A SCHOOL BATTLE
"Sure that isn't a fake?"
"Did those fellows really write that?"
"Maybe they're only trying to have some fun with us."
These were some of the expressions, indignant and otherwise, that
greeted the reading of the insulting reply to the challenge Frank had
sent.
"Oh, there's no doubt but what it's genuine," said the young captain of
the crew. "I didn't quite think it of those fellows, though."
"Did you suspect that they might not give us a race?" demanded Jack.
"I was a little afraid of it," answered Frank. "You see, we have been
out of it so long that really they don't know just how to place us.
In a way I suppose we can't blame them. It's just as if we were a
first-class team and some little kids' school should challenge us."
"But we're not a 'kids'' school!" objected Ward. "We're in the same
grade with Waterside and Milton Academy."
"Of course, and I thought the Waterside lads would have enough sporting
blood to see this. But evidently they don't," and Frank shrugged his
shoulders.
"I guess all our work on it won't amount to anything," spoke Andy
ruefully.
"Oh, we may get a race with some crew yet," said Frank cheerfully.
"Perhaps Milton Academy will take us on."
"They're worse snobs than the lads of Waterside," declared Ward.
Though Frank tried to assume a cheerful air it was evident that he was
much hurt. He and his brother and chums had worked hard to evolve a
crew out of almost nothing. They had succeeded and now their efforts
were scorned.
Incidentally Frank learned that the refusal of the athletic committee
of Waterside to consent to a match was not upheld by all the pupils of
the influential school. The crew of the freshmen shell in particular
were in favor of having the 'varsity four take on the one from
Riverview.
"I don't see what harm it would do," said Tom Crawford, the lad whom
Frank had saved. "I think some of the boys from Riverview are fine
fellows, especially the Racer brothers. Look what they did for me."
"That's right," agreed Walter Sands, a member of the freshmen crew.
"If they'd row with our four shell they could have a race."
"I don't suppose anything but the 'varsity would satisfy them," said
Tom. "Besides, though we don't agree with the committee, we can't go
against them, and have a rupture in our own school. It wouldn't look
well, no matter how we felt."
So, as far as Waterside was concerned the matter was dropped and the
'varsity crew went on with its preparations for the final race with
Milton Academy--the race that was to decide the championship. But a
bitter feeling rankled in the hearts of the lads from Riverview.
Frank and his chums still went out to practice in the days that
followed, but it was with little ambition that they sculled up and down
the river. Occasionally they had a glimpse of the Waterside 'varsity
four or eight, but they kept at a distance.
"No use getting into a scrap," explained the young captain.
Affairs at Riverview were going on much the same for our heroes, their
chums and the other pupils. Dr. Doolittle was more absent-minded than
ever and seemed laboring under a great strain. The boys felt sorry for
him. Professor Callum was still unpleasant, and lost no opportunity of
inflicting his wrath on Frank or Andy.
It happened that a noted lecturer, who had traveled in many lands, had
returned with a series of moving pictures. He was billed to give an
entertainment in Marsden, a large town about midway between Riverview
and Waterside.
"I don't see why we couldn't get up a crowd and take that in," said
Frank to Andy one afternoon, as he read the posters.
"It ought to be interesting and instructive," said Andy. "Maybe if we
bring that last fact to the attention of Dr. Doolittle he might let a
lot of us go and stay out after hours. I've a good notion to ask him."
"We will!" exclaimed Frank. "Things have been slow here lately. We'll
have to wake 'em up."
The good doctor offered no objections when Frank spoke of the matter
and mentioned the fact that it would be in line with some of their
studies.
"Go, by all means," said the head of the school, "as many of you as
care to."
As might have been expected Professor Callum made strenuous objection
to the little excursion.
"Such things should not be allowed!" he exclaimed. "I know those boys
will get into mischief. They should be in bed at night, not going to
moving picture shows."
"Oh, well," said the doctor with a sigh, "I think it will do them
good. Let them go. Hereafter they may not have many opportunities of
going anywhere from Riverview."
"Why, what is the matter?" asked the professor quickly, struck by
something in the president's voice.
"I mean that I can't run the school much longer unless I get more
money. We may have to close soon after the Christmas holidays," and
shaking his venerable head Dr. Doolittle shut himself up in his study.
Frank Racer made up a good-sized crowd to go to the lecture at Marsden.
The boys went on trolley cars and had much fun. It was quite an event
for them, and Frank and Andy, who had really been the moving spirits,
were cheered again and again.
As the crowd of Riverview boys were piling into the hall Jack Sanderson
pulled Frank by the sleeve.
"Look over there," he said.
"What's up?"
"There's a whole raft of fellows from Waterside Hall."
"Well, what of it? This is a free country. I suppose they want to hear
the lecture as much as we do."
"Yes, I was only thinking there might be trouble."
"It won't be of my making. Go on in and sit down."
It happened that the students from the rival schools sat on opposite
sides of the large hall, well apart, so there was not even an exchange
of words in the time that elapsed before the lecture began. After it
was started it proved of such interest that it is doubtful if any
student gave thought to the unpleasant incident of the rowing challenge
and its reply. The speaker, in fancy, took his hearers into many
strange lands and showed pictures of life there.
As the crowd filed out, as might have been expected there was a
mingling of the students from the two schools. At first the lads, some
of whom knew each other, passed friendly greetings, and Frank, who had
feared there might be unpleasantness, began to feel reassured.
The lads drifted out into a large square in front of the building where
the lecture had been given. It was not very late and there was no
special reason for hurrying back. There were some good-natured chaffing
on both sides, some laughter and inquiries after more or less popular
or unpopular instructors. Then, like a flash from a clear sky, someone
in the crowd of Waterside lads called out mockingly:
"There are the dubs who think they can row!"
He probably did not refer to Frank and their chums in particular, but
meant to include the whole school. For a moment there was a silence,
and then Jack Sanderson sang out:
"Yes, and there are the dubs who don't know how to answer a challenge
in a gentlemanly way!"
It was a direct call-down for the athletic committee, members of which
were present.
Once more a silence and then there burst out many remarks and calls
from both sides, each one intended to be insulting.
"Look at the aristocrats who row in kid gloves!" yelled a Riverview lad.
"How did you farmers ever get time enough away from picking the
hayseeds out of your hair to come to town?" some Waterside wit wanted
to know.
"Those are the fellows who sleep in silk pajamas!" was a Riverview
retort.
"Ha! Down there at Riverview they haven't any blankets, so they sleep
in their clothes!" sneered a lad who evidently knew of the poverty of
the school of our heroes.
The remarks were getting more and more personal. The tempers of the
lads on each side were rising. In vain did Frank, Andy and some of
the cooler-headed boys from Riverview go about trying to get their
companions to leave, or keep quiet. Some students from Waterside Hall
did likewise with their fellows, but it was useless. The students were
in fighting mood now.
"You're afraid to row us!" taunted one Riverview lad.
"Well, we're not afraid to fight you!" came the quick retort.
That was the knocking of the chip from the shoulder, and in an instant
several lads had come to a fistic clash. Then as at the drop of the
hat, on every side there was a mêlée. Blows were given and taken,
landing with dull thuds. There were cries of pain and anger.
"Riverview forever!" was the slogan. "Riverview to the bat!"
"Give 'em all they want, Waterside!" came the angry shout. "Knock 'em
down and drag 'em out!"
"Andy, where are you?" yelled Frank.
"Right here!"
"Keep close to me, and we'll get out of this. It may be serious."
"What? Run? I will not! Wow! Someone hit me then, and I'm going to get
back at him. It was that big chap there."
"Yes, and I'll soak you again!" answered the big fellow, aiming a blow
at Andy.
"Oh, no you won't!" exclaimed Frank, and he promptly knocked down his
brother's assailant.
The row was on in earnest now, and Frank and Andy, as well as Jack and
Ward, found that they had their hands full. It was quite dark, so one
could hardly see whether he was attacking friend or foe. But the fight
went on, growing more and more fierce. Several lads were knocked down
and trampled upon, and more than one had a bloody nose or a discolored
eye. The yells and shouts could be heard all over town.
"Are you hurt, Andy?" panted Frank, who had managed to keep at the side
of his brother.
"No, only I got a couple of good pokes. I gave 'em back, though."
"Let's try and work out of this. The police may come at any moment, and
I don't want any of our friends to be locked up."
But to get out of that mad, seething, surging crowd was easier said
than done. They were hemmed in and had to fight to keep their footing.
Suddenly, above the excited cries and the shouts of many bystanders for
the police, was heard the ringing of the fire bell. Then the rumble and
whistle of the approaching engines were audible. For a moment there
came a lull in the desperate battle, but only for a moment. Then it was
resumed again. Not for a little thing like a fire would the students
stop fighting.