for the spill, that the others were enough
punished by being swamped. Of course, they should not have raced canoes
without the race being arranged by either Mrs. Case or Professor Dimp."

"Huh! Old Dimple could come forward and save Dora and Dorothy from the
penalty. Why, whatever will we do?" cried Bobby. "It spoils our chance
for the cup again."

"And it's such a beauty!" sighed Jess Morse.

For a week the handsome silver cup offered as a prize to the High School
eight-oared crews on the Big Day had been on exhibition in the window of
Mr. Belding's jewelry store. Later it would be exhibited both in Keyport
and Lumberport for a week each. It was one of the handsomest trophies to
be raced for in the coming aquatic sports.

"But, see here!" cried Bobby. "Here's another thing. Hester has played
her cards well, I must say."

"What now, Clara?" asked Nellie Agnew.

"Why, Hester and Lily are not conditioned. They can still practice
canoeing under the rules. And they will be the best crew for Central
High to put forward for the canoe race. Now, what do you think of that?"

"And Dora and Dorothy would surely have won _that_ race!" wailed Jess.
"Of course, Hessie always gets the best of it!"

"I wish we'd smashed her old canoe all to flinders!" ejaculated Dora,
desperately.

But, "if wishes were horses beggars might ride," as Laura pointed out
The milk was spilled. There was nothing to do but to abide by Miss
Carrington's decision and help Mrs. Case pick two of the best rowers for
the twins' places in the eight-oared shell. And that was not an easy
matter, for to arrange a well-balanced crew of eight is not the easiest
thing in the world.

That very afternoon the physical instructor and Professor Dimp worked
out the crew in the new shell with two other girls in the twins' places.
Dora and Dorothy would not even go down to the boathouse; they were
heartbroken. And Mrs. Case intimated to the other girls that she was
very sorry she had been obliged to report the twins' infringement of the
rules. Of course, she would not criticise Miss Carrington's harsh
punishment; but she would not heed Hester Grimes's request for
permission to be "tried out" in the shell.

"You are too heavy, Miss Grimes, for either Number 2 or Number 6 oar,"
said the physical instructor, shortly, and Hester complained to some of
the girls who would listen to her that the physical instructor "showed
favoritism."

"Never mind," scoffed Bobby Hargr