"He can't bully all of them either," exclaimed Harry, "for some of themwon't take it from him even if they can't fight him."

As it happened to be pleasant in the afternoon, and many of the childswere out on the river in boats, Herring felt the effect of hisfoolish boasting, and was greatly chagrined that he was cut off froma somewhat enjoyable sport.

Jack took Percival's boat out and made somewhat good speed with it sothat Dick exclaimed with a grin:

"Well, the boat is all right, I see, and I am the fellow that needsto take a lesson, not the boat. As I exclaimed before I believe youcould get speed out of a canal-boat."

"You can get speed out of this one if you will study it a bit, andnot think only of using up gasolene. Besides, there is fun to be hadout of the boat, even if you do not go like the wind all the time."

"Yes, I suppose there is, but I like to go rapid, and I guess everyboy does. If one does not there is generally something the matterwith him."

Herring was not only smarting under not being allowed to go out withthe rest, but also from the knowledge that Jack was a much better boatmanthan he was, and that the boat which he had made himself, for thiswas known to all the boys now, could make much better time than theexpensive one his father had bought him and he exclaimed to Merritt, who hadno one to go out with him, and was not allowed to run Herring's boat: