The partic.i.p.ants were the pick of the single-sh.e.l.l men, and Jerry realized that he would have a struggle to win.

A puff of smoke, the report of a gun, and they were off!

"A fine start!"

"Hosmer leads!"

"He will lead to the finish!"

"Pinkney is a close second!"

"Jerry Upton is third!"

"My! but they are cutting the water!"

"Two to one that Hosmer wins!"

"Three to one that the record is broken!"

"Foah to one dat Jerry Upton wins dis race!" cried Blumpo Brown, waving a big college flag over his head. "Dat boy don't know what it is to lose!"

"Hear that chap talk!"

"Pitch him overboard to cool him off!"

"Dat's all right, it's Jerry Upton's muscle dat's talkin', not me!"

growled Blumpo.

Down the straight course came the single-sh.e.l.l oarsmen, each back bending to a long and powerful stroke.

The quarter stretch was past with Hosmer still in the lead.

Behind him came Pinkney and Jerry, side by side.

Then came the half stretch. The leaders still held the same positions.

"Told you Hosmer would win!"

"Jerry Upton is falling behind!"

It was true. Pinkney had increased his stroke and was crawling up slowly but surely to the leader.

"Pull, Jerry, pull," yelled Harry.

"You dun got to win dat race, suah!" screamed Blumpo.

Jerry heard them, but paid no heed. He was rowing the race of the year--the race that would make his college chums shout with joy or look glum for the balance of the season.

And now the three-quarter mark was past. A quarter of a mile more and the race would be over.

"See! Pinkney is drawing up to Hosmer!"

"Pinkney leads! Hosmer has dropped away behind!"

"Pinkney first and Jerry Upton second!"

"Villelet is crawling up!"

"He has pa.s.sed Pinkney!"

And so the shouting went on. The end of the course was in sight. How the oarsmen were pulling! But now look at Jerry.

How like a flash his back bends! How powerful is that broad stroke! How quick his recovery!

In vain Pinkney tried to hold his lead. Jerry means to win and nothing can hold him back.

He fairly flies past Pinkney and comes in a winner by a length and a half.

His friends go wild.

"Hurrah for Jerry Upton!" shouts Harry.

And the cheers echo and re-echo along the water and back to the distant hills.

Blumpo dances a breakdown for joy.

"I told you he could do it," he cries. "Da can't beat our Jerry nohow!"

"That's right, they can't!" adds Harry. "Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!"

Jerry leaves his sh.e.l.l, and is hoisted up upon the shoulders of his friends and marched around the town.

That night he is given a big reception by his fellow students. It is the happiest moment of his life.

And here we will leave him and Harry and Blumpo, and all of the rest, shouting as do our hero's many friends:

"Hurrah for the Young Oarsman of Lakeview!"

THE END