ee the best crew win.
Naturally he hoped it would fall to his side to arrive at the Riverport
bridge ahead; but it must be a clean, fair win to satisfy him; for
trickery and Brad Morton did not pull together very well.

Of course the two boats did not always keep exactly on even terms. As
one or the other crew exerted themselves a trifle beyond the ordinary
there would be a little change. Sometimes it was the outlaw crew that
made this gain; and then, on the other hand, Brad would do something to
not only even up, but take them a quarter of a boat's length ahead.

It was what might be called a heart-breaking row, and seemed to be
anybody's race at the time they shot past Mechanicsburg.

A few score of people were seen running to the river's edge, shouting
their astonishment and delight. Nobody paid the slightest heed to them,
however, for the warmth of the race occupied their attention.

And now there were only three more miles before they would arrive at
the railroad bridge, which must be accepted as the final goal.

Going down-stream, and at the amazing speed they were now traveling,
three miles could not take much time.

"Keep it up, fellows, and we win!" Brad said, again and again, almost
unconsciously; for he was watching the river ahead closely for signs of
a rock which he knew lay under the surface at a certain point, with an
eddy betraying its presence.

He hoped Buck was also aware of its being there, for really it would be
too bad if the other boat, with such a history back of it, should be
finally wrecked. Brad was almost tempted to shout out a warning, when
he saw with one look behind, that, judging from the change in course,
Buck was fighting shy of the dangerous quarter. He had been brought up
on the banks of the Mohunk, and ought to be acquainted with every foot
of ground and water in the vicinity.

The pace had now reached the limit. Neither of the young crews seemed
capable of doing any more. But Brad made a discovery that appalled him.
Colon was weakening! The boy had received such a shock on the previous
day, when he came so near being drowned in the river, that he was not
in as good condition for bearing the tremendous nervous strain as the
balance of the crew.

Brad recognized the signs, and feared the worst. Unless they could
relax presently Colon would have to give up exhausted. And, of course,
that would lose them the race.

It was too bad, and Brad, being a high-spirited lad, would fe