The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

26 THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN ? Egerton had not devoted much at- tention to boating before he entered Lexicon College, and in consequence was not considered such an adept at the oar as Marsham and the Earl of Pembridge. The two last-named had rowed a tie previous day, and Egerton having criti- cised their rowing rather severely, had been jointly challenged by them, so that the race was really to decide who should be the champion oarsman, of the school. Freddy Webber, hearing this, vowed he could beat them all; and after asme good-natured chaff, was permitte? “o make one in the race, Freddy was really not a bad rower, though, of course, he stood very little chance against such dashing fellows as his opponents. . Crawley and some of his set had tried to put Baynes forward as their champion; but that worthy declined the honour, and strolled down town to Jearn the latest betting on the Leger. Having imparted the information he had acquired to those whom it most concerned, Harry stood by the river bank to watch the aquatic contest. In his heart of hearts he hoped Eger- ton would win, for, though both Mar- sham and the young peer, had always treated him with the utmost kindness, Harry remembered who had first been bis protector. Having put on their boating cos- tume, the four boys stepped into their outriggers, and slowly paddled down to the starting point, which wasabout amile and a quarter below the boat-house, the winning-post being about a quarter of a mile above that building. Charlie Fitzgerald had gone down to act as starter; Professor Moeritz being stationed at the winning-post to proclaim the winner. Both points could be distinctly seen from the boat-house, where Dr. Whack- ley, his daughters, and some of the boys, were assembled, though by far the greater number of the pupils had accompanied the German professor. A puff of white smoke announced that the signal had been given (they had agreed to start by pistol shot), and the next moment the boats were in motion. About twenty strokes had been rowed in something like half-a-minute, then oneof the rowers was seen to drop behind, : and slowly bring his boat to shore. “Freddy hare soon been beaten,” ob- served one of the spectators, “It isn’t Freddy,” said Lascelles, who had been watching through a glass, “ Who is it, then?” | “Marsham. I can’t understand why he should give up like that.” “ You must be mistaken.” “No, you will see in a minute; they will soon be here. What a pace they are coming at!” Egerton and Pembridge were rowing a fair thirty-six strokes per minute, and almost lifting their boats out of the water. To the suprise of every one, Freddy Webber was not many yards behind them, struggling hard to distinguish himself, “How splendidly the earl feathers his oar!” observed a boy named Seaton. “Yes; but you see his stroke is flagging. He has not the same power of endurance as Egerton,” said Las- celles, “Of course you stick up for Frank.” ‘And I am right to do so. See, he puts on a spurt, and gradually draws a-head.” His remark was perfectly correct. The King of the School was slowly yet surely creeping away. “And see, Freddy puts on a spurt,” remarked Seaton. Webber, who was at least a dozen yards behind the others, though no one had fancied he would be able to gain or keep such a position, was seen to be working most violently in hopes of improving his chance of success. But the race, however, was between Pembridge and Egerton. The young earl had a vast amount of pluck in him, and would not see that EO MAICLOOC EO mn