ded pretty nearly
as fresh as when he started.

So far so good. Loud and long were our exultations, for we had hardly
expected to win this race; we had put our chief confidence on the
hundred yards, which was to follow. In this race three a side were
entered, and of our three we knew no one in the school who could beat
Halley at a hundred yards. It was rumoured, indeed, that Payne, one of
the three "sixers," had been doing very well in training, but the
reports of him were not sufficiently decided to shake our faith in our
own hero.

It was an anxious moment as they stood there waiting for the doctor's
signal. If only we could win this race, we should have our two races
out of the three in hand without further combat.

"Go!" cried the doctor; and at the word six youthful forms plunge into
the water, and for a second are lost to sight. But the moral of the
half-mile race has evidently been taken to heart by these six boys.
They waste neither time nor wind under the surface, but rising quickly,
dash to their work. After the first few strokes Payne showed in front,
greatly to the delight of the "sixers," who felt that everything
depended on their man. We, however, were glad to see our man sticking
close up, and keeping stroke for stroke after his rival. Of the others,
one only--little Watson--of the sixth seemed to hold his own, and that
was a good three yards in the rear of Halley: while the three others
fell off hopelessly from the very beginning.

The race was short, but eventful. To our delight, Halley overhauled
Payne before half-way was reached, and we felt now absolutely sure of
the race. It never occurred to us to think of young Watson at all. But
all of a sudden it became apparent that that young man meant business.
He changed his front, so to speak, in a very unexpected manner, and just
as we were beginning to exult over our man's certain victory, he lay
over on his side, and, with a peculiar, jerky side-stroke, began to work
his little carcase through the water at a wonderful pace.

Before long he had overtaken his fellow-"sixer," and almost immediately
drew up to our champion. We were in consternation. Twenty yards more
would end the race, and if only our man could hold out and keep his
lead, we were all right. At first it looked as if he would, for,
encouraged by our cheers, and seeing his peril, he spurted, and kept a
good yard ahead of this audacious young "sixer." But the latter put one