Page:Boys of Columbia High on the River.djvu/142

 CHAPTER XIV

THE GREAT RACE

" leads!"

"This is what we've been waiting for!"

"Look at Bellport pull up, will you? Go it, you tigers! Hurrah!"

"Careful, Frank, careful, boy!"

Amidst the riot and confusion of sounds that listening ear of the young Columbia coxswain caught this last shout through the megaphone.

He realized that it sprang from the coach, who was moving along the road that skirted the river all the way up to Rattail Island, keeping pace with the boats.

Frank knew what he was to do, and glanced immediately toward the spot from whence the admonition had sprung. He saw Coach Willoughby waving his arm in a certain way. That meant he was to slightly increase his motion, and bring the pull of the oars up two strokes to the minute.

In a race of this sort each boat is looked upon Rh