All this had happened amid so much confusion and excitement on the lake, that before Harry realized it the stricken oarsman had been transferred to the motor-boat, which went chugging back up the course. Then he and Gordon stared blankly at each other. Even if they had had the presence of mind to call to Dr. Brent, it is doubtful if they could have made themselves heard above the tumult.
“It was Red Deer, Harry.”
“Sure it was—and that was Mac they lifted out.”
“Who is Red Deer?” asked Miss Crosby, excitedly. “Were those scouts that won?”
For a moment Harry was too preoccupied to explain. “Yes, those were scouts that won,” he then said abstractedly.
The clamorous shrieking of the launch containing the blue-sweater fellows brought them out of their daze. Their scoutmaster had actually appeared and disappeared before them amid excited throngs here at this remote little village. Two of their own fellow scouts had, by almost superhuman effort, won a race before their very eyes. Yes, and those were the only two fellows in the troop who could have done it—save one. And now one of them had given out, and there was the final heat still to be raced.
“These are our regulations,—
There’s just one fate for the scout,
And the hayseeds, too,
And when we’re through