The Hilltop Boys on the River | Page 5

my boat," said Percival, "and I would not race
with you if it was."
"Ah, go on! You can't make us believe that Sheldon can earn money to
buy a motor-boat by picking fruit!"
Jack did not say anything, and the others turned and came after them so
as to force them into a race.
"You could beat them, couldn't you, Jack?" asked Percival in a low
tone, so as not to be heard by the others.
"Yes, but I am not going to race with them."
"They will try to beat you. Don't let them do it."
"I shall pay no attention to them, Dick," quietly.
"Yes, but Jack, I should hate to have them pass us. They'd never grow
tired of telling it all over the Academy."
"Let them," said Jack, keeping on at the same steady speed, and making
for the wharf.
Herring, who evidently owned the boat, put her to her speed so as to
pass Jack, and Merritt shouted derisively as they drew nearer:
"We'll give you a tow, you fellows!"

The ferry boat running from Riverton to the town on the other side of
the river had just put out, and was coming on at a good gait, blowing
her whistle to warn the smaller boats to keep out of the way.
Jack went on across her bow with plenty of room to spare, but Herring
slowed up and caught her wash, his boat dancing and rocking in the
liveliest fashion, taking in water and causing both him and Merritt to
shout and go into a panic.
They turned and took in more water, and Merritt, jumping up excitedly,
waving his arms and scolding both Herring and the steamer captain,
suddenly lost his balance and fell into the river.
"He can swim, can't he?" asked Jack, seeing the accident.
"Yes, and there are other boats on the river. Let them pick the fellow up.
Serves him right, anyhow. He ought to keep still in a boat."
Merritt speedily came up, swam to the boat and tried to clamber aboard,
Herring shouting at him and warning him off.
"Get out, you'll upset me!" he shouted. "Why didn't you keep still?
You're as clumsy as a cow in a boat, you are. Get out of here, or I'll hit
you! Keep away, I tell you!"
"There is a rowboat coming," said Percival, turning his head. "He will
be all right, but he'll have to go back to the Academy in wet clothes. No
danger of catching cold now, but he'll be a sight all the same, and
serves him just right."
Herring kept on, but made for the railroad wharf, while the rowboat
that Dick had seen took in Merritt, and shortly landed him at one of the
docks along the river.
By this time the boys had reached the dock of the machine shops and
Jack tied up, covered his engine and walked up to the street with
Percival, the latter saying:

"It will be like those fellows to say that we were the cause of Merritt's
going overboard. They did not pass us at any rate."
"Let them talk," laughed Jack. "Talk costs nothing, and won't hurt us."
The boys went to the office of the News where Jack gave the editor a
few little items, writing them out on the typewriter, Percival looking on
in great admiration, although he had seen Jack write before.
"One would think you had been born at a typewriter, Jack," he said.
"Now I could not do that. The very noise of the thing would bother me
and then, having that bell ring every few seconds would get on my
nerves."
"Don't listen to it, Dick. You don't mind the chug of an auto or of a
motor-boat, do you? This is not nearly as bad."
"Well, no, I suppose not, but I don't see how you can think with that
thing making such a clatter. It would drive all the thoughts out of my
head in a minute. None too many there, to start with!"
Leaving the office at length they came upon Herring on the main street,
his late companion not being with him.
"You fouled us!" growled the bully. "I'd have passed you in another
second. You'll have to pay for Erne's clothes and his doctor's bills, too.
He's taken an awful cold. It'll cost you something, let me tell you."
Just then Merritt himself, in a ready made suit of clothes came out of a
hotel on the corner, the boys seeing him before he saw them or Herring
got sight of him.
"He does not seem to have suffered any," said Percival in a whisper.
"No, he has bought another suit of clothes, and does not appear to
suffer from colds or influenza or any