alk and row, I've told you that lots of times.
That's the reason you lost that race with Bob Trent last week--you got
all out of breath making fun of him."

"I was only trying to get him rattled," protested Andy.

"Well, he got the race just by sticking to it. But go on. I don't
care. I'm going to win, but I don't want to take an unfair advantage
of you."

"Oh, lobsters! I'm not asking for a handicap. You never can beat me
in a thousand years." And, with a jolly laugh Andy began to sing:

"The stormy winds do blow--do blow,
And I a winning race will row--yo ho!
You'll come in last,
Your time is past,
Out on the briny deep, deep, deep!
Out on the briny deep!"

"All right, have your way about it," assented Frank good naturedly. "I
can stand it if you can," and with that he increased his strokes by
several a minute, until his skiff had shot ahead of his brother's, and
was dancing over the waves that, now and then, brilliantly reflected
the sun as it came from behind the fast-gathering clouds.

"Oh, so you are really going to race?" called Andy, somewhat surprised
by the sudden advantage secured by his brother. "Well, two can play at
that game," and he, also, hit up the pace until in front of both boats
there was a little smother of foam, while the green, salty water
swirled and sparkled around the blades of the broad ashen oars, for the
boys did not use the spoon style.

For perhaps two minutes both rowed on in silence, and it was so quiet,
not a breath of wind stirring, that each one could hear the labored
breathing of the other. The pace was beginning to tell, for, though
Frank was not over-anxious to make record time to the dock, he was not
going to let his brother beat him, if he could prevent it.

"I shouldn't wonder but what there'd be a storm," spoke Andy again,
after a pause. He couldn't keep quiet for very long at a time.

"Um," was all the reply Frank made.

"What's the matter; lost your tongue overboard?" questioned Andy with a
chuckle.

Frank did not reply.

"I'm going to pass you," called the younger brother a moment later
when, by extreme exertion, he had regained the place he had held, with
the bow of his craft in line with Frank's. Then Andy fairly outdid
himself, for, though Frank was rowing hard, his brother suddenly shot
ahead.

"It's about time you did some rowing," was Frank's quiet remark, and
then he showed that he still had some power in reserve, for he ca