"Captain Prescott, take your canoe to the landing stage." "All right, sir." "Captain Hartwell you will follow." "Very good, sir." Going in to the landing stage Dick gave his crew an easy pace, yet they were soon alongside the float.
"Now, take your canoe out of water, Gridley," commanded the referee, stepping ashore from the launch.

"I want a look at the craft." Dick & Co.

lifted the war canoe to the float bow first.

Just as the stern cleared the water a cry went up from scores of throats.
For the referee had grasped a line made fast to the bottom of the canoe near the stern.
Hauling on that line he brought in several yards of it---then, at the outer end of the line came a light blanket, dripping.
Through the middle of the blanket the end of the line had been secured.
Dick Prescott gasped.

His chums rubbed their eyes.