The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? 59 he was beaten, though the boys on ‘the banks already hailed Egerton as winner. “ Bravo, Frank ! Hurrah for the King of the School!” shouted Lascelles. ‘*And hurrah for the earl of Pem- bridge!” bawled Seaton. ‘Hurrah for the earl!” responded Lascelles, though not quite so heartily as he had cheered Egerton. Yet he could not help admiring the indomitable pluck of the young peer. “Egerton wins! Egerton wins!” was now the general shout. ‘‘No! Pembridge for ever!” The earl had actually managed to get his boat’s nose at least a yard in front. It seemed that things were to be entirely altered. The boats were not more than twenty yards from the winning-post, Freddy still maintaining his post about twelve or fifteen yards behind, when suddenly the Joe Miller of the School, as Web- ber was sometimes called, managed to catch a crab. Of course the immediate result was that he fell out of his boat, and cir- cumstances seemed very much against his ever regaining terra firma, for the lookers on had entirely lost sight of him, and were watching with the most intense earnestness the struggle between the earl and Frank Egerton. Freddy, it should be observed, was unable to swim, and therefore, strictly speaking, had no business upon the water. “Egerton has won, hurrah!” he heard every one shout, and then he sank. The King of the School had won, his boat being a yard in advance of the other, and loudly were he and his op- ponent cheered as they stepped ashore. Both were very exhausted, and had to be helped home, followed at a little distance by Kate Conway. “Who is that in the water?” sud- ap denly exclaimed Doctor Whackley, as his eye wandered over the late race- course. “Why, it must be Freddy Webber, 1” said Seaton. “ But who is that in after nim?” cried Lascelles. “Don’t know,” responded Seaton. “Jt is not one of our fellows.” Lascelles immediately stepped into one of the boats and rowed to the spot.” “Bravo, Harry!” he _ exclaimed, when he saw who was attempting to rescue Webber. The rescuer was Harry, the poor lad who had been protected and helped by the pupils of Lexicon College. Freddy Webber was quite as ob- stinate in the water as out of it, and insisted upon being saved in his own way. ) His idea was to clasp Harry round the neck and cling to him; a proceeding that would certainly have drowned both. Lascelles saw it, and, by a quick stroke, sent his boat between them, thus preventing Freddy from adding murder to suicide, as he afterwards observed. “Cling on, one each side,” said he, as soon as he had effectually parted them. Fortunately, Freddy hadsense enough to understand the command. Not seeing Harry, he caught hold of the boat, and, the water not being very cold, had no great difficulty in support- ing himself. Poor Harry caught hold on the other side; Lascelles used the oars gently, and very soon had both of them on shore. Loud applause greeted both, and so delighted was Doctor Whackley with Harry’s courageous conduct, that he publicly expressed his intention of tak- ing the poor boy under his own care and protection sir Cowes et COMM A) DOOKS (CO mn