Page:The Eight-Oared Victors.djvu/32

22 "I was going to row down," declared Phil, stoutly. "But I can go by trolley."

"Oh, let's try a little row," suggested Tom. "If we find the current Is too strong, we can come back and take a car. I'd like to see the girls."

"Brave youth! To admit that!" exclaimed Frank. "I fancy we all would. Well, let's get out the boat."

But they found the flood too much for them. Venturing only a little way out from shore they were gripped in the current with such force that they saw it would be folly to proceed. Accordingly, they put back, as did their companions in other boats.

As they were tying up at the boathouse. Wallops, one of the college messengers, came in.

"Did you hear about it?" he demanded, apparently much excited.

"About what?" he was asked.

"A lot of boathouses down the river have been washed away in the flood," he went on. "The small one at Boxer Hall came near going, but they anchored it with ropes. One of their small shells was smashed. Oh, it's a bad flood all right!"

"Well, we can't help it," said Tom. "I guess the trolley cars are still running. Come on, fellows, if we're going to Fairview Institute."

So, leaving the boathouse, they started for the trolley line.