按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
practice about equal； advantage of the narrow boat equal to three
lengths； whole distance allowed the Atalantas eight lengths；a long
stretch to be made up in a mile and a half。
And so both crews began practising for the grand trial。
II
THE BOAT…RACE。
The 10th of June was a delicious summer day； rather warm； but still
and bright。 The water was smooth； and the crews were in the best
possible condition。 All was expectation； and for some time nothing
but expectation。 No boat…race or regatta ever began at the time
appointed for the start。 Somebody breaks an oar； or somebody fails
to appear in season； or something is the matter with a seat or an
outrigger； or if there is no such excuse； the crew of one or both or
all the boats to take part in the race must paddle about to get
themselves ready for work； to the infinite weariness of all the
spectators； who naturally ask why all this getting ready is not
attended to beforehand。 The Algonquins wore plain gray flannel suits
and white caps。 The young ladies were all in dark blue dresses；
touched up with a red ribbon here and there； and wore light straw
hats。 The little coxswain of the Atalanta was the last to step on
board。 As she took her place she carefully deposited at her feet a
white handkerchief wrapped about something or other； perhaps a
sponge； in case the boat should take in water。
At last the Algonquin shot out from the little nook where she lay；
long； narrow； shining； swift as a pickerel when he darts from the
reedy shore。 It was a beautiful sight to see the eight young fellows
in their close…fitting suits； their brown muscular arms bare； bending
their backs for the stroke and recovering； as if they were parts of a
single machine。
〃The gals can't stan' it agin them fellers；〃 said the old blacksmith
from the village。
〃You wait till the gals get a…goin'；〃 said the carpenter； who had
often worked in the gymnasium of the Corinna Institute； and knew
something of their muscular accomplishments。 〃Y' ought to see 'em
climb ropes； and swing dumb…bells； and pull in them rowin'…machines。
Ask Jake there whether they can't row a mild in double…quick time；
he knows all abaout it。〃
Jake was by profession a fisherman； and a freshwater fisherman in a
country village is inspector…general of all that goes on out…of…
doors； being a lazy； wandering sort of fellow； whose study of the
habits and habitats of fishes gives him a kind of shrewdness of
observation； just as dealing in horses is an education of certain
faculties； and breeds a race of men peculiarly cunning； suspicious；
wary； and wide awake； with a rhetoric of appreciation and
depreciation all its own。
Jake made his usual preliminary signal； and delivered himself to the
following effect：
〃Wahl； I don' know jest what to say。 I've seed 'em both often enough
when they was practisin'； an' I tell ye the' wa'n't no slouch abaout
neither on 'em。 But them bats is all…fired long； 'n' eight on 'em
stretched in a straight line eendways makes a consid'able piece aout
'f a mile 'n' a haaf。 I'd bate on them gals if it wa'n't that them
fellers is naterally longer winded； as the gals 'll find aout by the
time they git raound the stake 'n' over agin the big ellum。 I'll go
ye a quarter on the pahnts agin the petticoats。〃
The fresh…water fisherman had expressed the prevailing belief that
the young ladies were overmatched。 Still there were not wanting
those who thought the advantage allowed the 〃Lantas；〃 as they called
the Corinna boatcrew； was too great； and that it would be impossible
for the 〃Quins〃 to make it up and go by them。
The Algonquins rowed up and down a few times before the spectators。
They appeared in perfect training； neither too fat nor too fine；
mettlesome as colts； steady as draught…horses； deep…breathed as oxen；
disciplined to work together as symmetrically as a single sculler
pulls his pair of oars。 The fisherman offered to make his quarter
fifty cents。 No takers。
Five minutes passed； and all eyes were strained to the south； looking
for the Atalanta。 A clump of trees hid the edge of the lake along
which the Corinna's boat was stealing towards the starting…point。
Presently the long shell swept into view； with its blooming rowers；
who； with their ample dresses； seemed to fill it almost as full as
Raphael fills his skiff on the edge of the Lake of Galilee。 But how
steadily the Atalanta came on！…no rocking； no splashing； no
apparent strain； the bow oar turning to look ahead every now and
then； and watching her course； which seemed to be straight as an
arrow； the beat of the strokes as true and regular as the pulse of
the healthiest rower among them all。 And if the sight of the other
boat and its crew was beautiful； how lovely was the look of this！
Eight young girls；young ladies； for those who prefer that more
dignified and less attractive expression；all in the flush of youth；
all in vigorous health； every muscle taught its duty； each rower
alert； not to be a tenth of a second out of time； or let her oar
dally with the water so as to lose an ounce of its propelling virtue；
every eye kindling with the hope of victory。 Each of the boats was
cheered as it came in sight； but the cheers for the Atalanta were
naturally the loudest； as the gallantry of one sex and the clear；
high voices of the other gave it life and vigor。
〃Take your places！〃 shouted the umpire； five minutes before the half
hour。 The two boats felt their way slowly and cautiously to their
positions； which had been determined by careful measurement。 After a
little backing and filling they got into line； at the proper distance
from each other； and sat motionless； their bodies bent forward； their
arms outstretched； their oars in the water； waiting for the word。
〃Go！〃 shouted the umpire。
Away sprang the Atalanta； and far behind her leaped the Algonquin；
her oars bending like so many long Indian bows as their blades
flashed through the water。
〃A stern chase is a long chase；〃 especially when one craft is a great
distance behind the other。 It looked as if it would be impossible
for the rear boat to overcome the odds against it。 Of course the
Algonquin kept gaining； but could it possibly gain enough？ That was
the question。 As the boats got farther and farther away； it became
more and more difficult to determine what change there was in the
interval between them。 But when they came to rounding the stake it
was easier to guess at the amount of space which had been gained。 It
was clear that something like half the distance； four lengths； as
nearly as could be estimated； had been made up in rowing the first
three quarters of a mile。 Could the Algonquins do a little better
than this in the second half of the race…course； they would be sure
of winning。
The boats had turned the stake； and were coming in rapidly。 Every
minute the University boat was getting nearer the other。
〃Go it； Quins！〃 shouted the students。
〃Pull away； Lantas！〃 screamed the girls； who were crowding down to
the edge of the water。
Nearer；nearer；the rear boat is pressing the other more and more
closely；a few more strokes； and they will be even； for there is but
one length between them； and thirty rods will carry them to the line。
It looks desperate for the Atalantas。 The bow oar of the Algonquin
turns his head。 He sees the little coxswain leaning forward at every
stroke； as if her trivial weight were of such mighty consequence；
but a few ounces might turn the scale of victory。 As he turned he
got a glimpse of the stroke oar of the Atalanta。 What a flash of
loveliness it was！ Her face was like the reddest of June roses； with
the heat and the strain and the passion of expected triumph。 The
upper button of her close…fitting flannel suit had strangled her as
her bosom heaved with exertion； and it had given way before the
fierce clutch she made at it。 The bow oar was a staunch and steady
rower； but he was human。 The blade of his oar lingered in the water；
a little more and he would have caught a crab； and perhaps lost the
race by his momentary bewilderment。
The boat； which seemed as if it had all the life and nervousness of a
Derby three…year…old； felt the slight check； and all her men bent
more vigorously to their oars。 The Atalantas saw the movement； and
made a spurt to keep their lead and gain upon it if they could。 It
was of no use。 The strong arms of the young men were too much for
the young maidens； only a few lengths remained to be rowed； and they
would certainly pass the Atalanta before she could reach the line。
The little coxswain saw that it was all up with the girls' crew if
she could not save them by some strategic device。
〃Dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirat？〃
she whispered to herself；for The Terror remembered her Virgil as
she did everything else she ever st