The row-boat that had been smashed was a valuable one belonging to the Lakeview Boat Club. They did not care to lose the cost of it, and so called on Conant to pay for the same.
At first he refused, but when they threatened arrest he weakened. It took nearly three weeks of his salary to square accounts, and then the young man was utterly crushed. He never went sailing again.
It did not take Harry long to recover from the effects of his outing on the lake. Inside of a week he was as well as ever.
Blumpo took good care to tell every one of all that had happened, and on every side Jerry was praised for his daring work in saving the Cutwater and his chum.
We have spoken of the match to take place between Jerry and Si Peters of Rockpoint. This was postponed for two weeks on Si’s account.
Si Peters was a tall overgrown youth of eighteen, and was generally considered to be the best oarsman on the lake.
Consequently, when a match was arranged by the clubs to which they belonged between the pair it was thought, even by many Lakeview people, that Si Peters would win.
Si had one great advantage over Jerry. His father was rich, while Jerry’s father was poor. Consequently, while Jerry had to help on the farm during idle hours Si Peters could go out and practice, and thus get himself in perfect condition.
It was this fact that made Si think he was going to have an easy time defeating Jerry.
But, unknown to him, Jerry got more time than he thought. Harry was anxious to have his chum win, and spoke to his father about it.
Now, Mr. Parker and Si Peters’ father were not on good terms, and the former readily agreed to a plan Harry proposed.
“Mr. Upton,” he said one evening, when he met Jerry’s father down in the town, “I would like to hire Jerry to work for me every afternoon for a couple of weeks.”
“All right, Mr. Parker,” said Jerry’s father, promptly. “When do you want him to come?”
“To-morrow, if he can. I’ll pay you five dollars a week.”
So it was settled, and every afternoon the young oarsman went over to the Parker place, which bordered on the lake.
Here Jerry would practice in secret in a little cove seldom visited by any boats.
As the time grew close for the race between Jerry and Si Peters the boat clubs began to bet on their favorites.