Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-04-26


keeper on the bank, and the words were
echoed all along the line of boats. PLENTY
of time" said Hallett, who held the stern
rope, ready to pay ii out at the last miu-
ute. Keep your heads, and do exactly
what tell YOU, and mind, no one else says
word. Baxter, be ready to shove her off
in the bows" II took great deal to make
Hallett nervous. Three minutes gone"
Take your coats of" said Hallett again.
We flung our coats to the men on the bank,
and made ready for the struggle with
scarcely word. Nov shove her out and
pass her up little; steady, that will do.
The winds blowing on shore; mind you
keep those stroke oars clear of the bank,
Baxter"
-Four minutes gone" shouted the time
keeper, and at the same instant came the
crack of the second gun, that sent the
blood back TO my heart. "Steady now, all !;
don't look out of the boat"
Five seconds gone"
keep her well out, Baxter"
Ten seconds gone-15, 20, %, 80, 80,
40." Paddle up, diligently steady y
"45, So" "Look out, Baxter, she's drift
ing in again. "-"51, So" "Get forward,
all, and look out for the fash. Shove her
out, Baxter, for heavens sake -" So. "
and the bows of the boat were
pointing in shore. Baxter, in des-
peration, plunged into the water,
and, Selling one of the oars, showed
us out only just in time. SO, So"
heard no more We were off that was all
l knew, and the race had begun. For the
| first few strokes was unconscious of ev-
erything, even of the shouts on the bank,
but my senses soon came back, and began
to realize the work cut out for me. The
shouting on the bank was Tremendous, lull-
| ing sometimes for a moment, and then
swelling again into loud, confused roar.
You're gaining now, was the first clear
sound heard. 1t was Baxter's stentorian
voice. Quicken up, stroke, and you'll
catch them under the willows"
Iquickened, and the shouts ON the bank
told me we were getting nearer and nearer
but Oriel put on fresh squirt, and though
we continued to gain, 1t was but slowly.
"Well rowed, st. Anthony's You're
gaining again Give It to her Well
rowedl" Still there was no bump; the
excitement that had stimulated us was cool
ing now, and the work began to tell My
wind seemed utterly gone, and felt as if
could give up the race-anything, rather
than 60 on at this killing pace.
We were under the willows now; my
arms seemed giving way, and my heart
died within me, as I thought of the dis
lance we had yet to row. But then came
the thought of the glory of bump, and |
said to myself, "Now Maynard. my boy,
only three minutes more; die rather than
shut up" and with that my wind seemed
TO come back. and put on another squirt
with all the strength / had. The crew
picked it up well, and little Wingfield IN
the stern urged US on with all his might
"Stick to it! You must do it now, Lay
it onl Now for it," he cried, and then
stuck his whistle between his teeth and
blew with will. That was the signal for
our final effort. / set my teeth and tugged
as had never tugged before the voices
ON the bank grew louder and more con-
fused, our oars went slashing through the
water, and our boat tossed like cork in
the wash of the boat before us "Three
strokes more and you're into them >"
shouted Wingfeld. There was loud roar
on the bank, and slight shock through the
boat, an Easy all /" from Wingfield, and
all was over We had made our bump,
and were happy. l would not have eX-
changed places that minute with any man
you like to name Never before, and never
since, have felt anything like the calm,
triumphant happiness OF rowing pack To
our barge with the Oriel behind US, and
the cheers of half the river ringing in our
ears. And then what heroes we were as
we stepped out of the boat The cheer
ing, the patting on the back-the almost
hugging that we got Oh, it was worth
millions.
"Stroke, my lad" said Hallett, "you
mean, put in Baxter, VINO was vas greatly e *.
cited at was grand race; your squirt
at the top willow was simply splendid
Come along, old boy, you must be awfully
pumped come and sit down you're the
pluckiest little brick know"
That night, when dinner was over, a
crowd gathered on the hall steps, and Hal
lett, with huge silver cup in his hand,
that one which reminded us of our tri-
umphs at Henley, came out and drank ITO
the health of the gallant Torpid; and
then such cheers rang out as would have
been worth your while to hear And so
the first day of the races came to an end.
That was the great day for US; we bumped
two more boats, but neither Of them gave
us such race as the one have described,
and we ended second on the river.
by Joye!" said Tip, triumphantly, as
we walked up to College after the last race,
eve haven't been so high on the river for
five years won't we have rafting bump