ce in the stroke, and he was only waiting
until they reached a certain spot marked in his mind as the place where
the final spurt must be made.

"Now, Riverport, once more, and for the last time, _give way!_" came in
the shrill tones of the coach.

Immediately the final spurt was on. Mechanicsburg, too, had been
holding just a mite in reserve for this killing last quarter of a mile.
As a consequence, the two boats seemed to retain about the same
relative position as before, despite this change of stroke to a faster
one.

The excitement ashore, as they drew rapidly nearer the line, was
tremendous. Some fellows jumped up and down, waving their hats, and
shrieking; while girls swung their colored banners frantically any way,
in order to add to the confusion.

But there was not a single one who would remove their eyes for even a
second from the stirring spectacle of those two shells, spinning side
by side down the river, with only the little space of a second, as it
were, marking the difference between victory and defeat.

Now they were close on the line, and Mechanicsburg gave one mighty
pull, as if hoping to send their boat at least level with that of their
antagonists, so that the chances of a tie might be improved.

"Look at Riverport, would you? They've been keeping it back all the
time!"

"Oh! my, what a spurt! See 'em go, boys! We win! we win! Riverport
takes the race! Hurrah! whoop! R-i-v-e-r-p-o-r-t! Siss! boom! ah!"

Amidst the roar of uncounted voices, the booming of several cannon held
in readiness for just this very purpose, the bleating of horns, and
everything else that could be utilized to create a racket, the
Riverport shell shot pass the deciding stakeboat, fully a length ahead
of their rivals.

It had been a clean race, with not a single note of discord. Although
beaten, Mechamcsburg had carried their colors with honor; and a mighty
shout from friend and foe alike attested to the satisfaction felt by
all who had witnessed the close contest.

CHAPTER XXV

BRIGHT SKIES

Riverport went fairly wild that night over the success of the school
crew in the race against the crack oarsmen of Mechanicsburg. Perhaps
there were a few fellows who took little or no satisfaction in the
great victory. Buck Lemington might be set down as one of these;
because, as a rule, Buck never enjoyed seeing his school win, unless he
could be the central attraction, the hero to whom the plaudits of the
cheering