"Probably Herring will say that there was something the matter with
his boat, and yet he was ready to race with us just a moment before.
He'll get out of it somehow, you'll see. It's just like him."

Herring did not overtake the other boys, and they were ashore some
little time ahead of him, Jack coming along leisurely and letting
Herring land first.

"Did you see that?" asked Billy in great glee when Jack came ashore.
"We won't hear any more boasting from that quarter I guess."

"We didn't have enough gasolene to go fast," growled Herring, who
came up at that moment. "We got out without knowing it. We'll
race you for ten dollars to-morrow."

"Oh, we are satisfied," chuckled Billy, while Percival looked
significantly at Jack, and said:

"What did I tell you, Jack? A poor excuse is better than none."

Jack said nothing, and he and Percival went off into the woods.

Within a short time of the supper hour when the boys returned they
were told by Bucephalus that the doctor wished to see them, and
they went at once to the cottage where they found a well-dressed
stranger talking with the principal.

"This is the young gentleman who found the watch," said Dr. Wise.
"Will you describe it to him?"