“I shall say ‘Are you ready?’ once; if I receive no reply I shall say ‘Go!’”
The referee’s voice came through the megaphone with sudden warning.
“Touch her easy, Two,” said the cox in quiet unconcerned tones. “That’ll do; steady, Two!”
Trevor’s gaze, suddenly roaming to the other boat, saw the rival cox, a red-haired, spidery-looking youth, bending forward, his eyes alert but steady, his hands gripped tight about the lines. The little throng near at hand had grown quiet, almost silent. His head ached a bit, and his eyes——
“Are you ready?”
His heart gave a leap that threatened to choke him; then sank quickly, suddenly; he waited—waited. Would the word never come? The breeze was ruffling the back of Waters’s shirt. The sun was very bright, and the small waves reflected its rays in the manner of a thousand mirrors. Surely the referee had——
“GO!”
There was a rush of blades through the water, a sudden leap, a confused rattling of many oars, a seething on every side, a shouting from bank and boats. The race was on!