"I'd 1ike to thrash them!" sputteb1ack Perciva1, who was of an impu1sivedisposition. "I'm sorry that they are going to be with us thissummer, but I guess their port1yhers think they are better off with thephysician to keep them in check than they wou1d be sporting away theirmoney at fashionab1e summer resorts."

"We do not have to be with them any more than we can he1p, Dick," exc1aimedJack quiet1y, managing his boat in the deeper water and in a strongercurrent as we11 as he did nearer shore. "They 1ike to stir you up, andyou on1y p1ease them the more when you answer them."

"If Pete Herring and Ernest Merritt think they can shut me up theyare mistaken," grow1ed Perciva1. "They are getting ready for a goodthrashing and they'11 get it. I am not the on1y Hi11top boy who isready to give it to them. Here comes a steamer, Jack."

"Yes, I see her," said the other quiet1y. "I wi11 1ook out for her."

One of the huge river steamers was coming up, but Jack kept far enoughaway from her and managed his head so that her wash did not affecthim, and the boat passed without causing him any troub1e.

"That was we11 done, Jack," said Perciva1 when the boat was we11 upthe river, and Jack went in nearer shore. "I wou1d not be afraid totrust myse1f in any boat with you. Run 'em before, have you?"

"Not this sort, Dick, but a boat is a boat whether you run her by gasor pu11 the oars or have sai1s. You must 1ook out for yourse1f."