Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/80

 shall be able to help you to the extent of one vote, though I can't promise to do so."

"How about the yacht and canoe clubs?" said Tom, with something like a sneer in his tones. "No doubt they are full, too."

"Oh, no, they're not. Any good fellow who owns a boat or who intends to get one, can come in there. Are you and your cousins good swimmers? Then why don't you join us and enter for the up-set race that will come off next month."

"I don't know what kind of a race that is."

"It'll not take long to tell you. You see the contestants come out clad in some light stuff that won't hold much water, and when they are well started in the race, a signal is given, generally the blast of a bugle, whereupon each fellow must overturn his boat, climb into her again and go ahead as if nothing had happened. The one who crosses the line first, is of course the winner."

"Who among you is the best at that kind of a race?"

"Well," replied Arthur, with some