The signal was given, and the two boats dashed off. The race was very nearly a repetition of the first one. Richard kept a sufficient quantity of muscle in reserve for the last half mile of the race, and came in about a boat length ahead of the Emma. The one and a half length's difference in the two races seemed precisely to indicate the amount of virtue in black lead.
RICHARD WINS THE RACE.
Page 240
Again the thundering cheers of the Grant party reverberated over the lake and through the grove. Nevers was astonished, as well as angry, and his face was darker than ever.
"Are you satisfied now, Nevers?" asked the colonel, when the Alice and the Emma came alongside the stake boat.
"Yes, sir," replied he, desperately; "but I don't understand it."
"I do," said the principal. "The other crew pull better than yours. I never saw better pulling in my life than those fellows showed us. I hope there is no hard feeling between you."
"No, sir," replied Nevers; but his looks and his tones belied his words.
"He will pull us all down at this rate," muttered Redman, as the Emma left the stake boat.
"Something must be done," added Nevers. "He has got half the fellows on his side now."