Part 8 (2/2)

With long, quick strokes, he swept on, side by side with Si Peters.

It was going to be a close contest, and the spectators along the lake front went wild with enthusiasm.

”Don't let up, Si!”

”Show the Rockpointers what you can do, Jerry!”

”A dollar that Si wins by a length!”

”A dollar that Jerry wins by two lengths!” At last the two reached Rocky Island, which formed the turning point.

They were still side by side, but Si had the inner turn all to himself, while Jerry had to move about in a much larger area.

This brought Jerry a good length behind Si Peters when the return was begun.

Si Peters saw this and grinned to himself.

”You ain't in it a little bit, Jerry Upton!” he called out, but Jerry did not reply. He was not foolish enough to waste breath just then in talking.

Over the smooth water swept the two long sh.e.l.ls, each boy working with quick and long strokes.

Now the finis.h.i.+ng stake was in view. Si Peters still kept his lead.

”It's Si's race, no doubt of it!”

”Didn't I say Jerry Upton wouldn't be in it?”

”What does Cornfield know about rowing, anyhow?”

But scarcely had the last remark been made when Jerry began to increase his stroke.

Slowly but surely his sh.e.l.l began to overlap that of Si Peters. Now he was half-way up, now three-quarters, now they were even!

”See him gaining!”

”Look! look! Jerry is ahead!”

”He can't keep that stroke! It's enough to kill him!”

”Can't he? Look, he is actually walking away from Si.”

Jerry was now ”letting himself out.”

Like a flash he swept past Si Peters and reached the finish two and a half lengths ahead.

A rousing cheer from the Lakeview boys greeted him, while the Rockpointers were as mum as oysters.

Si Peters looked decidedly crestfallen. For several minutes he had nothing to say. Then some of his friends whispered into his ear.

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