I was studying their paddling work all the time, and I hoped that you fellows were doing the same." "The Prestons have a lighter, swifter canoe, anyway," contended Dave.
"I think they have some advantage over us, that way," Dick nodded.
"At the same time I am certain that we ought to beat Preston by beating their style of paddling." "Beating their style of paddling ?" echoed Reade.

"Why, according to what you've told us we can't even equal their paddling." "We're going to equal it," Dick answered, "and we ought to beat it.

At two o'clock, fellows, we're going out for two hours of drill.

Then I'll try to explain what I think I saw of the Preston superiority in dipping and recovery.

If I really observed correctly, then we ought to be able to do much better, for I also think I see how to improve on the Preston High School paddle work enough to make their performance look almost clumsy." "If you can do that," proclaimed Hazelton ungrudgingly, "then you're a wonder, Dick." "We shall see," smiled the big chief.
"And if we don't see straight," mumbled Reade, "then Preston will hand us such a wallop that we won't even have the nerve to take up a challenge from Trentville High School." For the rest of the morning Dick & Co.