“A half mile for single paddles,” Merry answered.
“That will give Pink a chance, if there are canoes enough to go round.”
“Don’t fret2 about Pink,” called that worthy3 from the bank, happening to overhear the talk between his chums. “I’m going to run along the bank and root for the heroes of Farnham Hall. I invented canoes, and naturally I’m a better paddler than Red, but I can put more heart into you from the shore than I could with a paddle.”
Clancy slapped the water with his paddle and threw a small shower over Ballard.
“You invented the long bow, too, you old chump,” laughed Clancy, “and you’re a champion hand at pulling it. Come on in, the water’s fine.”
Ballard had leaped out of the way of the shower, and was sputtering4 about his wet clothes.
“You’ll get all you want of the water if I’m any prophet, you red-headed false alarm!” he shouted. “For half a cent I’d wade5 out there and swamp you.”
“Somebody got a nickel?” sang out Clancy. “Throw it to Pink and let him keep the change.”
At just this point, the other canoes glided6 out into the water, taking up their positions on each side of Merry and Clancy.
“All ready?” cried a fellow named Dart7, who was acting8 as starter, as the canoes lined up.
62
“All ready!” came the chorus from the racers.
“Then, go!”
Splash went the paddles, and the light, graceful9 water craft jumped ahead like restless thoroughbreds. Before they had gone twenty feet, Merry realized that in Bleeker and Hotchkiss he and Clancy had foemen worthy of their mettle10. The lads in the other craft were working hard, but were left behind almost from the start. By an unlucky move they overturned their canoe before the Point was reached, and the last Frank saw of them on the first lap they were swimming for the bank, towing their water-logged craft.
Clancy was in the stern, and he was doing the steering11 in masterly fashion. Frank, wielding12 his paddle with grace and power, knelt at the bow.
“Steady, Clan1!” he called. “Don’t use up all your ginger13 at the beginning!”
“Steady it is,” answered Clancy.
Bleeker and Hotchkiss were working like Trojans. Foot by foot they drew ahead of the other canoe.
“Dig, you Farnham Hall fellows!” bellowed14 Ballard from the bank. “What do you think this is—a picnic excursion? Dig, I tell you! If you’re last at the finish, don’t you ever speak to me again.”
“Come on, you Bleek!” shouted the Gold Hillers.
“Come on, Hotch!”
“Keep it up, Gold Hill! You’ve got ’em beaten.”
“Oh, you Bleeker! We’re slow at football, but I reckon we’re there with the goods on the water.”
“It isn’t Jode Lenning you’re up against now, Merriwell!”
All this rooting on the part of the Gold Hill fellows did not in the least disturb Merriwell or Clancy. They were paddling like clockwork, but were saving their
63
energies for the last lap. After the white flag was met and turned, they’d begin to show what they were made of.
The main thing was to keep a clear head and steady nerves while the competing canoe was moving away from them. And in this certainly Merriwell and Clancy were put to a severe test.
Before the Point was reached, the stern of the other canoe was even with Merry’s position in the bow of his own craft. Bleeker had the inside, and he went so close to the perpendicular15 wall of the cliff that his paddle touched the base of the rocks. He looked over at Merry.
“Come on, old man!” he called.
“Not yet, Bleek,” Merry answered, with a laugh. “We want you to get farther ahead first.”
“Much obliged! Now watch us.”
Merry and Clancy had to go farther in getting around the Point than Bleeker and Hotch, for they were forced farther away from the cliff. Inasmuch as the gulch16 curved at the Point, the rival canoe was offered an advantage, similar to that which comes to a pole horse on the oval of a race track. When once more on a straightaway, Bleeker and Hotch were leading by a full canoe length.
The boys on the bank had not been able to get around the Point, so some of them, including Ballard, crossed to the opposite shore in the other canoes.
“What’s the trouble with you chumps?” shouted Ballard. “Don’t you know the other boat’s ahead? Buckle17 in—paddle like you used to. Do better than that, Red, or I’ll swim out there and take your place.”
“You got ’em, Bleek!” cried the Gold Hillers frantically19. “Keep a-coming!”
“Here’s where the chip off the old block gets a setback20!
64
I reckon Merry’s dad was better with a baseball than he was with a paddle!”
In the excitement of the moment some ill-considered words were roared across the water. This remark, by a Gold Hill partisan21, was probably excusable, in the circumstances, but it struck a spark from Merry’s temper.
It opened up the old, tantalizing22 question of heredity—the very thing which Merriwell had called a “handicap.” His father could pitch better than he could paddle, could he? If that was the case, then by winning that contest he might prove that what he had learned about canoes had come to him in his own right.
“Good old Merry!” cried one of the Gold Hill crowd, by way of tempering the unwise rooting of his camp-mate. “You’re the stuff! Never say die is your slogan—and that’s all that came down to you from the champion in Bloomfield.”
A thrill raced along Frank’s nerves. At the risk of giving the competitors a still longer lead, he looked shoreward to locate the chap who had called those electrifying23 words.
“Pink is a peach of a rooter—I don’t think,” grumbled24 Clancy.
“Never mind, Pink,” laughed Frank, his momentary25 flash of temper passing, “he’s trying to spur us across the finish line instead of giving us a pull. Ah! There’s the flag, Clan!”
A bit of white fluttered on the left-hand bank. Bleeker and Hotchkiss had already made the turn and were coming down.
“We’ll be at the finish to welcome you fellows!” jubilated Hotch.
“Maybe you’ll do better in the singles,” shouted Bleeker. “It’s hardly fair, anyway. You haven’t gripped a paddle
65
for a long time, while we’ve been at it every day for a week.”
“Don’t fret about that, Bleek,” grinned Clancy.
He could grin, but nevertheless he was worried. He and Merry had a lot of strength to draw on, but could they be sure that Bleeker and Hotchkiss had not a lot of power in reserve? The next few minutes would tell the tale.
The canoe came around, and headed away on the final stretch. Bleeker and Hotchkiss, the silver spray sparkling under the strong dip of their paddles, were all of five canoe lengths in the lead.
“Now, Clancy!” cried Merriwell. “We must get the inside track around the Point! Let yourself out, old man!”
Then and there the Farnham Hall lads began doing their prettiest. They bent26 to their work in a way that was beautiful to see, and the strength they had been nursing for just that moment expended27 itself in a wonderful burst of speed.
“Now you’re coming!” screeched28 Ballard. “Keep that up, Chip, and you’ll pass the other canoe and leave it out of sight!”
“Don’t lose your nerve, Bleek!” shouted the Gold Hillers. “Crack your backs! Pull, I tell you! For the honor of Gold Hill, you junipers! For the love of Mike, don’t let this chance get away from you!”
“Gold Hill winners, hump, you sinners!”
It was evident to Frank, however, that Bleeker and Hotchkiss had put the best of their energy into the first half of the race. The wise precaution of husbanding their muscle for the wind-up had not appealed to them. They had wanted a good lead at the start-off—and were probably hoping that the lead could not be overcome.
66
Yard by yard Merry and Clancy overhauled29 the canoe ahead. Every thrust of the paddles, sturdy and strong and swift, carried the rear craft forward for a gain. Halfway30 to the point the canoes were side by side.
Bleeker and Hotchkiss had no breath nor inclination31 for joshing. Their faces were white and set, and their arms knotted at the biceps with the strain they put upon their dipping blades. Every nerve was stretched to the breaking point.
It was a good race, a splendid race. No matter which canoe won, the joy of those fleeting32 moments as they came down the homestretch would be happily remembered by victor and vanquished33.
Bleeker and Hotchkiss must have realized how their opponents had been playing the game. They had played it squarely, too, and had calmly watched their rivals lead in the first half of the race. Now, at last, Bleeker and his canoe mate understood that they were facing a crisis, and that only heartbreaking work could save the day.
They labored34 so well, for a considerable distance, the canoes continued to remain side by side.
“Want us to wait for you, Bleek?” called Clancy.
Bleeker had other uses for his breath, however, than wasting it on replies to the red-headed fellow in the other craft.
“Once more, Clan!” cried Merriwell. “Hug the cliff—we’ve got to!”
Half a dozen sweeps of the paddles and Merry and Clancy were leading. A few more sweeps, and Clancy sent their craft across the bows of their rivals.
They were on the inside now, those Farnham Hall boys, and paddling like fiends. A few moments more and they were under the shadow of the Point.
67
And then—something happened. Was it accident, or was it design? Intent on their work, none of those in the two canoes could tell; nor could the frantic18 lads on shore.
Clancy heard a crash and roar above him. A glance aloft showed a bowlder dropping downward from the top of the Point. To Clancy, it looked as big as a house, and in a flash he knew it must strike the canoe.
The red-headed chap’s heart jumped into his throat. For a heartbeat he sat powerless, stunned35 by what he saw. Then he roused up suddenly, with a yell:
“Jump, Merry! Jump for your life!”
On the instant, Clancy dropped his paddle and went overboard. His frantic plunge36 overturned the canoe, and Merry was in the water almost as soon as his chum.
The falling bowlder just grazed the overturned canoe, splashed into the waves and sent up a geyser of foaming37 spray.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
clan
|
|
| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fret
|
|
| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
sputtering
|
|
| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
wade
|
|
| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
dart
|
|
| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
mettle
|
|
| n.勇气，精神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
wielding
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
ginger
|
|
| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bellowed
|
|
| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
perpendicular
|
|
| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
gulch
|
|
| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
buckle
|
|
| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
setback
|
|
| n.退步，挫折，挫败 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
partisan
|
|
| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
tantalizing
|
|
| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
electrifying
|
|
| v.使电气化( electrify的现在分词 )；使兴奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
expended
|
|
| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
screeched
|
|
| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
overhauled
|
|
| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
inclination
|
|
| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
fleeting
|
|
| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
vanquished
|
|
| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
labored
|
|
| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
stunned
|
|
| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
foaming
|
|
| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |