Part 28 (2/2)
On came the two friends, but now it was noticed that Jerry, although he still rowed his best, seemed to be losing his interest in the race.
”It will be no fun to beat Harry,” was the thought which ran through his head; and then, with a yell from three thousand throats, Harry crossed the line a winner, with our hero not quite half a boat length behind.
”Hurrah for Harry Parker!”
”Hurrah for Jerry Upton!”
Cheer after cheer rent the air, and both lads were immediately surrounded by their friends. Jerry was one of the first to shake his chum's hand.
”You won it fairly, Harry,” he said. ”What kind of time did we make?”
He was greatly pleased to learn that the lake record for two miles had been lowered by forty-three seconds, and that he had helped lower it by forty-two seconds.
That evening the club held a meeting, and Harry was presented with the bicycle, something he had been wis.h.i.+ng for for some time. Jerry's prize was a silver watch and chain.
”This just suits me,” he said. ”Now, when I'm away from home, I'll be able to tell what time it is.”
The celebration was at its height, when a message came for Jerry from his home, stating that his father had been kicked by one of the horses and was badly injured.
This news shocked the youth a good deal, and bidding his friends a hasty good-night, the young oarsman set off for the farm on a run.
He found his father lying on a couch in the dining-room. A doctor had just arrived, and he was doing all that he could for the sufferer.
”Where did the horse kick him, mother?” he questioned, hurriedly.
”In the side, right under the heart,” replied Mrs. Upton. ”Oh, I do trust it is not serious!”
”So do I. What can I do?”
”I don't know. We must see what the doctor says.”
The medical man, after a long examination, declared that several ribs had been fractured, and that Mr. Upton was suffering from shock. Some medicine was administered, and the patient was carefully carried upstairs and placed upon a bed.
No one in the farmhouse slept that night. Mrs. Upton sat by her husband's side, and Jerry came and went, ready to do anything that might be asked of him.
Two days later the doctor p.r.o.nounced the wounded man out of danger. But his injuries were severe, and it would be a long while before Mr. Upton would be able to go around as before.
His enforced idleness made the farmer fret a good deal. It was true that the harvest work on the farm was over, but he had wished to do much more.
”And I reckon that trip to New York is now out of the question,” Jerry heard him say to Mrs. Upton.
”Why, father, were you going to New York?” asked the boy, in much curiosity.
”I had an idea that way, son,” returned Mr. Upton, slowly. ”I was going on business,” he added, after a pause.
At this Jerry was more curious than ever. New York was over two hundred miles from Lakeview, and he had never heard of his parent having business in the metropolis.
<script>