Jack had a friendly race with Percival, first in his own boat and
then in his friend's, and beat him in both, but nothing could
induce him to race with Herring, and no one could say that he was
afraid of his boat, for it was clear that he could do marvels with it.
He was willing to race with Harry and Arthur, with Billy Manners
and Jasper Seymour, and even with young Smith, to whom he allowed
odds, but he declined all offers to compete with Herring or any of
his kind, much to their chagrin and anger.
"You're afraid!" growled Herring with his customary sneer, but Jack
did not pay the slightest attention to the charge, and the other
boys laughed, this making the bully more angry than ever.
Nothing was said about patrolling the camp at night, and the boys
had an idea that the doctor did not know what had happened the night
before, and would, therefore, take no precautions.
They were considerably surprised, therefore, when they discovered
that Buck, as the cook was often called, was corporal of the guard,
and had the house servants for his assistants.
They kept watch at turns during the night, but nothing unusual
occurred, and Percival said to Jack with a laugh:
"Our pickets did good service last night, but I wonder if they will
be on to-night?"
"We can't tell.
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