CHAPTER VIII.
RUNNING THE RAPIDS.
"NOW that we are here by ourselves," continued Ralph, "I'd like to ask you why you told Joe that the best man was not to be allowed to win at the next meet. I never heard of such a thing before in my life. What do you suppose Prime and his crowd would say to you if they should find it out?"
"I don't believe they will ever find it out," replied Tom, who did not seem to think that he had been guilty of any thing mean. "If I have formed a correct estimate of Joe Wayring's disposition and character, he is a boy who knows how to hold his tongue. I posted him simply to off-set the coolness and impudence displayed by Prime and his friends in shutting us out of all the races, without so much as saying by your leave. Since they would not give us a chance to win some of the prizes, I say
