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246 though the championship of the river depended on it.

Then the second eight began falling behind. The lads made a gallant effort to keep up, but the grind was too much for them.

"It's up to us now!" declared Jerry, in a low voice. "I'm going to push you fellows!" and he set the stroke at a heart-breaking pace.

His lads stood the "gaff" for a while, and then, noting the distress on the faces of several, Jerry, much against his will, had to lower the rapidity of the stroke.

Boxer Hall had held pace with her rival, giving them stroke for stroke, and now as Pinky saw his opponents in distress, he called for a quick spurt. And to the credit of Boxer Hall, be it said that her men responded in excellent style. They kept up the pace until, in a swirl of water, they had passed the varsity Randall eight, leaving that and the second craft behind. And then, to show that they had their nerve with them, the Boxer Hall rowers did not let up for another minute, sending their craft on at racing speed, even after they had won, and Randall was resting on her oars, completely "tuckered out."

It was a bad beating for Randall, and the faces of the two coaches as they came up in their launch showed the disappointment they felt.