"Hear the shouts, and they seem to be from the upriver people. Does that mean Clifford is ahead?" demanded Frank's sister, springing to her feet.
"Clifford has turned the upper stake ahead. And Frank surely said he intended to do that trick," replied Ralph, trying to smile.
"Will they be beaten, do you think? Is that going to upset all Frank's plans?" Helen continued to ask, solicitously.
"Oh! not necessarily. You see one of the boats had to come around last, and it might just as well be ours. Perhaps Frank changed his mind after that last confidential talk with Coach Willoughby. Perhaps the coach has such confidence in the power of Frank's crew to beat out the others that he wants Columbia to be just hanging on the flank of Clifford most of the way down."
Ralph said this bravely enough, but all the same deep down in his faithful heart he felt as though a cold hand had fallen. Could it be possible that something had befallen Columbia again, and that they were being left far in the lurch by their lusty young rivals.
"How far do you suppose Clifford is in the lead?"
"Will Frank be able to make it up if he leaves it to the last half mile?"
"Can't you find out just how they stand, please?"
Bombarded by such questions Ralph was at his wits ends how to reply.
"That's where the signal relay stations along the course show a weak place. They have no means of telling anything except which boat leads. But we won't have long to wait now, because they're coming flying down-stream like the wind. Listen, girls!"