The Hilltop Boys on the River

after they were settled Jack went with Percival to get his b

mile or so below the town so that they had all the charms of country life ab

itchen, and a big pavilion where the boys could do what littl

coachman and head waiter at the Academy, now had the position of head cook and general handy m

ll, a fat little man with a great deal of self-importance, who looked after the phys

and there were also rowboats and canoes, a considerable number of the Hilltop b

eral boys who had boats alone, like Percival and Jack, one of these being a little fellow, the smallest boy in the Academy,

trimmings and was lined inside with mahogany and other costly woods, being a very handsome

"I can't begin to make the speed with this boat that you can with yours, but I have a regular floating palace, as you might say. Why

did, making better time than Percival had done

d Dick, as they sped along. "There's a nasty looking cloud co

s too far out if it cuts up rough on the river. There's young Sm

g and Merritt came al

d in a tone

at, Percival, but she's of no more use than

e, although they were doing their b

ouble on the river in a few minutes,

said Billy Manners, one of the chief funmakers of the Hilltop boys, who was

me, and there was need of it, for there was a squal

ed Herring. "What's a little blow to fel

ed Percival, as Jack was running for shor

se fellows will find it out before

ur trouble," snapped Dick

pt the two bullies being now close to sh

Herring. "We know how to look

told you so,' Jack, bu

ens, the fault wi

t on a bugle to call the boats in, and Herring obeyed, knowing t

Merritt was deathly pale and shaking like a man with

s no place for a small boat with the win

e two bullies landed. "If you take another such risk you will be prohibited

was the physical instructor as well as drillmaster, and the doctor never

nners, "and got come up with. He can't bully

d Harry, "for some of them won't take it

out on the river in boats, Herring felt the effect of his foolish boasting

nd made very good speed with it

that needs to take a lesson, not the boat. As I said be

not think only of using up gasolene. Besides, there is fun to be ha

, and I guess every boy does. If one does not t

n than he was, and that the boat which he had made himself, for this was known to all the boys now, could make better time than the expe

it. He'll be crowing over me all the time, and that is somethi

ine or cut a hole in the bottom. Anything will do. Then we can say that the bo

't he suspect something if I was to sp

e was a squall coming down from the mountain," sulked Merritt. "Don

boat so that it won't run. Sheldon can't afford to buy another

ood time. How are you going to

s have gone to sleep we can steal down to the shore and fix

river with their boats, skimming over the water like fireflies, and sending paths of c

ver, and he fretted at the prohibition, although it gave him a

line with the tent where he and Percival sleep and rig

ll be able to walk right away from him. It's a pity you c

es to spend money. I'll get him

lights were out, only a few of the camp lights being seen, as the m

of the trees and the mountains behind them, and when all was still H

were dressed in dark clothes so as not to be seen readil

bore a hole in the bottom of the boat so as to cause it to lea

at, as they thought, and were preparing to bore the hole when sudd

ou going to do

ent stood up and turned the light of a pocket flash u