“He’ll make a dandy for you!” cried Diamond. “The first year he was in Yale he coached the freshmen so that we beat the sophomores without a struggle, and we had the poorer boat, too. Oh, Frank can put you in shape all right.” “We may not need a coach,” said a slender chap by the name of Bob Dean. “If Alexandria has resorted to such dirty tricks as putting spies on us and bribing our coach, I am for refusing to row with them.” “And I!” “Same here!” “I’m another!” The boys of Blue Cove Academy were aroused. “Easy, fellows,” advised Spencer. “We must row with Alexandria. If not, with whom can we row?” “Bristol Academy,” suggested one. Kent shook his head. “It won’t do,” he declared. “Bristol is not in our class. And everybody would say we were afraid to meet Alexandria. If there was another crew——” Diamond struck Frank a slap on the shoulder. “By Jove, Merry!” he cried; “we can turn out a crew ourselves. If we can get into this race, why not do so? Blue Cove Academy against the Yale Combine. That should be a better race than the other. It would attract more attention.” The Blue Cove boys were interested immediately. “What do you mean?” asked Bob Dean. “How could you row against us? Where is your crew?” “The rest of them are stopping at a bicycle repair shop near Brooke,” Jack explained. “Merry and I rode out by ourselves for a spin, and that is how we happened to be here. Say, fellows, this is a great idea! Let us into this race, anyway. We are on a regular athletic tour, and have taken part in every event we could get into since leaving San Francisco. We’ve left a trail of glory all the way from California to Virginia.” The Blue Cove boys looked at each other doubtingly. Bob Dean was the only one who seemed to snap at the scheme with eagerness. “Let’s do it, fellows!” he cried. “Let’s leave Alexandria out and race with the Yale crowd!” “I do not think we can leave Alexandria out now,” said Spencer, gravely. “We have agreed to meet them, and the time is set.” “But think of the sneaking trick they have played on us! That ought to be enough to queer them.” “It ought to, but we can’t be hasty in this matter. We’ll consider it at the special meeting that will be called to investigate the charges against Harlow. Mr. Merriwell, you and your friend must be present at that meeting.” “If necessary, we’ll be there.” “And if we were to decide to let you into the race, have you a boat?” “If you decide to let us in, we’ll soon provide ourselves with a boat,” declared Frank. “Anyway, you must come to Blue Cove Academy—all of you. The boys will make you welcome. Will you come?” “Where is the academy?” “Up the river about four miles.” “Yes, we will come.” “Good!” shouted the oarsmen. “We’ll give you a jolly reception.” Then Kent Spencer drew Frank aside. “Mr. Merriwell,” he said, “my knowledge of you has not been obtained entirely from the papers.” “Indeed?” smiled Frank, lifting his eyebrows.