Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/117

 back, as we have done heretofore," said Ralph, who led the way in his Rob Roy. "We'll upset twice—once while we are going, and once while we are coming."

"But how does a fellow get into his canoe after he gets out of it?" inquired Tom.

"The rule is to climb in over the stern and work your way to your seat," replied Ralph. "But at Lake George I saw some of the contestants throw themselves across the cock-pit and get in that way. We'll try both plans, and each fellow can adopt the one that suits him best."

When the boys had taken up their positions at safe distances from one another, Ralph gave a shrill whistle and away they started, the light Rob Roy taking the lead with Tom close behind. A few minutes' work with the double paddles brought them to the middle of the cove, and then Ralph uttered another whistle. An instant later the three canoeists were in the water. The Rob Roy turned completely over and came right side up in a twinkling and at the same moment Ralph's head bobbed up close alongside. He threw himself across the