Lester Chadwick

“ Hi, Grasshopper!" he called, to a long lad who imagined he was a champion jumper, "are you going to try for the crew?"
"I sure am," was the confident answer. "I used to row a lot when a kid, and I guess I haven't forgotten."
"He's too light by fifteen pounds," declared Frank, in a low voice. "About one hundred and sixty is a good average."
"Thank goodness we're all of us that," said Tom, looking at the chums gathered about him.
"Are there going to be single races?" asked a lad, stepping up to join the group. He was a well dressed chap, reputed to be wealthy in his own right. ”

“ The question was snapped out at Tom and Ruth as they stood near the shack. A man had come to an abrupt halt as he emerged from the bushes and faced them; something of fear, Tom thought, mingled with anger showing on his face. It was this man whom they had heard approaching, a man clad in ordinary garments, yet with an indefinable foreign air about him—an air that was accentuated by his words and inflection. ”

“ Boxer Hall was struggling hard to pull up, but for once she had met her match—two, in fact, for it was easy now to see that the race, barring accidents, lay between Randall and Fairview.
"And, oh! May we win!" prayed Tom and his chums. And they could not understand why Jerry would not put them at their limit. True, their hearts were pumping at an abnormal rate, their muscles strained as they never had before, and their breath came labored, and went out gaspingly. ”

“ It seemed as though the Randall shell was suddenly galvanized into action. Reaching forward over their toes, eight sturdy backs bent for the stroke. Then it came.
A pull that seemed to lift the frail shell from the water—a pull that strained on the outriggers—a pull that made the stout oars creak and bend! A stroke that sent the water swirling aft in rings, circles, whirlpools and a smother of foam! A stroke that told!
"Row! Row! " screamed Jerry.
Daring another glance, Frank, at stroke, saw the Fairview boat seemingly at a standstill. ”

“ Row! Row! We must win."
"Don't let 'em pass us!" came from the Fairview coxswain. "A few strokes—only a few more!"
The boats were even! Pandemonium had now broken loose. The band was drowned out by shouts. Ruth found herself hammering Madge on the back, and shouting—she knew not what—in her ear. Madge was crying—she did not know why.
As for the Randall lads, they were mere machines. There was no more thought left in them. They saw nothing, but each man in front of him viewed his fore-man's back—Frank could not see the face of Jackson, but he could hear his rasping voice. ”

“ And so the merry little party feasted and laughed and softly sang their college songs until the girls protested that they must get back, or Miss Philock—well, various opinions were expressed about that lady.
"Stop that infernal clock!" grunted Tom, a little later, as he lay half asleep on the old sofa in the common room.
"Stop it yourself," murmured Phil, sprawled in one easy chair, while Frank occupied another. Sid had declared himself done up after the race, and had gone to bed. From his room he murmured in a sleepy voice:
"Sounds like Jerry calling—'Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" doesn't it?" ”

“ The faint hearts of the weeks before had become strong.
"But you boys needn't think you are going to win!" declared Ruth, when the four lads called on the four girls about a week prior to the date set for the regatta. "We have a championship crew in the eight, if nowhere else."
"Never!" cried Tom. "We're going to win the eight if we lose everything else; eh, fellows?"
"That's what!" his chums chorused.
"Anyhow, I'm glad of one thing," remarked Ruth, in a low voice to Tom, "Phil is so interested in this rowing game that he hasn't said a word about my lost brooch. ”

“ Boswell ran out. There was a cheer from the float—from the crowds along the river bank.
"Come on, Tom!" cried Joe. "You and your crew are next. Oh, for the love of Randall win that race! Boxer Hall has eight points now—the four and the double. But if we win the eight and the single we'll have twelve, and be the champions."
"Then we'll win!" cried Tom, desperately, as he clasped Ruth's brooch in his hand and raced out. ”

“ Thereupon, paying no more attention to the justly sulking lad by the water's edge, the three chums shortly had the sleeping tent in some kind of shape. An oil stove had been brought, and on this some coffee was soon steaming away, while the appetizing odor of ham and eggs wafted itself over the camp.
Through it all Tom never turned his head, nor did his companions speak to him. He must have heard what was going on, but he never acknowledged it. With merry whistles his chums drove away the suggestion of gloom.
"Grub's ready!" came the announcement of Frank, as he walked over toward Tom. ”

“ Soon only the ticking of the fussy, little alarm clock was heard, mingled with the rattle of paper as books were leafed or as the lads wrote out their lessons. Even the clock stopped after a bit, and the sudden silence was so startling that Phil exclaimed:
"She's run down! Hope nothing's the matter with her," and he picked up the timepiece with an anxious face.
"Probably got toothpickitis," suggested Tom. "Give it a shake." ”

“ For a moment there was silence, and then Tom objected:
"Well, maybe it's clear to you, Frank, but I can't see it that way."
"Me either," declared Phil.
"Why, it's as simple as anything," declared the Big Californian.
"Well, maybe it is," admitted Sid, "but kindly translate. It's too deep for us."
"Look here," went on Frank. "That jeweler saw us at the wreck; didn't he?"
"No question about that," admitted Tom.
"And we helped him look around. We were here first; and we said we didn't see anything of the stuff." ”

“ He looked over at the Fairview shell, and noted that Roger Barns, the coxswain, was closely regarding the Randall eight.
"They're sizing us up," thought Jerry. "Well, we may not be such a muchness now, but by Hector! When we start in regular training this Fall, If we don't make 'em sit up and notice which side their tea is buttered on I'm a Dutchman, and that's no wallflower at a dance, either!" and Jerry shut his lips firmly and felt delicately of the tiller lines, shifting the rudder slightly to learn that the shell was in good control. ”

“ Tom's brain had been so busy with so many thoughts, after the sight of that torn handkerchief, that he had eaten scarcely any supper, though his appetltie just before that had been of the best.
"Shove over; can't you?" was all Tom said to Phil, who was stretched out on the old sofa.
"Sure I can. What's the matter? Got a grouch!"
"No, but I'm dead tired."
"Be careful how you flop," warned Sid, as he watched with anxiety Tom's preparations to sit down. "That sofa doesn't gain strength with age—it isn't like cheese in that respect." ”

“ A whole lot is at stake! There's a hundred dollars in it for you from me! Go, do you hear! The Randall boathouse! Get there as soon as you can! I'll meet you after this race! Do you hear?" and Boswell fairly screamed the words.
"Yes, senor, I hear," replied the Mexican. "I go," and he started off on the run, for Boswell's manner was such that it carried conviction with it. And then Boswell set himself to the race again. But he had hesitated just a moment—just a fatal moment—and the next instant, with the lads in them picking up their strokes, the Fairview and Boxer Hall shells passed him. ”

“ Did you and Bossy quarrel over a girl, and go to Crest Island to have a duel? It begins to look that way—exchanging cards and all that."
"We didn't exchange cards," said Tom shortly. "I found that card near a shack where a caretaker lives. And, by the way, fellows, we're going to camp on Crest Island this Summer."
"We are?" cried Phil.
"I like the nice, easy way he has of laying out our vacation plans for us," remarked Sid.
"Just as if he was our manager," added Frank,
"Well, I only thought it would be handy if we want to practice rowing," went on Tom, holding back the other reason. ”

“ We must stand or fall by what we have. It is too late now. And, mind you, I am not so sure that even if there was more time that I would make a shift. I'm certain, in my own mind, that we have a championship boat. Now it's up to you lads to confirm my belief in you."
"And we will!" cried Tom, a sentiment that was echoed by his chums.
Then began at Randall a period of hard and exacting practice, such as had never been known before. The two coaches were fairly overworked, for by this time the first of the football squads was beginning to form. ”

“ Tom followed, and as he went in he passed Boswell, who was also headed in the same direction.
"I guess they don't ever intend the singles to be rowed," remarked the rich lad, with some disgust in his tones. "Here I've been fiddling around just because that chump from Boxer Hall can't get a shell to suit him. Why didn't they look over their outriggers before they came?"
"Oh, they'll be ready soon," spoke Tom. Boswell had, as you may have assumed, been picked to uphold the Randall end in the singles. To do him justice he had trained hard and well, and had been faithful. ”

“ Perhaps a lariat, spurs, bridles, and some fine silver work for the pretty senoritas, is it not?" and the fellow smiled genially.
"Good-bye!" called Tom. "Come along, Ruth. I'll have to hit up the oars going home or I'll have you so late that you'll get on the bad books of the Ogress."
"Oh, I'm there already," she replied, as she nodded to the Mexican, who bowed low in farewell. "All our crowd is, but we don't mind. Now, Tom, did you really mean what you said about going to camp on Crest Island this Summer?" ”

“ Where are you boys going this vacation?"
"To Crest Island!" replied Tom promptly, though, a moment before, he had had not the slightest idea.
"Oh, you're just saying that!" challenged Ruth.
"No, really I'm not!" he insisted. "If you girls are going to cottage here, I don't see why we can't camp. Other fellows do."
"Oh, it would be nice, of course," she admitted, as they strolled along. "There's the Tyler place," called Ruth a little later. "I recognize the description. Isn't it lovely?"
"Fine!" agreed Tom. "And that looks like a good camping place," and he indicated a spot not far off. ”

“ The two racing machines were now moving swiftly along, being about on even terms. Now and then, seemingly in response to a signal from their coxswain, the Fairview lads would hang back a bit, allowing the Randall shell to creep up. Evidently it was a little trick, played with the hope that Randall would spurt, and give her rivals an opportunity to sweep ahead of them in splendid style, thus winning the impromptu race. If such was the intention Randall did not bite at the bait, for Frank, in a few whispered words to Jerry, advised him not to signal for a quicker stroke. ”

“ Thus the coach called to Tom, but there was no sting in his words, and the tall baseball pitcher of Randall knew that it was for the good of himself and the crew. Nothing is so important in a race as to save one's wind, and to keep one's eyes fairly glued on the back of the man in front of one. For on unison, and in rowing exactly in time with every other man in the shell, does the race depend.
"Never mind Boxer Hall," went on Mr. Lighton. "We're going to beat her, but we won't unless we learn how to keep our eyes in our own boat. ”

“ On came the Boxer Hall eight. They were rowing down the stream, as were our friends, but the rival college shell was in the rear, having gone up stream earlier in the day, being now on the return trip.
"Don't try to race them when they pass us," cautioned Mr. Lighton, who had not even turned his head to see the approaching shell behind him. "It will be a temptation, I know, but we are not ready for a spurt yet."
"Are we going to let them pass us?" demanded the rich lad, almost forgetting to row. ”

“ We didn't see any of his stuff!"
"Oh, so that's the reason," replied Tom. "Well, I guess it was a good one, Frank."
"Those Boxer Hall lads will be up in the air all right when they learn that their trophies are gone," suggested Sid. "I wonder if there were any of the ones they won in the last meet?"
"They didn't get many," chuckled Frank. "But it will be quite a loss to them. However, it's none of our funeral. I wouldn't trust any of my jewelry to a man who would go off and leave it in a motorboat for a night and a day." ”