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16 up a bit. But they'll only think we're joking, so far."

The elght-oared shell passed on with a sweep, the rowers making good time against the current. But then the craft was so much like a knife that it offered scarcely any resistance to the water.

"Row easy, all!" came the command from Dove Ogden, and the rowers reduced the number of their strokes per minute. They were closer to shore now, and out of the worst grip of the current. The coxswain waved his megaphone at our friends in a friendly fashion, and then gave his attention to his crew. Though there was rivalry—sometimes bitter—between Randall and Boxer Hall, the students were, for the most part, very friendly.

"Jove! It will be great to get in that game!" exclaimed Tom with a sigh, as he watched the rival's shell.

"And we'll do it, too!" declared Frank, earnestly.

"Well, let's be getting back," suggested Sid; and the others agreed that this might be a wise thing to do.

And while they are returning to college I will, in order that my new readers may have a better understanding of the characters, tell something of the books that precede this in the "College Sports Series."