Dick waited, tingling with the desire to win, though he knew that
Martin was a splendid swimmer for his age.
"Are you ready?" asked Len in a low voice. Both boys nodded.
Bang! Len fired a revolver into the air, calling the attention of all spectators. Dick and Hi stepped nimbly to the edge of the raft, poising with hands pointed.
Bang! The splash was simultaneous as the swimmers struck the water. Each swimmer made a shallow dive and came up. Hi at once dropped into an overhead stroke, Dick relying upon a side stroke.
For the first seventy-five yards, as nearly as the onlookers could judge, the boys swam nose and nose.
"I'll tire this fellow out with a good pace, and then take a better one," thought Hi Martin. "I'm going to make a finish that will stop Dick Prescott from bragging whenever he sees me around hereafter."
Dick still swam well, but gradually Martin stole ahead of him.
"Where's Prescott now?" jeered a dozen North Grammar boys.
"Centrals, send out a launch to tow your champ! Then maybe he'll make better time."
Hi swam steadily and rapidly until he had more than half covered the course. Then he ventured on a look behind him.