the healthiest rower among them all. And if the
sight of the other boat and its crew was beautiful, how lovely was the
look of this! Eight young girls,--young ladies, for those who prefer that
more dignified and less attractive expression,--all in the flush of
youth, all in vigorous health; every muscle taught its duty; each rower
alert, not to be a tenth of a second out of time, or let her oar dally
with the water so as to lose an ounce of its propelling virtue; every eye
kindling with the hope of victory. Each of the boats was cheered as it
came in sight, but the cheers for the Atalanta were naturally the
loudest, as the gallantry of one sex and the clear, high voices of the
other gave it life and vigor.

"Take your places!" shouted the umpire, five minutes before the half
hour. The two boats felt their way slowly and cautiously to their
positions, which had been determined by careful measurement. After a
little backing and filling they got into line, at the proper distance
from each other, and sat motionless, their bodies bent forward, their
arms outstretched, their oars in the water, waiting for the word.

"Go!" shouted the umpire.

Away sprang the Atalanta, and far behind her leaped the Algonquin, her
oars bending like so many long Indian bows as their blades flashed
through the water.

"A stern chase is a long chase," especially when one craft is a great
distance behind the other. It looked as if it would be impossible for
the rear boat to overcome the odds against it. Of course the Algonquin
kept gaining, but could it possibly gain enough? That was the question.
As the boats got farther and farther away, it became more and more
difficult to determine what change there was in the interval between
them. But when they came to rounding the stake it was easier to guess at
the amount of space which had been gained. It was clear that something
like half the distance, four lengths, as nearly as could be estimated,
had been made up in rowing the first three quarters of a mile. Could the
Algonquins do a little better than this in the second half of the
race-course, they would be sure of winning.

The boats had turned the stake, and were coming in rapidly. Every minute
the University boat was getting nearer the other.

"Go it, Quins!" shouted the students.

"Pull away, Lantas!" screamed the girls, who were crowding down to the
edge of the water.

Nearer,--nearer,--the rear boat is pressing the other more and more