CHAPTER XX
THE CANOE RACE
Dave Shepard, at the wheel of the _Happy Day_, ran directly behindthe judges' boat and stopped.
"Who won?" cried the boys, in chorus. "Where does Number Sixteen stand?"
"How can we tell you until all the boats are in?" returned one of thegentlemen, smiling.
"Of course we know," declared Dr. Shelton. "And you are quite right tocheer them, boys. The _Coquette_ is 'way ahead of everythingelse--those two girls are corkers!"
Instantly the Busters and the Go-Aheads began to cheer anew. The oldermembers of their party aboard the _Sissy Radcliffe_ took up thechorus. Wyn Mallory and Polly Jarley had beaten out the other catboatsin the dingy old craft, and had won the twenty-five-dollar prize.
"It's all for you, dear," cried Wyn, when Polly kissed and thanked her."Of course I don't need the money, while you and your father do. You'lltake it from me--for friendship's sake, dear?"
"Yes, Wyn. From _you_," returned the boatman's daughter, withtrembling lips.
"And now you are coming to try for the canoe prize, too? That will be afive-dollar gold piece. But you will have to fight all us Go-Ahead girlsfor it. I shall beat you myself, if I can," laughed Wynifred.
Dave had rushed the motor boat over to the landing and he got Wyn's andPolly's canoes into the water. The whistle had blown for the girls'canoe race the minute before, and the other girls were out on the lake.
Altogether there were forty-three canoes. Some were birchbarks likePolly's; but the large majority were cedar boats.
"Birchbarks line up at Dr. Shelton's landing!" bellowed the starter'svoice through his megaphone. "Get me? Shelton's landing!"
Polly and the few other girls who had the Indian canoes waved theirhands and got into position. They kept a pretty straight line.
"Now at the starting line here for you cedars!" cried the man, and Wyn,with her five mates, and the rest of the girl canoeists from all aboutthe lake, tried to obey the command.
But there were so many of them that it was not altogether easy to getinto line. Nearly forty canoes were "some bunch," to quote the slangyFrank, who was, by the way, just as eager as any of the othercontestants.
Although Frank believed that Wyn, and perhaps Bess, as well as Polly andGrace, had a better chance than _she_ of winning the race; therewas, of course, a chance of the very best canoeist getting a spill andso being put out of the race.
It is not always the best paddler who wins; there is too muchuncertainty in handling the "tippy" craft--especially in moments ofexcitement, and among many other similar craft.
So there was hope for any and all. The eager faces of the girls in thecanoes showed it. They scuffled somewhat to get place on the line; butthe entries had all been numbered, so it was merely a case of getting inright and leaving enough space on either side of one's bobbing canoe.
One of the starters was pulled up and down the line in a skiff tocriticise. Not every girl was as fair-minded to her opponents as thegirls from Green Knoll Camp, and there was some little bickering beforethe starter shouted for the whole crowd--both cedars and birches--to getready.
"At the shot, remember," he cried through the megaphone. "Once aroundthe stake-boat, to the right, and return. The birchbarks finish at thisline, like the cedars. Now!"
A moment later the pistol shot rang out. There was a splash ofpaddles--even a clash of them, for some of the girls were too near eachother and too eager.
The spectators cheered--the boys from Gannet Island doing especiallywell in that line. They were determined to root indiscriminately for thegirls of Green Knoll Camp.
But within a very few minutes Dave Shepard shouted to his friends:
"Look what's coming up, fellows! See Polly!"
"Polly Jolly!" yelled the excitable Ferd. "Is that her in the firstbirchbark?"
"Of course it is," responded Tubby Blaisdell. "Well! did you ever see agirl like that before? Look at those arms. She's got better biceps than_you_ have, Dave, m' boy!"
For the girls were in their bathing dresses and Polly's bare arms weredisplayed to the best advantage as she flashed past the motor boat. Herface was set--her eyes bright. And she weaved back and forth as shedrove the paddle with the steadiness of a machine.
"Hooray for Polly Jolly!" yelled Ferd Roberts, again.
The Busters took up the chorus. They could not restrain theirenthusiasm, for the pace at which Polly was overhauling the cedar boatswas really marvelous.
Of course, it was a foregone conclusion that some of the contestantswould drop out. These canoes Polly passed as though they were standingstill.
In the lead were Wyn, Bess, Grace, Frank, and half a dozen other girlsfrom about the lake. There were already two spills, and several slightcollisions followed. The handicap on the birch canoes was really greaterthan was expected, for being in the rear, they had to dodge all theoverset boats and the other paddlers who did not know enough to keep outof the course.
But Polly Jarley had taken the outside and she shot by all the troubleeasily. She was soon clinging to the skirts of the head canoes and itlooked, before the turn, as though she would soon be in the leadherself.
Up ahead Wyn and Bess and Grace were struggling almost neck and neckwith two strange girls. The captain of the Go-Aheads wanted to win--shewanted to do so very much. She was a good sport, and therefore a goodloser; but that does not necessarily mean that one _likes_ to lose.
Bessie Lavine was paddling splendidly for her--it was evidently one ofher good days. Frank Cameron had fallen behind--indeed, she had clashedwith another girl and both were out of the race.
Grace Hedges was almost as big and strong as Polly Jarley; but shelacked the training of the boatman's daughter. Polly was used to hardwork every day of her life. That is different from gymwork and a littlepaddling, or swimming, or other athletic fun a few times a week.
But Grace was doing finely and she even might have won had she not triedunwisely to pass one of her rivals. Her paddle clashed with that of theother girl. Both canoeists were straining hard--and their tempers were abit strained, too.
"I wish you'd look where you're going, Miss!" snapped the other girl,and before Grace could return the compliment--had she so wished--the twocanoes crashed together and both girls were spilled into the lake.
There was no danger in these spills. Two motor boats followed behind andpicked up the swamped contestants.
But before Grace was picked up she saw Polly Jarley flash by in thebirchbark. There were but three cedar boats ahead of the boatman'sdaughter, and all were coming down the return course, the paddlersstraining to do their very best.
Wyn had a splendid, even stroke; Bess was getting heated, and bit herlip as she paddled. It always hurt Bess when she lost. Up from the rearPolly urged her birchbark with long, steady heaves that seemed to proveher magnificent muscles tireless.
The spectators began to shout for the boatman's daughter. They saw thatshe was making a magnificent attempt to win the race.
But when Wyn heard them shouting for another number rather than herown--she did not notice which!--she put forth every ounce of sparestrength she possessed.
Bess was left behind by the captain of the Go-Ahead Club. Her canoequivering, her paddle actually bending under her work, Wyn dashed on.Bess and the other girl were out of the race--hopelessly. It lay betweenWyn and the birchbark canoe.
Polly did not withhold her paddle when she saw her friend dart ahead; itwas a perfectly fair race. But the boatman's girl had done so well atfirst, considering her handicap and all, that there was little wonder ifshe could not keep up the gruelling work. She had no reserve force, asWyn had.
The latter dashed over the mark with undiminished speed. Polly onlyhalted long enough to congratulate her.
"It's dear of you to be glad, Polly, when I know you wanted the prize,"cried Wyn. "But we couldn't both have it."
"You have helped me enough to-day, Wynifred," replied Polly, softly."Now father and I will go home. He told me
how it would be, if he camedown here; but at least we won the big prize, thanks to you, and moneymeans so much to us now!"
The day was not over yet for the Go-Aheads and the Busters, although theraces were finished. Somehow the news was spread among the campers onGannet Island and Green Knoll that there was to be a "grand treat" atthe ice-cream tables, and they gathered "like eagles to the kill,"Frankie poetically declared.
The waiter brought heaping dishes of cream, there were nice cakes, andTubby's unctuous smile at one end of the table radiated cheer. They wereall very jolly and nobody asked who was to pay the piper until thewaiter gravely brought Dave Shepard the check and a slip of paper.
"Hi! did _I_ order this feed?" demanded Dave, startled by the sizeof the check.
"I was ordered to give the check to you--and the paper," quoth thewaiter, calmly.
"Gee, Dave! somebody's stung you!" croaked Tubby, with his mouth stillfull.
Dave unfolded the paper slowly, and read in his own handwriting: "I betan ice-cream treat all around to the Go-Ahead girls that your curiositywould not permit you to leave this alone."
"You don't deny your own handwriting; do you, sir?" queried the waiter,with a perfectly grave face. "I served the company on that order, Mr.Shepard."
"That Wyn Mallory! She got me!" groaned Dave, and paid up like a man.
"But what's the use of trying to put a joke over on those girls?" hesaid to Tubby afterward. "They're always turning the tables on afellow."
"Very good table, too--very good table," agreed Tubby, smacking hislips. "But you're so reckless with your promises, Dave."
Mr. Lavine's man took the _Happy Day_ and the canoes back to camp,while the whole party of young folk piled aboard the larger_Sissy_. They had a fine time sailing down the lake and reached theCave-in-the-Wood Camp at late supper time.
There was still light enough on the water for the voyagers to see a boatrocking on the waves in the little cove where Polly Jarley had firstbeen introduced to the two canoe clubs.
"And that's Polly and her father there now," said Dave, quickly.
"Yes. It's the _Coquette_," agreed Wyn.
"What are they doing in there?" asked Frankie. "See! he is standing upand gesticulating--not to us. He's talking to Polly."
"That is the place where he had the misfortune to lose Dr. Shelton'smotor boat last winter," said Wyn. "Don't you remember?"
"You see," Dave cried, "he is showing her the place where the limb fellagain--and the direction the boat must have taken in the fog."
"A lot _he_ knows where it went," said Tubby, scornfully. "He wasswept overboard, and as far as he knows the _Bright Eyes_ mighthave gone right up into the air!"
"But it didn't explode, you see, nor did it have wings," laughedWynifred. "So it took no aerial voyage--we may be sure of that. I'd giveanything to find where it sank."
"So would I, Wyn," cried Dave. "If we could locate the sunken boat, Mr.Jarley could easily prove he had neither stolen it nor the silverimages."
"I'd give something handsome to have the mystery explained, myself,"said Mr. Lavine, suddenly.
"What would you give, Father?" asked his daughter.
"I'll tell you," he replied, smiling. "I understand both of yourclubs--the Go-Aheads and the Busters--are anxious to really _own_ amotor boat. Frank Dumont, here, tells me he has got to go home with the_Happy Day_ to-morrow, as his vacation is ended.
"Now, I'll make you boys and girls an offer," pursued Mr. Lavine, moreearnestly. "You'll hunt in packs, anyway--the boys together and thegirls together. If the girls find the sunken boat I'll present them witha motor boat as good as the _Happy Day_; and if the boys have theluck, then the boat shall belong to the Busters. What say?"
"We say 'Thanks!'" cried Dave, instantly.
"_We_ think it is very handsome of you, sir," declared Wyn, comingover to the gentleman and taking his hand. "And I know why you do it,sir--so I thank you twice. If poor Mr. Jarley could be absolved of Dr.Shelton's accusation, it would help a whole lot."
"Humph!" muttered Mr. Lavine, "I heard Shelton going on about Jarleymyself to-day, and it made me ashamed--I'm free to own it. I never_did_ think John as bad as all that!"
"It sounds different when you hear somebody else say it," whispered Davein Wynifred's ear.
Mr. Lavine's proposal, however, met with enthusiastic favor on the partof both clubs. A motor boat would be just the finest thing to own! Bothboys and girls determined to find the lost _Bright Eyes_ before theseason was out.