Jerry was a fine scholar and he was also one of the best oarsmen in his class. Harry likewise rowed a good deal, although not near as much as formerly.
It was a perfect day and the river was filled with pleasure boats, loaded down to the rails with sightseers. The banks of the stream were likewise lined with the crowds which had poured in to see the various college oarsmen compete for the supremacy in aquatic sports.
In the crowd on short was our old friend Blumpo Brown. Blumpo was now in business at Lakeview, letting out pleasure boats, of which he owned several, and he was unusually prosperous. Just at present he was wearing the colors of Jerry’s college and “whooping her up” for our hero whenever the chance presented itself.
At the given signal the single shells took their places at the starting point.
The participants were the pick of the single-shell men, and Jerry realized that he would have a struggle to win.
A puff of smoke, the report of a gun, and they were off!
“A fine start!”
“Hosmer leads!”
“He will lead to the finish!”
“Pinkney is a close second!”