Six cadets entered the race, and at a word from a lad on the shore all struck out sturdily for the rock that was to be the turning spot of the contest.
At first Pepper was ahead, with Fred second, but presently Emerald drew to the front, followed by Dale.
“Hi, this won’t do!” cried Jack, good naturedly. “Throw out your anchor!”
“Sure, an’ I can’t sthop, so I can’t!” answered Hogan.
As the six swimmers made the turn at the rock one after the other, a rowboat shot into view. It was that containing Reff Ritter and Gus Coulter.
“Racing, eh?” murmured the bully, crossly. He had not slept well the night before and was all out of sorts.
“I’d like to spoil their fun for ’em,” returned Coulter.
“Maybe we can do it,” went on the bully, craftily. “They have no right to get in the way of our boat.”
“Say, you wouldn’t run ’em down, would you?” asked his crony, anxiously.
“Not very hard, Gus—only enough to break up their race.”