We will beat.'"

"We will beat," was responded as fiercely as if life was at stake, and,
as Mr Clare opened the door to ascertain what was the disturbance, five
innocent boys were under blankets and apparently sleeping the deepest
slumber. Drake had even reached a regular bass snore. The moonlight
streaming in the room, and which showed us a smile breaking irresistibly
on Mr Clare's face, was not more placid than we. The door had hardly
closed behind Mr Clare before Harry Higginson had sprung from his bed,
and, almost on the space our tutor had stood a half second before, was
enacting a ridiculous and vigorous pantomime of kicking our "fresh tute"
from the room. As quickly the door opened again, and before Harry could
get a single limb in order, Mr Clare had him by the arm. But the whole
affair was too humorous for even Mr Clare's dignity. He could only say
"So you are the noisy one, Henry Higginson. You can get in bed now as
quickly as you got out of it, and to-morrow, when the afternoon's study
is done, recite to me fifty lines of Virgil--from the twentieth to the
seventieth line of the first book."

With that, Mr Clare went from the room, and Harry, with a low, long,
whistled "phew," sought his bed disconsolately.

The next day after lessons I, as coxswain, by Walter's order, handed
copies of the following note to Captain Mugford and Mr Clare:--

"Cape ---, June 3, 1816.

"Messrs. Mugford and Clare,

"The oarsmen of the galley _Pupil_ would hereby challenge the
gentlemen of the boat _Tutor_ to a race on the eighteenth of June, in
Bath Bay waters. The course to be from Youngster's Wharf around
Leander's Rock, and return. Stakes to be--the championship of Bath
Bay. The oarsmen of the _Pupil_ would respectfully propose three p.m.
as the hour for the race, and the firing of a gun the signal for the
start. The oldest inhabitant, Clump, offers his services as umpire,
referee, judge, and signalman.

"All which is submitted for the acceptance and concurrence of the
gentlemen of the _Tutor_.

"(Signed) Walter Tregellin, Henry C. Higginson, Drake Quincy
Tregellin, Alfred Higginson, _Oarsmen_,

"Robert Tregellin, _Coxswain_."

Mr Clare, when he read it, smiled and said he would see about it, and
then turned to Henry and asked him if he had learned those fifty lines
yet.

Captain Mugford was presented with his copy as he entered the house for
dinner. "Hu-um!" he said, as he