The knowledge that another rivalry had broken out interested most of the campers, although a very few were so much taken up with other tasks and hobbies, such as photography, that they declined to become enthusiastic.
The two clumsy boats which Peg had ambitiously called “shells,” were overhauled and put in as good condition as possible. Though, being old craft and rather dilapidated, there was a fair chance that one of them might leak so badly that it would necessitate a stop during the contest in order to bail. To make things fair, however, it was arranged that should such a delay occur a certain signal was to be given by the victim, which would call for a halt on the part of the other competitor until the leaking boat had been relieved of its unwelcome cargo of water. Then again would operations be resumed.
At a signal from Mr. Rowland away went the rivals, both using the oars at a furious rate, although they had been cautioned by the athletic conductor to be deliberate, and not to exhaust themselves in the beginning of the race.
Both lads had stripped, and donned their swimming trunks, the better to be able to take care of themselves should any serious accident befall them while speeding across the water toward the small island that was to represent the turning point. Moreover, each boat contained a life preserver, for those who had the safety of the Y. M. C. A. boys in their keeping took no unnecessary chances.
In their excitement both contestants forgot most of the instructions so carefully given by Mr. Rowland. When one found that the other was forging ahead ever so little it meant that on his part he had to row harder in order to close up the gap before it grew to discouraging proportions. Those on Bass Island could see that neither contestant rowed in a manner that was to his credit, for there seemed to be an unusual amount of splashing done as the oars fell hurriedly into the water.
Peg turned the island a little in the lead, and from this the onlookers fancied Dan’s boat must either be leaking, or else his energies were flagging under the heavy strain.
On the way back Peg seemed to be increasing his lead, and it looked as if the race were bound to go to him. But Dick, who knew that Dan was a hard fellow to beat, did not share in that conviction.
“Wait!” he told the group of shouting boys. “No race is decided until it is finished. Dan may have a card up his sleeve yet. See! both have stopped and are resting on their oars. I think Dan has given the signal that he must ‘pump ship,’ for I remember that his boat is a shade the worse of the two. But the rest will give Dan the second wind he often needs. Then watch him make things fly.”
As it turned out Dick was exactly right in his prediction. After the race was resumed it seemed that Dan had received much more benefit from the rest than had Peg, for it was noticed that the gap between the two boats was closing. Despite the almost frantic efforts of Peg the distance separating the rivals grew less and less. When the boats were a short distance away from the shore of Bass Island they seemed to be on even terms. But this was not to last.
Dan had a certain amount of strength left which enabled him to push the nose of his boat ahead of the opposing craft. That discouraged Peg, and he lost heart in the race, well knowing that in his exhausted condition he could never regain the lead. Indeed, the boy crumpled up in his seat, and allowed his boat to push on with its acquired momentum until it reached land.