Chapter VII: How the Boat Races Were Won

"Do you think they'll keep silent?" asked Stuffer, after the rowboat was some distance from the shore.

"That's a problem," answered Jack. "Maybe they will--for their own benefit."

"If they talk about it, the laugh will be on them," came from Andy.

"That was a fine dive of yours, Andy," came from Pepper. "You took them by surprise."

"We would have been in a mess if they had gotten away with the baskets and our clothes," said Stuffer.

"Sure, an do yez think they'd stale our duds?" questioned Hogan.

"They'd take everything--if they got the chance," answered Jack. "It was lucky for us that Mumps fell and gave the alarm."

"What a calf he is!"

"Sneaks are generally of that sort," said Andy. "How I'd hate to have the reputation he is gaining."

They looked back and saw Baxter, Paxton, and Mumps standing on the shore. The bully shook his fist at them.

"He feels real friendly," said Andy. "I think he'd like to embrace us all."

Soon the rowboat passed out of sight of that portion of the shore. Then the craft was turned up the lake, and those who were to go into the boat races during the following week took turns at the oars.

"Pepper pulls a fine stroke," said Stuffer. "He ought to win something."

"I believe Jackson and Perry will win the main races," said another cadet. "They are bang-up oarsmen. They live on the Ohio River and have had lots of practice."

"Well, I am going to do my best," answered Pepper.

"And so am I," added Jack.

The sun was just going down when the boys returned to Putnam Hall, tired out but thoroughly happy. They cleaned out the boat and put it away, and then went to their dormitories to wash up for parade.

"Hullo, look here!" cried Jack, as he got out his uniform. "Somebody has been putting on my rank of office." And this was true, and the uniforms of the other elected officers had been treated likewise. When the young officers went below each received a shining sword, with a scabbard and belt to match.

"We'll have to have our pictures taken," said Henry Lee, with pride, and later on, this was done, and each officer sent one or more of the photographs home, much to the parents' delight.

It must be confessed that Jack felt quite proud when he stepped out in front of the battalion, sword in hand, and in his newly decorated uniform. He saw his friends in the ranks and also saw his enemies. Baxter looked as dark as a thundercloud, but did not dare to express his feelings.

"That was very well accomplished, Major Ruddy," said Captain Putnam after the drill was at an end. "I trust you keep the battalion up to such a standard for the balance of the term."

"I shall do my best, sir," answered the youthful major.

"Ruddy seems to take hold with vigor," was George Strong's comment. "I like to see a boy do that."

"His father was once in the army, and he has military blood in his veins," answered the master of the Hall.

The boat races which have been mentioned were to come off on the following Wednesday afternoon, starting at two o'clock. There were to be four races, three among the students of Putnam Hall and the fourth race with the students of Pornell Academy, situated a few miles from Putnam Hall. Pornell Academy was an old institution of learning presided over by a Dr. Pornell, who did not much fancy the coming of Captain Putnam to that neighborhood.

"I hope we wax those Pornell fellows good," said Pepper. "They are a proud lot, and they think we are nothing but the dust of the earth."

"The races between ourselves will show what we can do," answered Singleton.

"Are you going to row, Stuffer?"

"To be sure I am."

"Well, I hope you win something."

The day was a cool, bracing one, an ideal day for boat racing, and immediately after the midday meal the oarsmen turned out in force and the lake front was alive with craft of various sorts. The races had been talked of for two weeks and several sloops and a steam launch came up from Cedarville bringing parties to view the contests. Some boats also came from across the lake, and flags flapped gayly in the moderate breeze.

The first race was a four-oared affair between the smaller boys, and much to the surprise of everybody it was won by Mumps and a lad named Cathby.

"Hullo, I didn't know Mumps could row so well," cried Pepper.

"He comes from a town on the Hudson River, and was brought up around boats," answered a cadet standing near. "His folks own several sailboats, so I've been told."

"Well, he deserves credit for winning, even if he is a sneak," declared Jack.

The next race was an eight-oared affair, between crews made of Stuffer, Hogan, Blackmore, and a number of others already mentioned in these pages. This was lost by the crew led by Stuffer.

"Stuffer had been eating too much," said Pepper. And the always-hungry lad afterwards admitted that this was true.

The third race was a four-oared affair between Jack, Pepper, Andy, and Joe Nelson on one side, and Paxton and several chums on the other. Baxter had been expected to row in this, but fell out at the last moment, stating he was not well. Privately, he was afraid of losing, for he knew Jack and his friends were good oarsmen.

The race was for a mile, and at the discharge of a pistol both crews started in fine shape.

"Go it, Paxton!" was the cry. "You can win if you try!"

"Pull, Pepper, pull!"

"Make every stroke tell, Jack!"

On and on swept the two boats, and for the first half of the course kept side by side.

"It's going to be a tie race!"

"Pull, Paxton! Pull, Leeds!"

"See, Paxton's boat is going ahead!"

It was true--slowly but surely the craft went forward, until it was a full length in advance. Jack, Pepper, and the others were doing their best but the other boat continued to keep in the lead.

"I see a rope trailing behind!" cried Pepper suddenly.

"There it goes," added Andy. "It was caught on the bottom."

"All together, and give her tar!" shouted Jack, shutting his teeth hard. "Pull, boys, pull!" And they did pull as never before.

But quarter of a mile of the race remained, and now Jack's boat was crawling up to the rival craft.

"See, Paxton's boat is but half a length ahead!"

"They are tie again!"

"Pull, everybody, and may the best crew win!" came from a gentleman in one of the sailboats.

"Oh, pa, I hope that last boat wins," cried a girl in the sailing craft, a fine small yacht.

"So do I, Laura," came from a second girl.

"Why, Flossie?" questioned her father, with a smile.

"Oh, I don't know. They look nicer than the boys in the first boat."

"Really? You have sharp eyes, I must say." And then Mr. Ford, for such was the gentleman's name, turned to the race once more.

Jack, Pepper, Andy, and Joe Nelson were working like steam engines, and the same may be said of their opponents. On and on swept the two rowboats toward the finish line. There was a wild yelling along the lake front and from the various boats gathered around.

"Come, we must win!" shouted Joe Nelson, and seemed to suddenly wake up. Jack and the others also renewed their exertions, and now their spurt carried them a foot in the lead.

"Here they come!"

"Jack Ruddy's boat is ahead!"

"Paxton is crawling up again!"

It was true, the rivals were also spurting, and for a moment the two craft were side by side once more. But Paxton's crew could not keep up the terrific pace, and suddenly they fell back, and Jack and his friends shot over the line winners by a full length.

"Hurrah! Jack Ruddy's crew wins!"

"It was a stiff race though, wasn't it?"

"It was, indeed!"

As soon as he saw that he had lost Paxton fell down in his boat and put his hand to his side.

"What's the matter, Paxton?" asked George Strong, who was in a boat nearby.

"Got a--a pain in--my--side," gasped Paxton. "It's the old trouble, sir."

"That's too bad."

"I--I could have won if--it--wasn't--for--that," went on Paxton.

"Possibly," returned the assistant teacher.

"He and his crew were beat clean and clear," whispered one of the cadets nearby, and this opinion was the opinion of the majority who witnessed the race.

When Jack and his crew landed at the boathouse a crowd surrounded them, slapping them on the backs and shaking hands.

"It was well won!" cried Bart Conners. "But, say, wasn't there something the matter with your boat at first?"

"Sure there was," answered Pepper. "Somehow, a rope caught fast to the bottom. If it hadn't been for that I think we should have won with ease."

"I'd like to know how that rope got there," said Andy. But the mystery was never explained.

Half an hour later the race came off between the Putnam Hall cadets and the crew from Pornell Academy. None of our friends took part in this affair, and to witness it to advantage Jack, Pepper, and Andy went out in a small rowboat and stationed themselves near the course.

"There is that yacht that passed us while we were racing," observed Andy, pointing the craft out. "See the girls who waved their handkerchiefs at us."

"They look to be nice girls," said Jack. "Let us get a little closer to the yacht."

"Hullo, Jack must be smitten!" came from Pepper.

"Nonsense!" murmured Jack, turning red. "I only wanted to see who the gentleman was who is on board."

"I know him," came from Andy. "His name is Ford, and he has a fine estate further up the lake. Somebody told me he was rich. Those girls must be his daughters."

"I don't believe he knows much about handling a yacht," said the young major. "See how he is bringing her around."

"Those girls want to be careful," came from Andy. "That boom may----"

Andy got no further, for just then the yacht swung around on another tack. Around came the boom of the mainsail, hitting each of the girls on the shoulder. Just then the yacht gave a lurch, and with a wild scream of terror, the two maidens slipped over the craft's side and disappeared beneath the waters of Cayuga Lake!