"Let's see you beat us!" snarled Herring, forging ahead.
Young Smith put on a spurt and came on behind at a swift pace,
shortly being even with Herring.
"Watch 'em, Jack!" exclaimed Dick excitedly. "I'd give a dollar
to see young Jesse W. beat those fellows, yes, five. I hope he'll
keep it up."
The boy did keep it up, for in a few minutes he passed Herring
and Merritt, and gained a good lead on them, much to Billy's delight.
The joker laughed and shouted, and seemed greatly to enjoy the fun,
while the younger boy kept up his speed and increased the lead,
Jack following till a bend in the river hid the two boys in the
first boat from sight.
He would not pass Herring and Merritt, but went across the river
where he could get sight of young Smith, who was going on at a good
rate, Herring trying his best to reach him, but in vain.
"That's the best yet," laughed Percival uproariously. "Beaten
by little Jesse W. Smith, and those fellows claim to have the
fastest boat on the river. I think they will have less to say now."
"Probably Herring will say that there was something the matter with
his boat, and yet he was ready to race with us just a moment before.
He'll get out of it somehow, you'll see.
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