"You've got your work cut out for you!" shouted Songbird. "But never
mind. Go in and win!"
For the first quarter of a mile the two row-boats kept close together.
Occasionally one would forge ahead a few inches, but the other would
speedily overtake it. Then, however, the Rover boys settled down to a
strong, steady stroke, and forged a full length ahead.
"See! see! The Rovers are winning!" shouted Max in delight.
"That's the way to do it!" cried Stanley, "Keep it up! You're doing
nobly!"
"Show 'em the way home!" added Songbird.
"Pull, Jerry! Pull!, Bart!" screamed Dudd Flockley to his cronies.
"Don't let them beat you!"
Before long the island was reached, and the Rovers rounded it a length
and a half ahead. This made Jerry Koswell frantic, and he called on
Larkspur to increase the stroke.
"All right, I'm with you," was the short answer.
The increase in the stroke speedily told, and inch by inch the second
boat began to overhaul the first Then Tom made a miss, sending a
shower of water into the air. At this the craft containing Koswell and
Larkspur shot ahead.
"Hurrah! That's the way to do it!" yelled Flockley in delight. "Even
money on the green boat!"
"Take you," answered Spud Jackson promptly. "How much?"
"A fiver."
"All right."
"Steady, Tom," cautioned Dick. "Now, then Ready?"
"Yes."
"Then bend to it. One, two, three, four.
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