Either contestant
who dives before the second shot is heard will be disqualified
and then the race will go to the other contestant."
Dick waited, tingling with the desire to win, though he knew that
Martin was a splendid swimmer for his age.
"Are you ready?" asked Len in a low voice. Both boys nodded.
Bang! Len fired a revolver into the air, calling the attention
of all spectators. Dick and Hi stepped nimbly to the edge of
the raft, poising with hands pointed.
Bang! The splash was simultaneous as the swimmers struck the
water. Each swimmer made a shallow dive and came up. Hi at once
dropped into an overhead stroke, Dick relying upon a side stroke.
For the first seventy-five yards, as nearly as the onlookers could
judge, the boys swam nose and nose.
"I'll tire this fellow out with a good pace, and then take a better
one," thought Hi Martin. "I'm going to make a finish that will
stop Dick Prescott from bragging whenever he sees me around hereafter."
Dick still swam well, but gradually Martin stole ahead of him.
"Where's Prescott now?" jeered a dozen North Grammar boys.
"Centrals, send out a launch to tow your champ! Then maybe he'll
make better time."
Hi swam steadily and rapidly until he had more than half covered
the course.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214