The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview
TextCHAPTER XLI.
A LAST RACE – GOOD-BYE TO THE RIVAL OARSMEN
“Hurrah, here they come!”
“It’s going to be a dandy race, Harry.”
“Indeed it is, Dick.”
“There comes Hosmer!”
“Here comes Pinkney!”
“What’s the matter with Villelet?”
“He’s all right!”
The conversation took place on the bank of the Hudson River, not far from Poughkeepsie.
It was the day of the great intercollegiate boat races.
The single-shell race had just been ordered.
Among the number to compete in this race was Jerry Upton.
Our hero was rich now – that is, his folks were, which amounted to the same thing.
On trial it had been proven what a villain Alexander Slocum was. All of his masquerading in the west under the name of Darnley was exposed, as well as his fraudulent land schemes in the east. The real-estate manipulator was sent to prison for a term of years, and the property in California was divided up between Jerry’s father, Nellie Ardell and several others who held an interest in it.
The land was found to be within the city limits of Sacramento, and the Upton share was computed to be worth forty-five thousand dollars.
Mr. Upton was offered forty thousand dollars for it, but by the advice of Colonel Dartwell, who became his intimate friend, he concluded to keep it.
“The investment is bringing in good interest,” he said, “and as it was Jerry who did the work in getting it, the lad shall have it just as it stands when I and my wife die.”
Immediately after these matters were settled up, Jerry began to study for college, and Harry did also, and both made the entrance examination with ease.
Jerry was a fine scholar and he was also one of the best oarsmen in his class. Harry likewise rowed a good deal, although not near as much as formerly.
It was a perfect day and the river was, filled with pleasure boats, loaded down to the rails with sightseers. The banks of the stream were likewise lined with the crowds which had poured in to see the various college oarsmen compete for the supremacy in aquatic sports.
In the crowd on shore was our old friend Blumpo Brown. Blumpo was now in business at Lakeview, letting out pleasure boats, of which he owned several, and he was unusually prosperous. Just at present he was wearing the colors of Jerry’s college and “whooping her up” for our hero whenever the chance presented itself.
At the given signal the single shells took their places at the starting point.
The participants were the pick of the single-shell men, and Jerry realized that he would have a struggle to win.
A puff of smoke, the report of a gun, and they were off!
“A fine start!”
“Hosmer leads!”
“He will lead to the finish!”
“Pinkney is a close second!”
“Jerry Upton is third!”
“My! but they are cutting the water!”
“Two to one that Hosmer wins!”
“Three to one that the record is broken!”
“Foah to one dat Jerry Upton wins dis race!” cried Blumpo Brown, waving a big college flag over his head. “Dat boy don’t know what it is to lose!”
“Hear that chap talk!”
“Pitch him overboard to cool him off!”
“Dat’s all right, it’s Jerry Upton’s muscle dat’s talkin’, not me!” growled Blumpo.
Down the straight course came the single-shell oarsmen, each back bending to a long and powerful stroke.
The quarter stretch was past with Hosmer still in the lead.
Behind him came Pinkney and Jerry, side by side.
Then came the half stretch. The leaders still held the same positions.
“Told you Hosmer would win!”
“Jerry Upton is falling behind!”
It was true. Pinkney had increased his stroke and was crawling up slowly but surely to the leader.
“Pull, Jerry, pull,” yelled Harry.
“You dun got to win dat race, suah!” screamed Blumpo.
Jerry heard them, but paid no heed. He was rowing the race of the year – the race that would make his college chums shout with joy or look glum for the balance of the season.
And now the three-quarter mark was past. A quarter of a mile more and the race would be over.
“See! Pinkney is drawing up to Hosmer!”
“Pinkney leads! Hosmer has dropped away behind!”
“Pinkney first and Jerry Upton second!”
“Villelet is crawling up!”
“He has passed Pinkney!”
And so the shouting went on. The end of the course was in sight. How the oarsmen were pulling! But now look at Jerry.
How like a flash his back bends! How powerful is that broad stroke! How quick his recovery!
In vain Pinkney tried to hold his lead. Jerry means to win and nothing can hold him back.
He fairly flies past Pinkney and comes in a winner by a length and a half. His friends go wild.
“Hurrah for Jerry Upton!” shouts Harry.
And the cheers echo and re-echo along the water and back to the distant hills.
Blumpo dances a breakdown for joy.
“I told you he could do it,” he cries. “Da can’t beat our Jerry nohow!”
“That’s right, they can’t!” adds Harry. “Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!”
Jerry leaves his shell, and is hoisted up upon the shoulders of his friends and marched around the town.
That night he is given a big reception by his fellow students. It is the happiest moment of his life.
And here we will leave him and Harry and Blumpo, and all of the rest, shouting as do our hero’s many friends:
“Hurrah for the Young Oarsman of Lakeview!”