264 .THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



into the wind to save herself/ lost way,- and was no longer 

 a dangerous enemy, and although the other yachts rounded 

 the boat, yet they were far astern, and the victory of the " Water- 

 log " was secure. At a word from Frank the two girls, one on 

 each side, stripped off the assumed name, and let the papers 

 rloat away on the "wind, arid, amid vociferous cheering and 

 clapping of hands and waving of handkerchiefs, the Swan shot 

 past the winning-post, and so gained the prize. 



Although gained partly by accident it was a great tiiumph 

 for the boys, and the girls were quite as proud and delighted as 

 they were. 



" You are a dear good boy^ and I'll give you a kiss," said 

 merry Mary Merivale to her brother, " although you would 

 rather have one from somebody else than from me, I know." 

 " Isay, Molly, I wish you'd get her to give me one." 

 "You will have to wait a very long time for that, Mr. 

 Frank." 



" If you would give Dick one, she would give me one." 

 " That's all you know about it, sir," said Mary, making him 

 a saucy curtsey. 



CHAPTER XLT. 



The Conclusion. 



Now this chronicle of the doings of my three boys must come 

 to an end. I have grown very fond of them, and I hope you 

 have too. 



1 We will take a big jump from the doings recorded in the 

 last chapter, and look in upon them at a time fraught with 

 importance to each of them. Their pleasant school with Mr. 

 Meredith is broken up. Frank and Dick are going to college, 

 and Jimmy is about to be articled to a Norwich solicitor. 

 They will always remain the best of friends,, but still the new' 



