in the two races seemed precisely to indicate the
amount of virtue in black lead.

[Illustration: RICHARD WINS THE RACE. Page 240]

Again the thundering cheers of the Grant party reverberated over the
lake and through the grove. Nevers was astonished, as well as angry,
and his face was darker than ever.

"Are you satisfied now, Nevers?" asked the colonel, when the Alice and
the Emma came alongside the stake boat.

"Yes, sir," replied he, desperately; "but I don't understand it."

"I do," said the principal. "The other crew pull better than yours. I
never saw better pulling in my life than those fellows showed us. I
hope there is no hard feeling between you."

"No, sir," replied Nevers; but his looks and his tones belied his
words.

"He will pull us all down at this rate," muttered Redman, as the Emma
left the stake boat.

"Something must be done," added Nevers. "He has got half the fellows on
his side now."

"What shall we do?" asked Redman, who seemed to regard it as a hopeless
case.

"We'll fix him yet."

Some earnest conversation followed these remarks. It was carried on in
whispers, and entirely suspended when the Alice approached. The boats
were secured, and both crews landed.

"Grant, you have beaten me fairly, and there is my hand," said Nevers,
when the two coxswains met on shore.

Richard was utterly confounded by this show of good will on the part of
his rival. He took the proffered hand, and gave it a hearty pressure.

"Thank you, Nevers; it is very kind of you to treat me in this handsome
manner. I'm sure I don't feel any ill will toward you," replied
Richard.

"We will be friends, Grant, and perhaps you will tell me how this thing
was done?"

"With the greatest pleasure."

"You have some secret in rowing."

"I will tell you all I know about it, any time you please," said
Richard, frankly.

"Thank you; you are the first fellow that ever beat me rowing, and I
honor you for it, but I don't understand it. Shall we be friends now,
Grant?"

"With all my heart."

Richard could not have been more astonished if the sky had fallen, than
he was when his great enemy approached him with words of kindness and
conciliation. He could scarcely believe his senses; but there was
Nevers by his side, as good-natured as though he had won the race; and
more than this, the rival crews were suddenly on the most excellent
terms, and were fraternizing like brothers. Nevers had evidently given
up the po