ingwood. "I'll challenge you to that water duel that we were to have
pulled off last June."

"All right, Lou," said Westby. "Carrie here will be my trusty squire and
will paddle my canoe."

Carroll grinned his assent.

"I'll pick Ned Morrill for my second," said Collingwood. "And Scabby can
be referee."

"What's a water duel?" asked Irving.

"They go out in canoes, two in each canoe," answered Scarborough. "One
fellow paddles, and the other stands up in the bow with a long pole and
a big fat sponge tied to the end of it. Then the two canoes manoeuvre,
and try to get within striking distance, and the fellow or canoe that
gets upset first loses. We had a tournament last spring, and these two
pairs came through to the finals, but never fought it out--baseball or
tennis or something always interfered."

"It must be quite an amusing game," said Irving.

"Come up to the swimming hole to-morrow afternoon if you want to see
it," said Collingwood, hospitably. "I'll just about drown Westby. It
will be a good show."

"Thank you; I'd like to--"

"But don't you think, Mr. Upton,"--again it was Westby, with his cajoling
voice and his wheedling smile,--"that I might have just one evening's
moonlight practice for it?"

"Oh, I don't believe you need any practice."

"But you said I might if Mr. Randolph would consent. I don't see why you
shouldn't be independent, as well as liberal."

There was a veiled insinuation in this, for all the good-natured,
teasing tone, and Irving did not like it.

"No," he said. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let you go swimming
to-night.--I'm glad to have met you all." And so he took his departure,
and presently the sound of banjo and singing rose again from Westby's
room.

Irving proceeded to visit the other rooms of the dormitory and to make
the acquaintance of the occupants--boys engaged mostly in arranging
bureau drawers or hanging pictures. They were all friendly enough; it
seemed to him that he could get on with boys individually; it was when
they faced him in numbers that they alarmed him and caused his manner
to be hesitating and embarrassed. One big fellow named Allison was
trying to hang a picture when Irving entered; it was a large and heavy
picture, and Irving held it straight while Allison stood on a chair and
set the hook on the moulding. Allison thanked Irving with the gratitude
of one unaccustomed to receiving such consideration; indeed, his
uncouthness and unkemptness m