Everyone of Dick's chums was desperate. So was Dick himself, but he kept as cool as possible.
"Bring our prow up!" he called steadily. "No matter what happens, bring our prow up flush with Trentville!"
By some miracle the Gridley boys found strength enough left in their arms and backs to accomplish this feat.
Then the "Scalp-hunter" dropped behind again, an inch at a time.
"We caught 'em once!" called Dick in an even voice. "We must do it again. One, two, three, four! Hump! hump! Put in the power!"
By inches the "Scalp-hunter" crawled up, but Dick & Co. felt completely exhausted.
"You've been doing well, kid," called the even voice of Ted Pascal over the water, "but you can't do any more. We take this race!"
"Do you?" dared Dick.
"Yes; you're all in, and we have reserve steam left."
"Have you?" snapped young Prescott. "Then now is the time to prove it."