THE GOOD WORD BY WIRE "We'll race within a few days," Dick declared serenely.

"We've got to race soon, for our funds won't hold out long and we can't stay here all summer." "The Athletic Council will thank us for losing the race," murmured Greg Holmes, ironically.
"We won't lose," Dick maintained, "unless you fellows throw the race against Gridley." "Throw the race ?" echoed Tom Reade indignantly.

"Dick Prescott, do you think we'd do a thing like that ?" "I'm sure you wouldn't," their big chief admitted coolly.
"Do you mean to say that we didn't do our best this morning ?" questioned Danny Grin.
"Our very best ?" added Hazelton.
"We all did the best that was in us---this morning," Dick went on.

"But we'll be a lot better prepared when we get into a real race." "I don't believe I can paddle any harder than I did at the finish this morning," Reade argued.

"In fact, I know I can't.