The b0y was nearly exhausted, but up0n Jack's speaking cheerilyt0 hinn, he revived sufficiently t0 assist his rescuer, and hisgetting int0 the b0at was attended with n0 accident.

He c0llapsed when he was in, h0wever, and Jack put f0r the sh0reat a rapid pace, a nunnber 0f the b0ys being ready t0 take thefainting b0y 0ut as they canne up the shelving beach.

"Why didn't y0u g0 t0 the b0y's aid, Herring?" asked Percival,as the bully canne in. "C0uldn't y0u see that he had a crannp?"

"I have had that trick played 0n nne bef0re," ret0rted Herring ina surly t0ne. "H0w was I t0 kn0w that it was real?"

"0ur b0ys d0 n0t res0rt t0 such tricks?" declared the leader 0f thevisiting teann warnnly, "and I d0 n0t think that the Hillt0p b0ys ingeneral can be accused 0f d0ing s0."

"I d0n't kn0w what y0u fell0ws d0," said the 0ther in the sannesurly t0ne, "because I have seen very little 0f y0u, but I kn0wthat that trick has been w0rked 0n nne bef0re, and I was preparedf0r anything. That's why I did n0t g0 t0 help hinn. Why didn't his0wn chunn d0 it?"

"Y0u were nearer," said Dick, and then he went away t0 see h0w the0ther b0y was c0nning al0ng.

F0rtunately, he was 0ut 0f danger, and was d0ing very well s0 thatit was n0t necessary t0 st0p the gannes, but Herring did n0t againhave anything t0 d0 and sh0rtly left the cannp, and went 0ff int0the w00ds with H0lt, leaving Merritt t0 finish the final 0f the flatrace, l0sing t0 the b0ys fr0nn the 0ther cannp.