[This and the following piece are from "The Boat Club," by Oliver Optic. The club is composed of thirteen boys, who make excursions upon the lake in their boat, which is called the Zephyr. This boat is a present to Frank Sedley from his father, under whose guidance, and that of Uncle Ben, -a retired sailor living with Mr. Sedley, - the club has been organized. The Bunkers are a company of bad boys under the leadership of Tim Bunker, who also have a boat, which is called the Thunderbolt.]

1. As they came round to the boat-house, Mrs. Sedley was landed, and the club rowed up to Weston Bay to leave Mrs. Weston and her daughter. Both the

passengers were delighted with their excursion,' and were profuse of their thanks to. Frank and his companions for their kindness.

2. What shall we do now?" said Charles, as they pushed off.

3. "Hadn't we better give up for to-day?" suggested' Frank.

4. "Let us go down to Rippleton for your father," added Fred.

5. "Yes; we will do that," answered Frank, and the Zephyr dashed away towards the village.

6. They had scarcely passed the boat-house before they discovered the Thunderbolt, directly ahead of them. Uncle Ben had landed at Rippleton, and had housed the Sylph, so that the Bunkers were no longer restrained by his presence and that of Mrs. Sedley. There was no way to avoid them, and Frank continued his course with some misgivings as to the consequences.❜

7. "Bunkers ahead! said he.

8. "Never mind them, Frank," added Fred Harper. "We won't say any thing to them."

9. "Tim will get his revenge upon us if he can, for running into his boat this morning."

10. "We had to do it to get Tony Weston out of his clutches. He was just going to strike Tony with his oar, and perhaps would have killed him if we had n't run into his boat. I suppose we can keep out of his way, though I don't like the idea of running away from them."

11. "I like it better than I do the idea of fighting with them. But the lake is narrow near the village."

12. We can row two rods to their one.”

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13. They have improved a great deal by their day's practice. They are resting on their oars, waiting for us."

14. "Let them wait; we will mind nothing about them."

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15. The Zephyr continued on her course. It was necessary for her to pass within a short distance of the Thunderbolt, and Frank feared the Bunkers would retaliate3 upon them for their discomfiture in the fore

noon.

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16. "Let every member of the club mind his oar," said he, as the boat approached the vicinity of the Bunkers; "I will watch them; I want you to mind what I say, and work quick when I speak."

17. "We will," answered the boys.

18. "I suspect, if they mean any thing, that they intend to rush upon us when we pass them. Yes, there is Tim bringing her head round so that she lies broadside to us, and every one of them has his oar ready to pull."

19. "Can't you cut across the lake, and avoid them?: ' asked Tony.

20. "We must pass them somewhere, and they can cut us off, whatever course we take.'

21. "Smash them, if they come too near," said Fred. 22. "No, no, Fred; that would n't do. When I tell you to stop and back her, do it promptly, and we can easily get away from them. Pull steady."

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23. The boys rowed leisurely, and the Zephyr in a short time reached a position which exposed her to the assault of the Thunderbolt.

24. "Pull! pull!" cried Tim Bunker.

25. The course of the Thunderbolt was at right angles to that of the Zephyr. Tim had apparently made a nice calculation in regard to his intended movements. He had started so as to come up with his rival, when she came to the point in her course directly ahead of him.

26. The Bunkers pulled with all their might, and the two boats were rapidly nearing each other. Tim's plan had been well conceived,' and the collision" seemed inevitable. Frank saw that he had rightly interpreted the intentions of the Bunkers, but he still kept on.

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27. Suddenly, as the Thunderbolt was on the point of pouncing upon her prey, Frank, with startling energy, gave the command,

28. Stop! back her!"

29. Every boy, expecting the order, was ready to execute it. The oars bent under the violent exertion they made to check the farther progress of the boat.

30. When the collision seemed unavoidable, Tim abandoned the helm, and leaped forward into the bow of the boat. He had a large stick in his hand, and it was evidently his intention to use it upon poor Tony, for his glance was fixed upon him with savage ferocity.

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31. Frank's plan worked well. He had withheld the order to stop and back her till the last moment, so that Tim should have no time to change the course of the Thunderbolt, and thus derange his plan. As it was, it was a very narrow escape, and nothing but the promptness with which the order was executed averted 13 the impending catastrophe."

32. The Thunderbolt passed across the course of the Zephyr, not three feet from her bow. Tim saw that he was foiled, and enraged at his disappointment, he aimed a blow at Tony with the long stick, as the Thunderbolt shot past.

33. Tony was beyond his reach; he leaned over the side of the boat in a vain attempt to accomplish his malignant purpose. But in doing so, he lost his foothold, and fell head foremost into the lake!

34. He disappeared beneath the dark surface of the water, and his boat passed over the spot. The Zephyr, impelled backward by the vigorous strokes of her crew, was several rods from the place before the club fully realized the nature of the unfortunate occurrence.1

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XII. TONY WESTON'S REVENGE, CONCLUDED.

1. THE Thunderbolt was much nearer the place where Tim had disappeared, than the Zephyr; but her crew seemed to be utterly paralyzed' by the event, and unable to render the slightest assistance. One of the Bunkers