two boats had come on towards the corner.
As far as Gilks and Silk could see at present Parrett's led by about
half a length, which advantage, however, it stood to lose owing to its
outside position at the corner. Parson, however, knew what he was about
even better than Riddell, who had kept a magnificent course down the
reach, but who now seemed afraid to take full advantage of the sharp
corner. The Parrett's coxswain, on the other hand, with his half-length
to the good, began turning his boat's head early, even at the risk of
running dangerously close on his rival's water, and so saved as much as
possible of the lost ground.

It was an anxious moment, for as the boats came round that corner so the
race usually depended. The crowd on the banks well knew the crisis, and
shouted out their warnings and encouragements to the rival coxswains
with redoubled eagerness.

"Now then, Riddell! round you go! Pull your right!"

"Steered indeed, Parrett's! Bravo, Parson!"

The corner was half-turned, the boats lay nearly level, each coxswain
pulling hard with his right line, when suddenly there was a shock in the
Parrett's boat, followed by a loud shout from Parson, and next moment
the boat was shooting helplessly straight towards the bank, from which
it was only saved by a prompt order to "Backwater all!" from Bloomfield.

What could it be? The shouts on the bank died away into sudden
stillness, and fellows forgot even to keep up with the schoolhouse boat,
which, followed by the steam-launch, rowed steadily on towards the
winning-post.

What was it? The answer soon became known, when Parson, standing in his
boat, waved the broken end of a rudder-line above his head. At the
critical point of the race this had failed, and in consequence all the
efforts of the rowers were useless, and--and the schoolhouse boat was
Head of the River!

The rage, excitement, and disappointment at such an unlooked-for
termination to the great struggle was beyond description, as the reader
may imagine. A general rush was made for the unlucky boat, and shouts
and recriminations and taunts and condolences bore witness to the mixed
feelings of the spectators.

Some demanded a fresh race there and then, some suggested foul play,
others urged the boat to row on and make the best race they could of it,
others boldly claimed the victory for Parrett's, since they led at the
moment of the accident.

Amidst all this tumult the unlucky boat slowly