The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-08

In her eye.
"And that too r T said and plunged
nv hands in my pockets with groan,
for of course there was nothing but dead
failure before the Cheviots.
"Still, all We can do is our best, y
said Harden and We used his remark
for a catch-word every day probably
during the following weeks.
The thing being decided, we ordered q
new boat at once, and went into train
ing, messing together, and keeping up
each others spirits by stories OF what we
had heard of the Gaths' achievements.
We received a little encouragement,
however, from the fact that We soon
found ourselves pulling remarkably we'll
together bat the Gaths had been pull
ing remarkably well together long
enough to feel themselves entitled to
challenge US as the champions.
Boys" said I, fearing that, if this
state of mind continued, our defeat
would be our disgrace also, / lately
heard competent authority declare that
brute strength never yet won anywhere.
If that was all We had, we'd lose this
race anyway, the Gaths have 80 much
more than their share. Science science,
gentlemen, tells in the long-run, and
where the lions skin falls short, we
must exc it out with the fo1's."
"Shakspeare," said little Jersey.
"Just leave this out to me-" said I,
"and we'll see what can be done"
Accordingly I had cutriggers attached
to the shell full four inches longer than
any VIC ever had before. Our oars were
the heaviest made, but I had them
plugged with handles an extra length.
It wanted only week OF the day,
when dreadful whisper stole through
the club that Rogers was falling off. 1t
was too true: he had trained too fine,
and-Job was a joke to him. The whole
club turned out in force, and there were
q dozen men at one time in our quarters
bringing up reinforcements of hot poul-
tices. It was of no use, Rogers had to
lie by, and We had to do the best we
could again, gnash our teeth, and take
Devlin for what he was worth in the
place. "Give it to him gently, said
Harden on the first night; 50 we pulled
at gool and reasonable gait down to
the turning-point, rested under the green
shadow of the great hills there that fell
half across the river, and made it 80
transparent that We seemed to be swing.
ing in bubble, the face OF the river,
far and near, still rs a crystal except
where our keel had rippled through it,
and we went back at little livelier rate,
and Devlin was very we'll pleased with
himself. The next day We quickened
matters considerably but on the third,
as we stepped in, I said, "Now, Devlin,
look to YOURSELF" gave the stroke, and
we shot away. Before We reached the
shadow of the hills Devlin was swing
ing about his seat and rowing all at
loose ends.
"Hold hard, old boy " muttered Jer-
sey behind him. "I'm nearly blown
myself, but I'll never say die!" Devlin
picked himself up for the time, but a
moment or two after we turned he
cried, or rather gasped, Gentlemen, if
this is the way you row, must get out
Of this boat. What's more, you don't
need mo-"
"Sick of it?" said Jersey, encourag-
ingly.: $50 am T. Should Like to
throw it up myself"
"Ease him off little, Geoffreys." "
said Harden and we came in leisurely.
But after one or two days further labor
there was no complaint from Devlin
I'm going to put it through if it breaks
things" said he; and he rowed as the
rest did-as if he We had but one heart
in four bodies.
The day before the race the Gaths ar
rived. OF course we had to receive
them, do the honors, and show them the
town and the girls and the river. With
them came their boat swell thing,
can assure you, covered to the nose with
linen, and in charge Of their own iani-
tor. As we hadn't any designs ON their
boat, and although expecting them to
win, only meant to make them earn
their honors, We didn't object to the
janitor. But when We went up to the
boathouse and saw him sitting there,
the picture Of gentle pity and compla'
cent contempt for all boatmen in crea-
tion but Gaths, we knew what good rea.
son he had for his complacency in the
proud possession of his giants, and felt
1t slightly exasperating.
"How's the water ?" said I, as We
stepped down the slip, for the wind was
blowing through the hills in gusts, and
there was good chop on the river.
"Calm's pond" said he placidly.
We looked at each other and groaned
inwardly-the Gaths had always rowed
on the bay, about the same as sea
water, and we had rowed on smooth
inland surface chop and swell that
would annihilate US would be water
over which they would skim like sc
many Canillas DER the plain. But We
went off quietly, serenading the ianl
tor with "Weel may the boatie row !!
as we went. Our new boat had come
and waited for US, outriggers and all
and We had taken her down to spot
secure from observation, and given bel
thorough trial. She was beauty
and from the moment she took water
answered to our will not merely like {
steed beneath its rider, but as the
breath does in ones nostrils. We came
in after our breather on an easy jog
and there sat the janitor as We had lef
him. 81 say" said he, with the air o.
! keeping the sad secret from our superi
ors, as T came up the slip-"I say. Il
that the best you can dol"
"Best ?" I answered. 81 can't say
| that it is. We weren't on our mettlt
just now, you know. suppose that VI
could do little better on o squirt. Blu
perhaps that is fair average"
"I'm sorry for you," said he, will
really compassionate condescension, no
that we were to be simply beaten, bu
that We were to be beaten out of sight
But I had heard that in diplomacy it il
sometimes what is not said that counts
and there we're certain things to be reat
between the lines of my reply.
The first thing that we looked for il
the morning was the water: it was a
smooth as haby's cheek, and as ros.
in the sunrise that stole over it between
the dewy shadows of the steep ant
woody shores. Later in the forenoon
some of the club went to the railwa.
station, happening to be with them, t.
meet certain friends OF the Gaths wh'
came over for the day, among the res
some wonderfully pretty girls, one o
whom knew Harden would rather hav'
in Jericho than on the boathouse bal
cony that afternoon to see the Gath
corna in host man Kate and several o