Part 22 (2/2)
”That's true.”
Several days pa.s.sed quietly, and the Rover boys applied themselves diligently to their studies, for they wished to make fine records at Brill.
”We are here to get a good education,” was the way d.i.c.k expressed himself, ”and we want to make the most of our time.”
”As if I wasn't boning away to beat the band!” murmured Tom reproachfully.
”I'd like to take the full course in about two years,” came from Sam.
”College studies are mighty hard,” broke in Songbird, who was working over his chemistry. ”I don't get any chance to write poetry any more.”
”For which let us all be truly thankful,” murmured Sam to Tom.
”Ten minutes more,” announced d.i.c.k, looking at his watch. ”Then what do you say to a row on the river?”
”Suits me!” cried Tom.
”All right, then. Now clear out, and--silence!”
A quarter of an hour later the Rover boys and Songbird walked down to the river. There were plenty of boats to be had, and d.i.c.k and Tom were soon out. Songbird and Sam received an invitation to go for a ride in a gasolene launch owned by Stanley.
”Suits me!” cried the would-be poet. ”I can row any time, but I can't always ride in a motor boat.”
”Same here,” said Sam.
A number of craft were on the river, including one containing Jerry Koswell and Bart Larkspur. Koswell scowled as he saw Tom and d.i.c.k rowing near by.
”We'll give 'em a shaking up,” he said to his crony, and turned their rowboat so that it b.u.mped fairly and squarely into the craft manned by Tom and d.i.c.k. The shock was so great that d.i.c.k, who had gotten up to fix his seat, was nearly hurled overboard.
”See here, what do you mean by running into us?” demanded the oldest Rover on recovering his balance.
”Sorry, but it couldn't be helped,” answered Koswell. ”Why didn't you get out of the way?”
”We didn't have to,” retorted Sam, ”and if you try that trick again somebody will get his head punched.”
”Talk is cheap,” sneered Larkspur.
”Say, I heard you fellows have been boasting of how you can row,” went on Koswell after a pause.
”We haven't been boasting, but we can row,” answered Tom.
”Want to race?”
”When?”
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