Page:The Eight-Oared Victors.djvu/115

Rh "I sure did, fellows," and he tossed on the table the card of Boswell, and the strands of silk. For a moment no one spoke, and then Sid, picking up the card remarked:

"This looks suspicious, Tom. Did you and Bossy quarrel over a girl, and go to Crest Island to have a duel? It begins to look that way—exchanging cards and all that."

"We didn't exchange cards," said Tom shortly. "I found that card near a shack where a caretaker lives. And, by the way, fellows, we're going to camp on Crest Island this Summer."

"We are?" cried Phil.

"I like the nice, easy way he has of laying out our vacation plans for us," remarked Sid.

"Just as if he was our manager," added Frank,

"Well, I only thought it would be handy if we want to practice rowing," went on Tom, holding back the other reason. "We could get a boat, and drop down to college here every day or so, take out the shell and have a spin. If we want to beat Boxer Hall we've got to do some tall hustling, and practice like all get-out!"

"Oh, I fancy I can practice rowing on Crystal Lake, where our folks intend taking a cottage," said Sid. "No Crest Island for mine!"

"The girls are going to cottage there," went on Tom, with a fine appearance of indifference. "Madge Tyler's folks have a neat little shack