Page:Boys of Columbia High on the River.djvu/118

108 bulk he was considered fit sport for all the strangers.

"Look at the sportive elephant!" shouted one fellow who wore the Clifford ribbon on his straw hat.

"'Taint fair," shouted another, this time from Bellport; "we've only entered one to a tub and Columbia has rolled three in one."

"Watch out for that feller! He's Buster Billings, and they say he can paddle a wash tub like fun! It comes natural, because his daddy runs the only laundry in town!"

"What"s the course?" demanded a stranger.

"Across the river and back. Got to fight the current too. It's no cinch, boys. I tried it once, and kept turning around all the time. There they go! Hurrah!"

With the crack of the pistol the four contestants began to paddle frantically, amid a howling chorus of encouragement. The excitement grew in volume as it was seen that the paddlers appeared to keep pretty well together.

They splashed water upon one another, and each did everything possible to further his own progress at the expense of the rest.

Men, women and young people were shouting until the tears came. But the four occupants of the revolving tubs seemed to be in deadly earnest. They watched each other jealously. If one seemed