Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/114

 it again it would be his to keep. There were those in the village who didn't want to see him get it. They had expected great things of the Uncle Sam—that was the name of Loren's boat and indeed she did look like a "flyer"; but when they witnessed the short race, which Joe Wayring purposely brought about one afternoon to test the Uncle Sam's speed, they were much disappointed, and told one another that the cup was Joe's for a certainty.

"If Matt will only take that boat, I'll win the next regatta," continued Loren. "If he does take her, Joe will never see her again, for she will be smashed to pieces in the rapids."

"If I could have my way, I should prefer to have Matt run off Joe's Rob Roy, for then you and Ralph would stand a chance of winning some of the canoe races," observed Tom. "But, of course, he couldn't steal the canoe without breaking into the boat-house, and that would send him up for burglary."

"Oh, no; he won't do that," exclaimed Loren.

Tom made no audible reply, but to himself he said:

"I don't suppose he will; but I might do it,