Then the "Scalp-hunter" dropped behind again, an inch at a time.
"We caught 'em once!" called Dick in an even voice. "We must
do it again. One, two, three, four! Hump! hump! Put in the
power!"
By inches the "Scalp-hunter" crawled up, but Dick & Co. felt
completely exhausted.
"You've been doing well, kid," called the even voice of Ted Pascal
over the water, "but you can't do any more. We take this race!"
"Do you?" dared Dick.
"Yes; you're all in, and we have reserve steam left."
"Have you?" snapped young Prescott. "Then now is the time to
prove it."
Taking a deep breath, Dick Prescott shouted:
"Remember what Gridley demands! No defeats. Dash ahead, Gridleys!
Now---go in and kill yourselves for the honor of your school!"
Dick was far from meaning that literally, but his quick eye had
measured the remaining distance of the course.
He was captain enough to know just what each of his men could
endure, and for how long they could stand up under it.
"Life is of little use to the vanquished!" Dick shouted on. "Go
in to win---kill yourselves!"
At an earlier point on the course it would have been fearfully
bad leadership. It would have resulted in disaster had any of
Dick & Co. had any form of serious physical weakness.
But Dick Prescott knew his boys!
"Kill yourselves!" he shouted out again, as he saw the two canoes
running neck and neck. "For the honor of Gridley High School!"
Right noble was the response, though flesh and blood could not
stand this new and savage grilling for long.
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