Presently the boat touched the shore, and the boys all leaped out and took up their positions upon the ledge of rock from which they were to start.
"Are you ready?" called out the starter. "Then go."
And with a tremendous splash the whole six plunged into the water like one man.
The next moment they were all at the surface again, and cleaving the calm water at the top of their speed.
Frank was using his favourite overhand stroke, Jack the side stroke, and the rest the ordinary breast stroke.
For some distance there was little difference between them. You might have covered them with a handkerchief, so to speak. Then, little by little, Frank and Jack, keeping well together, began to draw away from George and Hal, who in their turn led the other two.
By the time the centre of the Arm was reached, it was plain to all that the race lay between the two friends, and amid cheers and shouts of "Go it, Frank!" "Hit her up, Jack!" "Pretty work, both of you; keep it up!" they ploughed through the water side by side.
"JACK FELT HIMSELF WEAKENING."
Three-fourths of the distance was now covered, and their positions were unchanged, when with a pang that went right to his heart Jack felt himself weakening.