Part 31 (2/2)

”Oh, I don't know,” returned Rand

”'Stranger things than that have happened,' as the old woman said when she kissed her cow”

”You mean as the man said when he married his cook,” corrected Donald

”Well, there wasn't anything strange about that,” returned Rand, ”if she was a good cook”

”Or if her cooking was good,” added Jack

”Are you ready, all?” now called the starter, and each one of the different crews grasped his oar with quickened tension as the coxswains responded: ”Ready!” and there followed the sharp report of the pistol

As the report rang out the oars of the three crews, all like a piece of accurate machinery, struck the water at the same instant and the boats leaped forward as if shot froht of the Alton crew told, and their boat darted to the front, only to be hugged a hpoint, while the Uncas trailed just behind them

”Easy, boys, easy,” cautioned Gerald ”There are three ether Alton a bit in the lead, but without any daylight showing between them The Uncas last, but still in the race

”Shure, 'tis foine, ye'r doing,” cried Gerald ”Ye have thi away froe, Alton still leading, but the pace was telling, and Highpoint was creeping up--Uncas still in the rear

In the next e in the order, and it looked like Alton's race, but as the second hpoint poked its nose in front, Uncas still hugging them ”Now, then!”

cried Gerald, as they entered on the last half mile, ”hit it up, boys; we are still in it!”

”The ood”

The boys quickened their stroke in response to Gerald's call, and inch by inch, the Uncas pulled up on their rivals and, just as the finish was reached, slid across the line a scant six inches in front It was only six inches, but enough, and though the boys could scarce sit up, their fatigue was forgotten in the joy of the unexpected victory

”Tra-la-la,” trilled Gerald on his bugle, but its notes were drowned by the call of the leader of the Highpoints for three cheers for the Uncas, which were given with a will by both the losing crews

After cheering each other, until they were hoarse, the three creent their ith an agreement to row another race later in the season

”That's one for the mascot,” drawled Rand, when the boat had been rowed to the landing, where the colonel, with Pepper and others, aiting for theratulated the a day's work on a farm”

”Well, I don't know,” responded Rand ”It was hard work, but I think, after all, I had rather be the man with the row than the an dick

”It does, eh?” questioned Donald ”Well, I don't knohy, I a of roses--” went on dick

”Roses!” ejaculated Jack ”Who said anything about roses?”