“What’s up, Jerry?”
“This one has been strained and cracked. An extra hard pull on it, and it would give out.”
A murmur arose.
“Who did this?”
“Some enemy wants Jerry to lose, sure!”
How the blade had got into that condition was a mystery.
But now was no time to speculate on the affair. A new set of blades must be procured at once.
Luckily there was a pair belonging to a private party to be had. They were just the same size and weight.
“I would rather have my own, but I’ll make these do, and beat them in spite of all,” said Jerry.
At a given signal six of the boat club boys marched down the float carrying Jerry’s shell, which had been polished and oiled until it shone like a mirror.