Tom and Alfred, the two Simrall
brothers, pulled past Madge and Phil. They had fulfilled Phil's
prediction and brought up the rear.

Professor Gordon, who, as umpire, had been following the race, was
worried. Of course, he had seen the foul made by Alice and Flora. Yet
he did not know exactly what to do. It was possible that girls did not
understand the rules of boat racing. This race was being rowed for
pleasure. The girls were the guests of his boys at the camp. Flora
Harris's father was an officer at Fortress Monroe. It would hardly do
to accuse his daughter of cheating. He decided to allow the competitors
to register a complaint. He would say nothing until the complaint was
made to him.

When Madge and Phyllis pulled in to the line of the other racing boats
Professor Gamage, the judge at the finish, was about to announce the
victors. Phil's face was white. She looked tired and dispirited.
Madge's cheeks were flaming. Every muscle in her body was tense. She
did not appear to feel the slightest fatigue.

"Don't say anything, Madge," pleaded Phil, before they came up with the
others. "If the umpire does not declare the race to be a foul, we must
not mention it. We were rowing only for fun. We don't wish to make a
scene. If we were to accuse Alice and Flora of committing a foul, they
would be likely to deny it."

"I must speak! I won't bear it!" breathed Madge passionately. "Why
should I allow Flora Harris the use of what we have rightfully won? Tom
or Alfred Thornton ought to speak."

Phyllis had no chance for further argument with her friend. The
announcements were being made.

"Sears and Robinson, first place; Miss Harris and Miss Paine, second,"
the judge called out. "If you will row back to the starting place, I
believe Mrs. Curtis has some prizes to award. We couldn't manage to
transport our audience up here."

The crews accepted the verdict in silence. Harry Sears and George
Robinson looked appealingly toward Madge and Phil, then toward their
umpire. Madge glanced at Tom from under her long lashes. Tom's face was
flaming, yet he said nothing. During the short row back to the camping
grounds the canoe crews were significantly silent.

At the starting place Mrs. Curtis, Madeleine, Lillian and Eleanor
waited to greet them, their arms filled with flowers. Before leaving
for Washington, Lieutenant Lawton had placed an order with a florist
for two bouquets of red and white roses tied with blue ribbon, to be