"No," Dick smiled. "That's the way we get Gridley High School out of the charge of defeat. As soon as we're authorized to represent Gridley High School as an official canoe crew, then you may claim any victory you can obtain over us. But you haven't beaten our high school yet for the reason that we don't officially represent Gridley High School. Isn't that all clear?" "I suppose so," Hartwell assented disappointedly. "But we took it that we were racing the Gridley High School Canoe Club." "Then after this you want to do more thinking," Dick laughed. "But don't feel too disappointed, Preston. Just as soon as we receive sanction from our Athletic Council we'll give you a race in earnest, and a chance for all the glory you are able to take away from us." There was some further good-natured talk, after which the two canoe clubs separated. Dick guided the "Scalp-hunter" back to camp. There, as soon as the canoe had been hauled ashore, Dave Darrin threw himself on the grass, remarking: "This morning teaches us something! We're in no class with those Preston High School boys. We've no business racing, in the name of our school, before next summer!" CHAPTER XVII THE GOOD WORD BY WIRE "We'll race within a few days," Dick declared serenely. "We've got to race soon, for our funds won't hold out long and we can't stay here all summer." "The Athletic Council will thank us for losing the race," murmured Greg Holmes, ironically. "We won't lose," Dick maintained, "unless you fellows throw the race against Gridley." "Throw the race?" echoed Tom Reade indignantly. "Dick Prescott, do you think we'd do a thing like that?" "I'm sure you wouldn't," their big chief admitted coolly. "Do you mean to say that we didn't do our best this morning?" questioned Danny Grin. "Our very best?" added Hazelton. "We all did the best that was in us---this morning," Dick went on. "But we'll be a lot better prepared when we get into a real race." "I don't believe I can paddle any harder than I did at the finish this morning," Reade argued. "In fact, I know I can't. My back aches yet with the work that I did." "I don't doubt it," Dick smiled. "I know that my back aches." "Then how are we going to win in any other race against Preston High School?" Darrin asked curiously. "Did you fellows study the paddling work of the Prestons this morning?" Prescott asked. "I saw their paddles ahead of us all the time," Greg murmured. "That was a good place to have their paddles, for study," Dick laughed. "Couldn't you see, from their paddling, why they beat us with ease?" "No! Could you?" challenged Tom.