“What’s it, you old chump?” asked Chub. “Let’s do that! Let’s camp out here this summer! I’ll beg off from going across, and we’ll have a swell time. What do you say?” Chub grinned. “Say, are you in earnest?” he asked. “Dead earnest!” “Well, then, let me recommend the water cure again. If you’ll just hold your overheated brow under the surface for a minute--” “Look here, though, you fellows,” said Roy, suddenly, “why couldn’t we do it? Not for all summer, of course, but, say, for a month or six weeks. Where are you going, Chub?” “Me? Same old place, I suppose: Delaware Water Gap. Gee! If the folks would only let me, I’d do it as quick as a flash.” “Well, write and ask them,” said Roy. “I’ll do it if you fellows will.” “Do you mean it?” cried Dick, eagerly. Roy nodded, smilingly. “Then it’s settled!” “Not for me it isn’t,” objected Chub, ruefully. “You don’t know my dad. If he gets an idea into his head you can’t get it out with a crowbar!” “Well, you ask him, anyway,” said Roy. “That’s right,” Dick added with enthusiasm. “And I’ll write across to my dad, to-night. How about you, Roy?” “Me? Oh, I’ll get permission all right. But, of course, we’ll have to wait until we’ve taken our exams, Dick.” “That’s so. How long will that be?” “About ten days from now.” “Well, that will be all right,” said Dick, cheerfully. “I’ll have everything all fixed up by the time you fellows get back, and--” “You’ll do nothing of the sort!” exclaimed Chub, emphatically. “Why, that’s half the fun. You’ll just wait for us, Dickums. We’ll borrow one of the school tents and some cooking things--” “And blankets.” “And a boat,” added Dick, “and we can fish and--and have a high old time.” “You bet,” said Chub. “It will beat that old summer hotel all hollow. Me for the simple life!” “And I tell you what I’ll do,” exclaimed Dick. “I’ll get a little old gasolene launch, and we can make trips up the river--” “Who’s going to run it?” asked Chub suspiciously. “I am. It isn’t hard. I can learn in a day or two.” “Oh, very well, but it’s me for the interior of our island home while you’re learning, Dickums!” Dick laughed. “That’s all right,” he answered. “You’ll be glad enough to go in it when the time comes.” “Well, maybe,” Chub agreed. “If it isn’t much worse than the ice-boat I guess I can live through it. How fast--” “There’s the gun!” cried Roy as a distant boom floated down to them. “That’s right,” said Dick. “We’d better pile into the canoe and find a place at the finish. Come on!” CHAPTER II THE RACE WITH HAMMOND