Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/290

268 dock, round the island, and come back to the starting point.

"You've got to hump yourself, Dave," whispered Phil. "Plum is a dandy skater. He has won more than one match."

"And Nat Poole is a good skater, too," added Ben. "He won the race at Bedloe Lake last winter."

"I think I can beat them," returned the country youth, confidently. As he had said before, he did not attempt fancy skating, but loved long stretches, and his wind was good, as had been proved on the football field.

The three contestants lined up, and at the word from a youth selected to act as starter they were off like a shot, side by side.

"That's a fine start," observed Buster Beggs.

A hundred yards were quickly covered, and then Dave shot ahead like an arrow from a bow.

"Porter is in the lead!" was the cry.

"Never mind, the race is young yet!" came back from one of Gus Plum's cronies.

On and on went the contestants, their skates making a sharp grinding on the glassy surface of the river. A few of the boys went after them, to see that each rounded the island properly.

By the time the island was gained Plum and Poole made a spurt and came up abreast of Dave. The latter was on the outside, and so had to make