. Talk about nerve! Why, he is full of it!"

"Somehow he never seems to lose his head when it is most required,"
added Percival, "although to look at him you would not suppose that
he had such a command over himself. It's when you get to know him
that you find these things out."

"Why, he would as soon jump into a flying machine as get in a
motor-boat," said Billy, "provided there was something to be done.
He is a bird as well as a fish, and just as good at either."

The sports were closed by a tub race, every one being desirous of
seeing Billy Manners in another of these amusing contests.

There were a dozen or more boys in the race, all prepared for a spill
in the water, which seemed to be the inevitable end of such affairs.

Billy had a bathing suit of the Hilltop colors, and said as he got
into his tub:

"This is the great race of the submersibles. Mine is the I.O.U.---99,
the fastest tub on the river. If she were fast I couldn't go---fast
to the bank, I mean."

"She'll be fast on the bottom, at any rate, Billy," said Harry.

Jack, Percival, and a number of the boys who did not usually take
part in such sports, went into this for the sake of making more fun,
but the visitors were not asked to enter, as they had not brought
their bathing suits, and could not very well get along without them.

The tubs started out, the boys propelling them rapidly with their
hands, avoiding collisions when they could, and doing their best to
keep afloat as long as possible.

"You are not going to win this race, Billy," laughed Percival, as he
spun ahead. "You can't take all the prizes, my boy, and I am going
to beat you this time."

"Maybe not!" chuckled Billy, using both hands and making the water
fly. "This is a U.S., not a U-boat, and I'm bound to win."

Jack was full of the spirit of the thing, and pushed the acknowledged
rivals hard, presently passing Percival, and shouting to Billy:

"Look out, my boy, I am coming after you! Don't take in too much
water. It isn't good."

"Come on, Jack!" shouted Billy. "I am not going to the bottom
yet, my-----"

Just then young Smith collided with him, and his tub filled in an
instant, forcing him to swim for the shore in a hurry.

"You have a submarine now, at any rate!" laughed the younger boy, who
went on a few feet farther, and then had to swim for it.

Jack and Percival were now in the lead, and the nearest to the goal,
all the rest having had to swim for it