The occupants had evidently taken alarm and disappeared, leaving
no trace, although the boys were destined to meet them again under
decidedly unpleasant circumstances.
CHAPTER XXII
THE RACE
The race had been set for 9 o'clock in the morning, but, with
the sun, there had come up a strong breeze from the west that had
stirred up the water into such a lumpy condition that any kind of
time would be impossible, and the advantage would be all on the
side of the Altons. So the race was put off from time to time in
the hope that the wind would die down so as to equalize the chances,
and it was not until late in the afternoon that the committee
decided to have it rowed, although the wind was still blowing and
the water rough.
The course, as agreed upon, was a straight-away three miles over
a clear stretch of the river from off the Creston landing.
"What have you got there?" asked Dick, as Rand pulled a coin from
his pocket and began rubbing it up on his sleeve.
"That's his mascot," laughed Jack. "It's the coin he found in the
road, and he keeps it for luck.
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