Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/123

 the like," added Prime, addressing himself to the new-comers.

"I had the good fortune to meet them yesterday at Miss Arden's," said one of the boys, Frank Noble by name, advancing and shaking Tom and his cousins by the hand. "And I also had the pleasure of putting them to their speed one day last week, when I happened to catch them out on the lake with their canoes. You ought to make a good one," he added, turning to Tom. "I could see by the way you made that Shadow spin through the water that you've got the muscle. All you want is practice. If you keep it up, you can go in next year with some hope of winning."

Tom was somewhat disconcerted by these words, and so were Ralph and Loren, if one might judge by the blank look on their faces. It was clear to them that there were others besides themselves who wanted prizes, and who looked to their friends to assist them in winning those prizes.

"I thank you for your compliment and for your words of encouragement," replied Tom, concealing his disappointment as well as he