before that time," answered Jack.
"You see, we are due at Colby Hall at that hour."

"Very well then," said the teacher. "I trust you all have a pleasant
time," and she smiled.

"Oh, we'll have a good time--don't worry," sang out Andy, gaily.

"To be sure we will," echoed May Powell.

And then, with the girls safely seated in the two rowboats, the boys
took up the oars, and the little outing on Clearwater Lake was begun.

CHAPTER XIX

A SQUALL ON THE LAKE

"It's too bad we don't happen to have a motor boat up here," remarked
Jack, as he and Fred bent to the oars of their rowboat.

"You mustn't work too hard," came from Ruth.

"I wasn't thinking of that," answered the oldest Rover boy quickly. "I
was only thinking if we had a motor boat we could go farther."

"They are going to have a motor boat or two at Colby Hall next
Spring--I heard Colonel Colby speaking about it," put in Fred.

"That will be very fine," remarked May. "I suppose you'll give us a
ride once in a while?" she added, her eyes twinkling.

"Sure!" responded the youngest Rover, quickly.

"Hi--over there!" came from Andy, as he and his twin bent to the oars.
"Want to race?"

"Of course--if you'd like to!" responded Jack.

"Oh, a race!" exclaimed Alice Strobell. "Won't that be fine!"

"There won't be any danger, will there?" questioned Annie Larkins,
anxiously.

"No danger whatever, so long as we keep far enough apart," answered
Randy. "And we'll do that, because we expect to leave them far behind."

"Not much you won't leave us behind!" retorted Fred. And then he added:
"Are you ready?"

"Wait a minute until we have the young ladies seated just right,"
answered Andy. And then, turning to the two girls in the boat with him,
he continued gaily: "Now sit right in the center of the boat, please;
and be sure to have your hair parted exactly in the middle;" and at
this both girls shrieked with laughter.

With their passengers seated to their satisfaction, the four Rovers
prepared for the race.

"Where are we going to race to?" questioned Jack.

"I don't know," answered Randy. "Can any of you tell me?" he went on,
appealing to the pupils from Clearwater Hall.

"You might race to the near end of Foxtail Island," suggested Ruth, and
pointed to an island some distance down the lake.

"That suits!" cried Jack.

"The first one to reach the dock at the end of the island wins the
race," announced May.

"And what's the prize?" ques