp voice, and Boswell +changed his course, that had threatened to cut into the Fairview shell. + +Boswell and the others reached the starting line. There they got into +position, the last word was given, there was a moment of suspense, and +the warning gun was fired. Then came the final signal, and they were off. + +Three backs bent to the stroke, six oars took the water, there was a +swirl of foam and bubbles. Tiny whirlpools formed at the ends of the +spoons, and the single race was under way. + +"Oh, if I can only win--if I can only win!" thought Boswell. + +And the lads from Boxer Hall and Fairview thought the same thing. + +It was half way to the finishing mark. Boswell was rowing well, and was +maintaining the slight lead he had. Casting a glance over his shoulder +to note his course, his eyes swept the crowd on the river bank, near +which he was. A face seemed to stand out from among the others. + +"Mendez! Mendez!" cried Boswell. "Mendez, go to the Randall boathouse +at once! I need you there! A whole lot is at stake! There's a hundred +dollars in it for you from me! Go, do you hear! The Randall boathouse! +Get there as soon as you can! I'll meet you after this race! Do you +hear?" and Boswell fairly screamed the words. + +"Yes, senor, I hear," replied the Mexican. "I go," and he started off on +the run, for Boswell's manner was such that it carried conviction with +it. And then Boswell set himself to the race again. But he had hesitated +just a moment--just a fatal moment--and the next instant, with the lads +in them picking up their strokes, the Fairview and Boxer Hall shells +passed him. + +"I'm done for!" murmured Boswell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +MENDEZ EXPLAINS + + +"Come on, Boswell!" + +"Row hard!" + +"You've got to row!" + +"It's your last chance!" + +Thus his mates encouraged the Randall lad in the single shell, as +the three craft swept on up to the finish line in front of the new +boathouse. But it was not to be. Boswell pulled with all his strength. +Never had there been seen a better exhibition on Sunny River, but it +was too late. His little hesitation when he had called to Mendez--the +excited state of his mind, in wondering at Tom's accusation--all +contributed to his defeat. The slight delay was fatal. + +"Oh, row! Row!" implored Bean Perkins. "Give him a song, fellows!" and +that grand Latin chorus of the ancients pealed out. + +But it was not to be. Fairview was leading, with Boxer second and poor +Boswell third. And in this order they finished, giving Fairview her +first win of the day, and Boxer her first defeat. As for Randall, once +more she tasted bitterness. + +"Three cheers for Boswell!" called someone, and, though he was no +favorite, no one could withhold from the measure of praise due him for +his plucky effort. Few knew what had contributed to his defeat. Even +his rivals, hearing him call to the man on the bank, only thought him +shouting to some friend, and thought how foolish he was thus to waste +his precious time and energy. But it was none of their business, and so +they rowed on to defeat him. + +"Never mind!" consoled Mr. Lighton. "You rowed the best you could, +Boswell, I have no doubt. It was a fair race." + +"I--I could have won," he panted, and there were some smiles from those +who thought it but part of his usual boastfulness. But Boswell paid no +attention to them. He was seeking out Tom Parsons, and the Mexican. + +"Get ready for the eight-oared race now," directed some of the +officials. "Randall, is your crew ready?" + +"All ready," answered Mr. Lighton. + +"Ready," answered Pinky Davenport, for Boxer Hall. + +"All ready," assented Roger Barns, for Fairview. + +Boswell made his way through the press of rowers and spectators, +whispered comments following him. But he paid no attention. + +Into the dressing room he strode, where the crew of the eight were just +finishing a little conference with their coxswain, Jerry Jackson. + +"Parsons, a word with you!" exclaimed Boswell, rather haughtily. + +"As many as you like--after the race," said Tom, coldly. He still held +clenched in his hand the brooch. He made up his mind to get it to Ruth +before he went off in the launch that was to take him and his mates to +the starting point. He had no pocket in which to put it, he could not +row holding it, and he wanted to conceal it from Phil. + +"No, now!" snapped Boswell. "Something unexpected came up as I was on +the course. I think it is due to me to allow me to explain how I came by +that----" + +"Here!" exclaimed Tom, anxious that Phil should not listen. "Make it +brief. I can't understand what you have to explain, though." + +"You'll soon know--someone else will explain, too. He will be here +shortly." + +"Ready for the eight! Ready for the eight!" came the summons from +without. + +"Get together, fellows!" called Captain Frank Simpson. "And for the love +of Randall row as you never rowed before." + +"Don't hang back when I call for the spurt," added the coxswain. + +"Ready for the eight! Ready for the eight!" again came the summons. + +"Come on!" ordered Frank once more, looking over to where Tom and +Boswell were standing, apart from the others. + +"Get a move on, Parsons," directed Dutch. "If we win you'll be the first +over the line, being in the bow. Come on." Tom had again been made bow +oar. + +"No, wait a minute!" implored Boswell. "I want to say something, +Parsons." + +"Won't after the race do? I can't listen now. Besides I've got to give +Ruth----" + +"It's about her I want to explain. Hang it, man, it won't take a second." + +"Is Boswell in there?" called someone at the door of the dressing room. + +"Yes--yes!" eagerly assented the rich lad. + +"There's a fellow out here wants to see you," went on one of the +rubbers. "Some sort of a foreigner. Says you told him to come here +and----" + +"Yes! Yes! Let him in!" cried Boswell. "It's someone I want to see!" + +There was a little stir about the doorway and a man strolled in. + +"Senor Boswell," he began, "you have sent for me, and----" + +"Mendez!" gasped Tom. + +"Mendez!" echoed Sid, Frank and Phil. + +"Yes, Mendez," spoke Boswell. "Now, Parsons, I think he'll tell you that +I bought that brooch from him. Show him the pin!" + +"I--er--" began the tall pitcher, and then realizing that concealment +from Phil was no longer possible, he held out the trinket. + +"Ruth's brooch!" cried her brother. "How in the world did you get it? +What does it all mean?" + +"It's a long story," said Tom. "We haven't time for more than a fraction +of it. Boswell had the pin. He says----" + +"I say I bought it of Mendez, and he'll tell you the same thing!" +interrupted the rich lad. "Did I not?" and he appealed to the Mexican. +"Didn't you bring this to me to-day?" + +"Senor Boswell is right," assented the foreigner. "I have sold many +things to Senor Boswell. He say for me to look for an old-fashioned +brooch for him, like one his mother has, and he show me a jewel of the +respected Mrs. Boswell, which I have also procure for him. I get this +other one from Senor Blasdell, from whom I take over the take-care work +on Crest Island." + +"Blasdell!" cried Tom. "Did he sell you this brooch, Mendez?" + +"The senor says what is correct." + +"But where did _he_ get it?" + +"I don't know." + +"Look here, Mendez," burst out Tom, "do you know anything about the +Farson jewel robbery--about the Boxer Hall cups--about the pawn tickets? +Do you?" + +"On my honor, senor, no!" and the man bowed low. He seemed at ease, and +to be speaking the truth. + +"But why did you leave the island so suddenly?" + +"Ah, senor, I will tell you. I will confess. In my country we do +not--that is, we who are of my class--we do not consider it a crime to +smuggle--ah, well, a few cigars. I was guilty of that here. I smuggle +some here and I sell them in my little store on what you call--er--the +edge, is it not?" + +"The side," murmured Phil. + +"Yes, I thank the senor. I sell smuggled cigars on the side. It is not a +great crime, I think. But one day word comes to me in the hands of a boy +from a friend, that the government of your country is about to squeeze +me--am I right?" + +"I guess you mean 'pinch'--arrest," suggested Sid. + +"Yes, that is it. I am to be pinched--Oh, what a language! Now I have no +desire to be pinched, for what I, personally, do not consider a crime. +So I flee--I vamoose. I go, and take all I can with me. Then, later, +when it has all been blown up----" + +"Blown over," suggested Frank. + +"Blown over, yes, I thank you. When it is all blown over I come back. +I have no more smuggled cigars. I am not in danger of being pinched. I +come back to open my little store, and be the take-care man on Crest +Island. + +"As for the gold pin, some time after I leave, so that I may not be +pinched, I meet in New York the Senor Blasdell. He greet me kindly and +say to me do I not want to buy of him a gold pin. I deal in jewelry on +the edge--I mean side--and I remember that Senor Boswell have commission +me for an old-fashioned pin. I think I have just what he want. I buy it +from Senor Blasdell, and bring it to Senor Boswell at his college here. +That is all," and he bowed to all. + +"That's how I got the pin," said Boswell, coldly, looking at Tom. "I +hope you are satisfied." + +"Of course," murmured Tom. "But I don't understand. Where is Blasdell? +Where is that rascally pawnbroker? Where is the rest of the jewelry, and +the Boxer Hall cups?" + +"Say, what are you anyhow, Tom--a riddle reader?" demanded Dan Woodhouse. + +"What is all this Chinese puzzle about, anyhow?" asked Jerry Jackson. +"If we're going to row to-day----" + +"Faith we'd better be gettin' at ut!" cried Bricktop, with a twinkle in +his blue eyes. + +"Where's the Randall eight?" cried the voice of Mr. Lighton. "Why aren't +you out here? We're waiting." + +"We're coming!" exclaimed Tom. "Fellows," he added, turning to the four +of the crew who were not in on the secret, "we'll explain later. I'll +see you after the race," he called to Boswell. + +"As you please," was the cool answer. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +THE GREAT RACE + + +"Are you all ready, boys?" inquired Mr. Lighton. + +"My throat's as dry as a limekiln," said Bricktop. + +The eight, in their shell, were at the starting point, having gone down +in the launch, while the spider-like boat was towed. On either side of +them were the Boxer and the Fairview eights, with their crews as eager +to get off as were our friends. + +"Take a slice of lemon," went on the coach, producing one, and a knife +from his launch. "Anybody else have one? Hold the pieces in your mouth," +he advised. + +Several of the lads accepted bits of the citrous fruit. + +"Are your oarlocks all right--and the stretchers?" went on the coach. + +Everyone tested his own, and no complaint was forthcoming. Mr. Pierson, +who had remained faithful to the last, said something in a low voice to +Mr. Lighton. + +"Yes," assented the head coach, adding: "Don't forget to keep your eyes +in the boat, whatever you do. Your coxswain will watch the other craft, +and tell you when to spurt. This is important--eyes in the boat and no +talking. You've got to row!" + +For the other crews, their coaches and advisers were speaking the last +words to the nervous lads. From time to time those in the Boxer Hall or +the Fairview eight looked over at their rivals. Randall was to take the +middle course, an advantage that had come to them by lot. + +Tom and his three chums wanted desperately to talk about the dramatic +scene enacted in the boathouse just before they had started, but there +was no chance. They had hurried away, and in the launch, on the trip +down, Mr. Lighton held their attention. Tom had managed to slip up +to Ruth, and hand her the brooch just before leaving. That she was +surprised is putting it mildly. + +"Oh, Tom! Where on earth did you get it?" she had cried. "I--I could hug +you for this!" and her eyes sparkled. + +"We'll postpone the hugging until after the race! Just cheer for our +boat!" + +"I will. Oh, Tom, my dear old brooch! Can't you tell me how you got it?" + +"Not now--later--I haven't time. See you after the race!" and he had run +off to join his mates. + +"How much longer?" asked Frank, as he shifted himself on his sliding +seat. + +"Not much, I guess," replied Mr. Lighton, looking at his watch. +"About----" + +A shot boomed out from the starter's boat. + +"There goes the warning gun," the coach interrupted himself. "A minute +more. Take it easy at the start, boys. It isn't a hundred-yard dash, +remember. The hard work will come at the end. Steady all--eyes in the +boat--row hard--and--win!" + +And, with these final words, Mr. Lighton steamed off in his launch, the +other coaches also leaving their crews to themselves. + +The race was to be down stream, and, in order to make an even start, the +stern of each shell had been made fast to an anchored boat in the middle +of the river. At the signal the retaining ropes were to be loosed, and +the race would start. Eager ears waited for the final signal. + +"Get ready boys!" called Jerry Jackson, his eyes on his watch, which he +had fastened before him. "You've got about fifteen seconds more." + +There were sharp intakings of breath, and the young coxswain, glancing +at his crew, noted with satisfaction that the slight tendency toward +nervousness, exhibited by some, had disappeared. They were all cool and +eager. + +Crack! came the report of the starting gun. + +On the instant the retaining cables were loosed, and twenty-four oars +seemed to take the water as one. It was a good, clean, even start. + +To bring the finish opposite the boathouse, it had been necessary to go +down the stream some distance, and there were few spectators gathered +there. + +But such as were there gave forth a hearty cheer, and the yells of the +three colleges were given in turn, for some loyal-hearted lads had +sacrificed their chances to see the finish, that they might cheer the +start. + +"Steady, fellows, steady," counseled Jerry, in a low voice, as he +noticed a tendency to hurry. "It isn't time to hit up the pace. They're +both keeping even with us," he added. + +Then began a steady grind. A leaning forward of the bodies, with hands +well out over the toes, the dipping of the blades of the oars into the +water, and then that tremendous pull of sixteen sturdy arms, shoulders +and trunk--the pushing of sixteen muscular legs, the rising off the +seats to get all the weight possible on the oar at the point of leverage +where it would do the most good. + +Over and over again was this repeated. Over and over again, with the +eyes of seven of the men on the back of the man in front of him timing +the movement, and with the eyes of the stroke on the coxswain, to catch +the slightest signal. + +Stroke after stroke--movement after movement, one just like the +other--twenty-eight to the minute, Jerry having started them off with +that minimum. + +And what Randall was doing, so was Fairview and Boxer Hall, in the same +degree. + +The first mile was passed, with the net result that all three shells +were on even terms, albeit one or the other had forged ahead slightly, +not because either one had quickened the pace so much consciously +as that they had done so unconsciously, and there was, of course, a +difference in the muscular power at times. + +They were half way over the second mile--half the course had been rowed. + +Frank Simpson, watching Jerry, saw the little coxswain shoot a quick +glance toward the Boxer Hall boat, and then stiffen in his seat. + +"Hit it up!" cried Jerry, and he gave the signal for a thirty-per-minute +stroke. But, even as he did Frank, risking something by taking his eyes +off the coxswain, looked across the lane of water. + +He saw the Fairview boat shoot ahead, while, the next instant the +Randall shell, urged onward by the increased stroke, tried to minimize +the advantage gained. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS + + +"Here they come, boys! Get ready!" yelled Bean Perkins, wildly waving +his megaphone. "Here they come!" + +"Oh wow!" shouted Joe Jackson. "For the love of Cæsar tell us who's +ahead." + +"It's hard to see from here. But I think----" + +"Oh, who cares what you _think_?" interrupted a lad. "Don't give us any +false information." + +"Get ready boys!" cried Bean again. "The college cheer when they get +opposite the old boathouse, and then the 'Conquer or Die' song. We've +got to pull 'em on!" + +All was excitement. A hundred voices mingled in expressions of hopes and +fears. The rival college cheers blended into one riotous conglomeration +of sound. The three shells were sweeping on to victory--victory for just +one! + +"Oh, Madge!" cried Ruth. "I daren't look. Here, you take the field +glasses, and tell me who's ahead." + +Her own college colors slipped from her dress unheeded, and there was +disclosed the tiny knot of Randall's maroon and yellow. + +"Ruth!" expostulated Mabel, as she pointed to the traitorous hues. + +"I don't care!" replied Ruth, as her hand went to where her restored +brooch was at her throat. + +"Who's ahead?" demanded Helen Newton, as Madge peered through the +glasses. + +"Fairview!" + +"What?" + +"She is! She is! Oh, girls, Fairview is going to win!" + +"Who--who is second?" demanded Mabel. + +"Randall!" came the reply. + +Then there was silence. The girls looked at one another. What they +thought, who shall say? + +On came the three shells. The cheers increased. There was a din of horns +and rattles. The band played madly--no one knew what the tune was--and +cared less. + +"Steady all!" cried Jerry, as he noticed a tendency to quicken. "Steady +all!" + +On came the Randall shell. Just a little to her rear was Boxer +Hall, struggling desperately and with breaking hearts to offset the +disadvantage of overtraining and over-confidence. For that is just what +it amounted to. It looked hopeless for them now. + +As for Fairview, she had maintained the lead she had unexpectedly gained +over Randall, and the eager--almost bursting--hearts in the boat hoped +that the co-educational college could row it out unto the end. But there +was no disguising the fact to themselves that they were rowing against +such a rival as they had never before met. + +For a moment after Jerry had given the word to increase the stroke, his +chums thought that he would keep them on that for a hundred yards or so, +and then hit up the pace still faster. But he did not. Instead, coolly +and calmly, he glanced critically at the Fairview shell, and kept on at +the same rate. + +"Hang it all, why doesn't he give the word to spurt?" thought Frank, as +his broad back rose and fell to the measured rhythm. "We can do it!" + +But Jerry was a wise little coxswain. Not for nothing had he spied out +the course, so that he knew every foot of it, and by marks previously +noted, he could tell exactly how far they were from the finish mark. + +Nearer and nearer to it came the eight-oared shells. Boxer Hall was +struggling hard to pull up, but for once she had met her match--two, in +fact, for it was easy now to see that the race, barring accidents, lay +between Randall and Fairview. + +"And, oh! May we win!" prayed Tom and his chums. And they could not +understand why Jerry would not put them at their limit. True, their +hearts were pumping at an abnormal rate, their muscles strained as they +never had before, and their breath came labored, and went out gaspingly. + +And then, when Coxswain Jerry, with his eager eyes, saw a certain old +gnarled tree on the river bank, and when he had noted that Fairview had +added another stroke per minute, then and not until then did he give the +word. + +He had slid down into his seat, feeling the tiller lines as a horseman +feels with the reins the mouth of his pet racer. Gently, as if the shell +were some delicate machine, did Jerry guide her on the course. Now the +time had come! + +Up he sat, like one electrified. Through the megaphone strapped to his +mouth came the words: + +"Row, boys! Row as you never rowed before! Put all you can to the +stroke. I call for thirty-three! Give it to 'em! Give it to 'em!" + +It seemed as though the Randall shell was suddenly galvanized into +action. Reaching forward over their toes, eight sturdy backs bent for +the stroke. Then it came. + +A pull that seemed to lift the frail shell from the water--a pull that +strained on the outriggers--a pull that made the stout oars creak and +bend! A stroke that sent the water swirling aft in rings, circles, +whirlpools and a smother of foam! A stroke that told! + +"Row! Row!" screamed Jerry. + +Daring another glance, Frank, at stroke, saw the Fairview boat seemingly +at a standstill. But it was not so. It was that Randall had shot up to +her. + +From the shores, from the boathouse, from the other craft, came a riot +of sound--shouts, yells, the tooting of horns, the clatter of rattles. + +There was a veritable flower garden of waving colors. The shrill voices +of the girls mingled with the hoarser shouts of the men and boys. +Whistles blew, and dogs barked to add to the din. + +"Row! Row!" Jerry fairly screamed. + +"Pick it up, boys!" pleaded the Fairview coxswain. He had not thought +that his rivals had this spurt in them. + +"Can't you do it? Can't you get up to them?" begged Pinky Davenport, of +his Boxer lads, and there were unashamed tears in his eyes as he made +his last appeal. But Boxer was "all in." + +"Now boys, now!" shouted Jerry. "It's your last chance! A hundred yards +more--only three hundred feet! Row! Row! We must win." + +"Don't let 'em pass us!" came from the Fairview coxswain. "A few +strokes--only a few more!" + +The boats were even! Pandemonium had now broken loose. The band was +drowned out by shouts. Ruth found herself hammering Madge on the back, +and shouting--she knew not what--in her ear. Madge was crying--she did +not know why. + +As for the Randall lads, they were mere machines. There was no more +thought left in them. They saw nothing, but each man in front of him +viewed his fore-man's back--Frank could not see the face of Jackson, but +he could hear his rasping voice. + +"Row! Row!" + +How Frank heaved! How he dug at the giving water at the end of his +blade as though he would tear it from the river and fling it aloft in a +rainbow arch. + +And how Bricktop Molloy took up the stroke, his honest Irish face wet +with sweat--his red hair plastered down on his forehead. Back and forth +he bent. After him came Holly Cross picking up the stroke masterly--then +Kindlings--good old Kindlings with something of the fire of his name in +his sturdy muscles--then Housenlager--all the desire for horseplay gone +from him. Then Sid, who had been shifted back to Number Three almost at +the last moment. Then Phil, and then Tom. + +And how they rowed! Surely the ancient gods--surely even Hercules at his +twelve labors--never toiled more Titanically than these eight rowers. +No galley slave, chained to the oar, with the vessel on fire above him, +with the shrieks of the dying in his ears, the stench of Greek fire in +his nostrils, ever rowed more desperately. + +"Row! Row!" screamed Jerry. + +"Row! Row!" echoed Roger Barns. + +The finish line was but a hundred feet away. Slowly, oh, so slowly, did +the Randall boat creep up on her rival. + +Now she was past! Another electric thrill went through Jerry. + +"Row! Row!" he screamed, and his voice was hoarse. His hands, tense and +gripped, were clasped so tightly on the tiller ropes, that afterward +they had to loosen them for him. The muscles had gone dead, but he +steered with the skill of a veteran. + +It grew black before Tom's eyes. He felt that his lungs were bursting. +Frank knew that if he dipped the oar in the water again he would not +have strength to pull it out. + +But, somehow he did! + +And then with one last spurt, a spurt that seemed to wrench the very +roots of their hearts, a pull that seemed to tear their very muscles +loose, the lads in the Randall shell sent their boat over the finish +line a winner--a winner by half a length--a winner! They were the +eight-oared victors! + +And, as they realized this--as it came to them--their eyes that saw not +lighted up--their faces, seamed and lined with the contracted muscles, +broke into smiles, and then Tom toppled over on his oar, and Frank fell +weakly back on Molloy. + +"Easy there, me lad, easy," panted Bricktop. "It's all over. You +collapsed at the right minute! Oh, wow, but I'm thirsty!" + +Jerry Jackson was struggling with the tiller lines wound about his +nerveless hands. Ready chums loosed them, and helped him from the shell +onto a boat, the crew having recovered sufficiently to put their broad +blades out on the water to steady the shell. + +And then, following the hush that came after the hysterical outburst +which greeted the winners, came floating over the heads of the great +throng: + +"_Aut Vincere! Aut Mori!_" + +But Randall had conquered, though she had nearly died. + + * * * * * + +Somehow the crew heard the cheers for themselves, for their coach and +for the plucky little coxswain. Somehow they managed to cheer Fairview +and Boxer Hall, and then they were hurried into the dressing rooms. + +"I knew you could do it! I knew you could do it!" cried Mr. Lighton, +capering about like a boy. "I knew we could make a rowing crew in one +season with the material we had." + +"Faith, an' ye did, me lad!" declared Bricktop, while Housenlager feebly +punched Tom in the ribs, a bit of horseplay that our hero was too tired +to resent. + +"Someone to see Mr. Parsons!" called Wallops, the college messenger, who +was helping out at the boathouse. He peered into the anteroom of the +dressing apartments. + +"I can't see anyone now," declared Tom. "Who is it?" + +"He says his name is Farson, and----" + +"The jeweler!" cried Tom. "Show him in!" and he came from under a shower +and grabbed up some garments. "There must be something doing!" he added +to Sid and Phil, who had heard the words. + +Somewhat bewildered by the athletic throng about him, the jeweler +entered. + +"Where are you, Mr. Parsons?" he asked. + +"Here!" cried Tom. "What is it?" + +"Everything! I have just received word from the police that they have +arrested that pawnbroker. He has all the Boxer Hall cups, and most +of the other jewelry. Nearly everything is recovered. All but that +old-fashioned brooch you told me about. That he says he never had." + +"And he's right," added Tom. "I recovered that. But who took the things?" + +"Blasdell. The island caretaker took them out of my box when the boat +landed on the island, and disposed of them. Then he hid the pawn tickets +in the shack, taking away the brooch he had previously hidden there. + +"Blasdell has been arrested too. He has made a full confession. He and +the pawnbroker have been in with a bad set, and were planning other +crimes. But I will soon have nearly everything back. I thought you might +be glad to know, so I came here as soon as I heard. I had to wait until +after the race, though." + +"We are glad to hear the news," spoke Frank. "So Mendez is not in it +after all." + +"No, the confessions of the others completely clear him. I must go tell +the Boxer Hall boys the good news." + +"And it is almost as good news to us as to them," said Tom, as he went +in to finish dressing. + +The regatta was over. Randall, in spite of heavy odds and in spite of +losing all but one race, was proclaimed champion of the Tonoka Lake +League. + +"But we'll do you next year!" prophesied Pinky Davenport. "I think the +loss of our cups was a hoodoo to us." + +"Maybe," admitted Tom. "But next year is--well, next year, and we're +not greenies any more." + +"I guess you never were," admitted his rival. + +"And now let's go see the girls, and tell them how sorry we are that we +beat them," proposed Sid. + +If the girls felt badly they did not show it much. + +"What I can't understand," said Phil, a little later, when he and his +chums, and his sister and her chums were talking it all over at a little +supper in Haddonfield, "what I can't understand is how Boswell knew Ruth +had lost her pin, and wanted to give her another." + +"He didn't know it--stupid!" exclaimed Ruth, with a blush. "Only Tom +knew it." + +"But Boswell was going to give you a pin." + +"Oh, can't a fellow give a girl a pin without knowing that she has lost +one or you making a fuss over it?" asked Sid. + +"But--but----" faltered Phil. + +"He heard that I was fond of old-fashioned jewelry," explained Ruth, +blushing, "and I suppose, instead of--er--well--say candy, he hunted +up an old-style pin. He had bought one for his mother from Mendez, and +wanted one for me. It was lucky that Blasdell did not pawn my pin with +the other stuff. Instead he sold it to Mendez, who, in turn, sold it to +Mr. Boswell, and Tom--well, Tom did the rest." + +"And you were without grandmother's pin all that while, and never let +on!" cried Phil. "Oh, you're a sly one, Sis!" + +"And the colored handkerchiefs, and Boswell were useless as clues," went +on Sid. "They were just false alarms. But I wonder why Mendez was so +anxious to see Boswell that day we went on our little picnic?" + +"Mendez explained that," said Tom. "He had had some intimation that his +selling of smuggled cigars was likely to be dangerous, and, as Boswell +had bought some he wanted to talk about it, and get his advice. That was +all. It seems that when Boswell and the Mexican were together on the +island one day Mendez cut his finger and Boswell tore off a strip of the +silk handkerchief. Boswell told me that." + +"And I guess that explains everything," remarked Phil. "I want some more +ice-cream. We've broken training now, you know." + +And so the merry little party feasted and laughed and softly sang their +college songs until the girls protested that they must get back, or Miss +Philock--well, various opinions were expressed about that lady. + +"Stop that infernal clock!" grunted Tom, a little later, as he lay half +asleep on the old sofa in the common room. + +"Stop it yourself," murmured Phil, sprawled in one easy chair, while +Frank occupied another. Sid had declared himself done up after the +race, and had gone to bed. From his room he murmured in a sleepy voice: + +"Sounds like Jerry calling--'Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!' doesn't it?" + +"Cut it out!" said Phil. "I don't want to see an oar for six months +again." + +"It will be pigskin punts from now on," spoke Tom, as he returned from +jabbing a toothpick into the clock's interior, and turned over to doze +again. + +"And then good old Winter!" exclaimed Frank. "I say, fellows, what's +the matter with getting up some iceboat races," and he galvanized into +uprightness. + +"Talk about it to-morrow," sleepily murmured Sid, but the suggestion +bore fruit, as you may learn by reading the next volume of this series, +to be called "Rivals of the Ice; A Story of Winter Sports at College." +It will tell how, after a strenuous football season, the lads formed an +ice league, for skating, hockey playing, and ice-yacht racing. + +Outside the college there was singing and the building of bonfires +to celebrate the victory of the crew. But in their room, four of the +eight-oared victors dozed dreamily on, living over again in fancy that +strenuously-fought-out race which they had so labored over. And there, +for a time, we will leave them. + + +THE END + + + + +THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES + +BY LESTER CHADWICK + +_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_ + +_=Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid=_ + +[Illustration] + +_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron himself._ + + + 1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS + _A Story of College Baseball_ + +Tom Parsons, a "hayseed," makes good on the scrub team of Randall +College. + + + 2. A QUARTERBACK'S PLUCK + _A Story of College Football_ + +A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick's best style, that is bound to +grip the reader from the start. + + + 3. BATTING TO WIN + _A Story of College Baseball_ + +Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading players on +Randall College team. There is a great game. + + + 4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN + _A Story of College Football_ + +After having to reorganize their team at the last moment, Randall makes +a touchdown that won a big game. + + + 5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL. + _A Story of College Athletics_ + +The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is extremely +exciting. + + + 6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS + _A Story of College Water Sports_ + +Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they are on track, +gridiron and diamond. + + + _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ + + + CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York + + + + +SEA STORIES FOR BOYS + +BY JOHN GABRIEL ROWE + +_Large 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Colored jacket_ + +_=Price per volume, $1.00 Net=_ + +[Illustration] + +_Every boy who knows the lure of exploring and who loves to rig up huts +and caves and tree-houses to fortify himself against imaginary enemies +will enjoy these books, for they give a vivid chronicle of the doings +and inventions of a group of boys who are shipwrecked and have to make +themselves snug and safe in tropical islands where the dangers are too +real for play._ + + + 1. CRUSOE ISLAND + +Dick, Alf and Fred find themselves stranded on an unknown island with +the old seaman Josh, their ship destroyed by fire, their friends lost. + + + 2. THE ISLAND TREASURE + +With much ingenuity these boys fit themselves into the wild life of the +island they are cast upon in storm. + + + 3. THE MYSTERY OF THE DERELICT + +Their ship and companions perished in tempest at sea, the boys are +adrift in a small open boat when they spy a ship. Such a strange +vessel!--no hand guiding it, no soul on board,--a derelict. + + + 4. THE LIGHTSHIP PIRATES + +Modern Pirates, with the ferocity of beasts, attack a lightship +crew;--recounting the adventures that befall the survivors of that +crew--and--"RETRIBUTION." + + + 5. THE SECRET OF THE GOLDEN IDOL + +Telling of a mutiny, and how two youngsters were unwillingly involved in +one of the weirdest of treasure hunts,--and--"THE GOLDEN FETISH." + + + _Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue_ + + + CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers New York + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + --Printer, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently + corrected. + + --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. + + --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42403 *** |