drop that other time. Hadn't he
been pretty near drowned the day before, so that his nerves shut up on
him like a jack-knife? He's fit as a fiddle now, they say; and Bristles
Carpenter is pulling like a race-horse. You watch and see. We're bound
to win this race in a walk."

"There they come!"

The boats shot around the bend, and it was seen that while Riverport
still held the lead, it was only by a margin of part of a length. As
yet, then, it might be called anybody's race, since a very slight thing
would serve to turn the tables.

On the river road could be seen the car belonging to Judge Colon,
racing along from point to point; and above all other sounds the
spectators could hear the sharp, shrill voice of Coach Shays as he
shouted words of cheer to his crew; or warned them against some
possible fatal blunder.

Despite the gruelling pull against the current that had marked the
first half of the fiercely contested race, both young crews seemed to
be keeping in perfect rhythm with the movements of their coxswains. And
doubtless those shrewd leaders were keenly on the alert for any
advantage that might come to them through either a quickening of the
pace, if they thought the rowers capable of standing it, or some other
change in the existing conditions.

Louder grew the shouts and songs as the two boats came flying down the
stream, the young oarsmen pulling like mad to either retain or secure
an advantage. Hope flickered up again in the hearts of the loyal
Mechanicsburg rooters, who had well nigh taken a slump when they
learned that their favorites were behind at the half-way boat.

How they did cheer their boys on! It was enough to almost make any
fellow try to perform impossibilities, and strain himself to the
breaking point, to hear how his comrades were banking all their hopes
on him in particular. Loud and dear sounded each name of the
Mechanicsburg rowers through a megaphone, backed by a voice that had
Semi-Colon's put out of the running:

"Hennessy--Sherley--Harkness--Gould--Smith--Boggs--Waterman--Jones--
Wagner--_everybody pull!_"

And they did certainly pull for all they were worth, desperately
anxious to overcome that half boat-length that still lay between them.

But, on the other, hand, an equal number of young athletes in the other
shell were just as doggedly determined not to yield one inch, if it
could be held by any power of theirs. Brad believed he could call for
just one more little advan