On a sweltering June morning above the Hudson River, Hood's Hill on Fox Island buzzes with school pride as Ferry Hill and Hammond Academy gather for graduation day, a rowing race, and the last bright stretch of term. Roy Porter, Dick Somes, and Chub Eaton watch the festivities from under the birches, their easy friendship and athletic reputations marking them as the heart of the story, while the gleaming yacht Idler and the crowded riverfront add glamour and rivalry to the scene. Beneath the banter, the boys are facing change: exams, separation, and the end of school life, even as they begin dreaming of a shared summer camping adventure on Fox Island. Their anticipation turns to drama when the race begins, and the hard-fought finish leaves Hammond apparently victorious and Ferry Hill's Billy Warren overcome by sunstroke. Back at school, Harry Emery—the principal's spirited daughter—brings warmth, wit, and emotional stakes as she presses for news of the race, trades jokes with the boys, and shares in their final exams and hopes. The story blends youthful humor, sports competition, and the comic frustrations of tinkering with a stubborn motor launch, all while celebrating loyalty, resilience, and the uncertain excitement of growing up. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.