siness, and order the boats at once,"
said Dick Chester.

"We had better think a while of it. Something else may turn up which
will suit us even better than the fleet. Of course we must consult
Captain Sedley and George before we do anything," replied Tony.

"They will be willing."

"Perhaps they will, and perhaps they won't."

"I know they will," said Dick.

"We will consult them, at any rate. It is necessary to take a vote
concerning the division of the money."

Of course the club voted not to divide; and it was decided that the
money should remain in the hands of George Weston until the fleet
question should be settled.

"Now, boys," said Tony, "next Monday is town meeting day, and school
don't keep. We will meet at nine o'clock and practise for the race,
which comes off on Wednesday afternoon, at three o'clock. Let every
fellow be on hand in season."

The club adjourned, and the boys went off in little parties, discussing
the exciting topic of a fleet of five boats, under the command of
Commodore Frank Sedley.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE RACE.

The day appointed for the race between the Zephyr and the Butterfly had
arrived, and the large number of people congregated on the shores of
Wood Lake testified to the interest which was felt in the event.
Probably the exciting incident at the bridge, which had been published
in the newspaper, imparted a greater degree of interest to the race than
it would otherwise have possessed. It was a beautiful afternoon, mild
and pleasant for the season, which favored the attendance of the ladies,
and the lake was lined with a row of cheerful faces.

"All aboard!" said Frank, as he dissolved a meeting of the Zephyrs,
which he had called in order to impart whatever hints he had been able
to obtain from his father and others in regard to their conduct.

Above all, he had counseled them, in case they were beaten, to cherish
no hard feelings towards their rivals. Not a shadow of envy or ill-will
was to obscure the harmony of the occasion. And if they were so
fortunate as to win the race they were to wear their honors with
humility; and most especially, they were not to utter a word which could
create a hard feeling in the minds of their competitors. Whatever the
result, there was to be the same kindness in the heart, and the same
gentlemanly deportment in the manners, which had thus far characterized
the intercourse of the two clubs.

"All aboard!"

The Zephyrs were mo