From the judges' launch, as soon as the din had died down a bit, came the announcement through a megaphone:
"Gridley High School wins by three quarters of a length."
Dick heard the news, then ordered quietly:
"Paddle—-easily."
A turn of his own blade swung the prow around so that the "Scalp-hunter" glided in toward the hotel landing float.
To-day he had no jubilant mob of Gridleyites to fear in the excess of their joy. Only some very gentle friends of their own town came hurrying forward to congratulate them.
But Dr. Bentley gripped Dick's arm as soon as that young man stepped from the canoe.
"Bring your crew along and follow me, Prescott," whispered the physician. "You are a limp-looking lot. That was a wild, splendid finish, but I fear you may have put it too hard to your crew. I want to examine you all, to make sure that not too much harm has been done by your desperate 'kill yourself' order."
Dr. Bentley led the way to the boathouse, while a hotel employ took charge of the "Scalp-hunter."
He listened briefly at each boy's heart, then made them all sit still for ten minutes. At the end of that time he examined them again as to heart beat. Half an hour later he made a third examination.