Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/227

 exclaimed Noble, whose flashing eyes showed how angry he was. "If I don't win this race nobody shall."

"Well, I'll bet you two dollars that I shall keep pretty close to Loren, and that the boy who interferes with him purposely will go out of his canoe in less time than he can say 'General Jackson' with his mouth open. Not only that, but I'll thrash him the very first time I can catch him ashore," replied Tom, returning Noble's angry scowl with interest, and doubling up his fists as if he were ready and willing to put his threat into execution then and there.

"Look here! Look here, boys," whispered Prime, who was really afraid the two would come to blows. "Such work as this will never do. If we quarrel among ourselves, Wayring and his crowd will walk off with all the prizes as they have always done."

"I have no intention of quarreling," said Noble, who did not like the way Tom glared at him. "I only want Bigden to keep his promise."

"What promise?" demanded Tom.