CHAPTER PAGE I.--THE BOY ON THE BOX 1 II.--INTRODUCING DICK HOPE 11 III.--’IS ’IGHNESS 20 IV.--IN THE GYM 31 V.--THE INDOOR MEETING 42 VI.--THE RELAY RACE 53 VII.--TREVOR’S VICTORY 62 VIII.--CANDIDATES FOR THE CREW 70 IX.--THE HOCKEY MATCH 77 X.--BUYING AN ICE-YACHT 92 XI.--ADVENTURES OF A BULL PUP 106 XII.--MUGGINS IS EXPELLED 115 XIII.--THE VOYAGE OF THE SLEET 124 XIV.--DICK TELLS HIS STORY 133 XV.--IN THE ROWING-ROOM 142 XVI.--A DECLARATION OF WAR 155 XVII.--IN THE BOAT 166 XVIII.--DICK SURRENDERS 179 XIX.--DEFIES THE LAW 191 XX.--AND EXTORTS A PROMISE 204 XXI.--A DISAPPOINTING HERO 214 XXII.--TAYLOR ACCEPTS DEFEAT 224 XXIII.--PROSPECTS OF VICTORY 231 XXIV.--STEWART’S REVENGE 238 XXV.--“ARE YOU READY? GO!” 248 XXVI.--AT THE MILE 257 XXVII.--AT THE FINISH 265 XXVIII.--TREVOR IS COMFORTED 273 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE “Your promise!” he cried. “Quick!” _Frontispiece_ Plan of Hillton, N. Y. 24 On the last lap. 50 A winner by ten yards. 90 “Stand by the ship!” he muttered. 132 A declaration of war. 156 The only way by which he could aid. 262 CAPTAIN OF THE CREW CHAPTER I THE BOY ON THE BOX “Hillton! Hillton!” The brakeman winked solemnly at the group of boys in the end seats, withdrew his head, slammed the door and crossed the swaying platforms to make a similar announcement to the occupants of the car ahead. From the left side of the train passengers caught a glimpse of a broad expanse of meadow upon which tiny flecks of red flared dully in the winter sunshine; of a distant grand stand, bleak and desolate, against whose northern shoulder a drift of snow snuggled as though seeking protection from its enemy the sun; of two pairs of goal-posts gravely watching each other from opposite ends of a long field; of a bit of country road, a slowly rising hill, a little army of leafless elms, and, last of all, crowning a promontory below which the frozen Hudson sparkled, a group of old red brick buildings, elbowing each other with friendly rivalry in an endeavor to gain the post of honor and to be first seen of the outside world that traveled by train. That was Hillton Academy.