"Because Gridley is never quite beaten. It's our way, you know---one that was adopted by a past generation of Gridley boys and has been lived up to ever since." "I've heard a lot about that 'Gridley way,'" laughed Ted Pascal, "but to-day was the first time that I've ever had it played on me." "Do you play football?" asked Dick. "No." "Baseball?" "I tried, but couldn't make the nine," Pascal confessed. "Then I don't know that you're likely to have the 'Gridley' way played upon you again not unless you meet some of our girls in a tennis game." The two crews mingled, passing some ten minutes in talk and in good-humored chaff. But at last Dick broke away and drew out from the canoe talk as he saw Laura, Belle, Susie and the other girls awaiting them at a point farther up in the hotel grounds. "I know the girls have been waiting to speak to us," Dick told his chums, "and they've been mighty kind to us. Come along." "We thought you would never get around to talking with poor mortals like us," Laura admitted, as the boys joined the high school girls. "It was mainly your father's fault," Dick laughingly, protested. "How was that?" "You'll have to ask him. Perhaps we're not at liberty to reveal what the Athletic Association's medical director had to say to us." "Especially when it's in the nature of a 'roast,'" added Danny Grin. "If my father was severe with any of you I am certain that he had good reason," replied Laura gravely, though her eyes twinkled. "But what a splendid race you made against Trentville and at one time we felt sure that you were beaten." "We all felt the same way at one time," Tom Reade interjected. "All except Dick," added Darry. "Why, if anyone were to kill Dick Prescott, Dick would insist on the fellow coming around the next day and proving his death." "It was a splendid race, anyway," Belle glowed. "Do you notice anything, boys?" "Where?" asked Tom, looking blankly around. "Anything about us?" Susie put in. "Nothing," drawled Tom, "except that you're the finest, daintiest and sweetest-looking lot of girls we know. But that's true every other day in the week." "We didn't ask you anything like that," Susie pouted, "though doubtless it's all true enough. But don't you notice what we're all wearing?" "I think I see what you mean," Greg suggested hopefully. "Each one of you is wearing the Gridley High School pin." "Correct!" assented Susie warmly. "But can't you guess why we're wearing the pins? It's because when Gridley boys can win such a race as you won to-day it's a real honor to wear the pin." "And a bigger honor to have it worn on our account," Dick laughed. "I was waiting to see who would be the first boy to say something really nice!" cried Clara Marshall. "Have you heard of any more canoe clubs coming this way---high school clubs with which you could arrange races?" asked Laura.