tioned Fred.

"Oh, the prize will be the pleasure of rowing back," answered May, and
at this little joke there was a general laugh.

"Now please don't tip us overboard," pleaded Alice.

"Nary a tip," answered Randy.

"We're not looking for tips," broke in Andy, quickly. "We are going to
do this free, gratis, for nothing," and at this pun there was another
laugh. Then Jack gave the signal, and away the two rowboats started on
the race.

Of course, it was only a friendly affair, and none of the boys rowed as
hard as he would have done in a regular contest. Nevertheless, each
craft made good progress over the sparkling waters of the lake.

"Oh, my! you certainly can row," remarked Ruth to Jack and Fred, as
their craft drew ahead.

"Oh, we're not warmed up yet," was Jack's reply.

"We could do much better if we were in regular rowing togs," explained
Fred.

"Hi you! What do you mean by going ahead?" piped out Randy. "Come on,
Andy, or they'll beat us."

"Maybe they can beat a drum, but they can't beat us," cried Andy.

And then he and his twin increased their strokes so that presently
their boat was once more beside the other.

The girls were as much interested as the boys in the impromptu race,
and they soon began to shout words of encouragement.

"Pull! pull! we're going to win!" cried May.

"Not a bit of it! Our boat will get there first!" sang out Alice.

"You can't beat us!" came from Annie.

"He crows best who crows last," cried Ruth.

"Right you are!" came pantingly from Jack; and then, as he saw the look
of encouragement in Ruth's face, he redoubled his efforts. Fred did the
same, and when they came into plain view of the tiny dock at the end of
Foxtail Island their boat was two full lengths ahead of the other.

"Hi you! What kind of a race is this, anyhow?" shouted out Andy, gaily.
"Why don't you keep side by side and be sociable?"

"Sour grapes!" roared Fred. "Here is where we win!" and in a moment
more he and Jack sent their boat up to the side of the little dock.
Almost immediately the second craft followed.

"I think all of you did very well," remarked Ruth, consolingly.

"Anyway, we came in a close second," remarked Randy.

"We would have won if it hadn't been for one thing--just one thing,"
remarked Andy, solemnly.

"Why, what was that?" questioned several of the others quickly.

"That was the fact that the other boat"--Andy drew a deep breath--"came
in first." At this the girls