"Oh no, I'd just as lief row," said Tom, seizing the oars with feverish
haste.

"So would I, Tom; I want a little exercise," urged Henry with a
hypocritical grin, as he stood up in an attitude of readiness.

"Oh, I like to row. 'I'd a great deal rather. Honestly," asseverated Tom,
as he made the water foam with the violence of his strokes, compelling
Henry to resume his seat to preserve his equilibrium.

"It's perfectly plain that you don't want to sit by me, Tom. That hurts
my feelings," said Madeline, pretending to pout.

"Oh no, it isn't that," protested Tom. "Only I'd rather row; that is, I
mean, you know, it's such fun rowing."

"Very well, then," said Madeline, "I sha'n't help you any more; and here
they all are tying their boats on to ours."

Sure enough, one of the other boats had fastened its chain to the stern
of theirs, and the others had fastened to that; their oarsmen were lying
off and Tom was propelling the entire flotilla.

"Oh, I can row 'em all just as easy's not," gasped the devoted youth, the
perspiration rolling down his forehead.

But this was a little too bad, and Henry soon cast off the other boats,
in spite of the protests of their occupants, who regarded Tom's brawn and
muscle as the common stock of the entire party, which no one boat had a
right to appropriate.