Part 19 (2/2)
”You can report that the challenge has been received and that ill send our answer by er”
”Thank you,” replied Wat, ”and now I must be off Be sure and coht”
”There can't be any doubt of that,” replied Rand ”But, just a reen with a tray of cakes
She was followed by a maid with a pail of lemonade
”Isn't it ti?” she asked
”We have just been having a po,” replied Rand, ”and our throats are dry withWe have just concluded a treaty with the tribe of Highpoint and are ready for the feast of amity”
Wat would have declined to join in the festivities, but the boys were ie of talk, in which the words: Scouts, patrol, tests, boats, were of frequent occurrence, and during which the cake and lemonade vanished as quickly as snowflakes in July, after which the Uncas escorted the ood-by with three cheers and a flourish on their bugles
CHAPTER XIV
A DEFIANCE
”Well,” began Rand on the evening of the day on which the challenge had been received froe?”
”Accept it, av coorse,” cried Gerald ”Shure, they can't bate us more thin foor miles”
”But we only row three,” put in Jack
”Thin it's a safe bet,” went on Gerald, ”Aven Don ht bet on that”
”What's that?” asked Donald
”That they won't bate us more than foor an Donald, ”'tis no good accepting, for we have no boat, and if we did we have no time for practice, and---”
”Can't you think of a few hed Rand
”As for a boat we can get the use of the old shell of the Creston Club”
”And we no have any crew to speak of,” continued Donald
”That's easily got over,” went on Rand ”There is Jack, dick and you and I for the creith Gerald for coxswain”
”And where do I come in?” questioned Pepper
”You don't come in,” answered Gerald ”You stand on the bank and root for us”
”Root!” cried Pepper; ”what do you think I a?”