CHAPTER XXXI
THE TUB RACE
Randall's adherents seemed stunned at first. They had been so sure ofwinning when the two fours swept up to the finish line, with Randall soclose to Boxer, that, when victory was snatched from their very grasp,it seemed hard indeed. No one knew what to do, while the victors restedon their oars, justifiable smiles of triumph on their faces.
As for the losers, they hung their heads dejectedly, and that tears ofmortification came into their eyes is not to their shame.
Then Tom Parsons found himself, and cried out:
"Three cheers for Boxer Hall! It was a good win!"
"That's right," echoed Sid Henderson.
And the cheers were given, none the less hearty because they came fromthe defeated side.
"Clear the course!" came the command from the judges' boat, and thencame the formal announcement of Boxer winning. She had five points toher credit now.
The Fairview lads, in the bitterness of their hearts, for they realizedthat it was overtraining, and, in a way, over-confidence that had madethem third, rowed up to the float, disembarked and walked away insilence--at least there was silence until Bean Perkins yelled:
"Three cheers for Fairview--she knows how to take a licking the same asRandall!"
And at once the river echoed the cheers.
"Well, you did us that time, Boxer!" went on Bean. "But our time willcome--we're going to do you in the eight."
"Not if we know it," retorted Pinky Davenport.
"Oh, I'm so sorry--for you, Tom," breathed Ruth, as the tall pitcherstood close beside her on the balcony of the boathouse. "Does it botheryou much?"
"Well, of course I'd like to have seen our four win," he replied, "butit doesn't bother me. It only makes me mad. We'll win that eight if wehave to break every oar."
"Don't do that, Tom, old man," advised Frank, who heard this last."Breaking an oar is worse than catching a crab. It will lose us the racesure. Be moderate."
"It's hard, after all the work we did," complained Sid.
"But look at it," put in Phil. "We beat Fairview, and that's somethingfor a green crew to do."
"So we did!" exclaimed Sid, brightening up.
"Awfully sweet of you to remind us of it," said Madge, making a littlebow.
"Oh--er--I didn't mean it that way," stammered Sid. "I didn't think."
"We'll forgive you," spoke Mabel, gently.
The single races were to have come next, but at the last moment it wasdiscovered that one of the outriggers on the shell to be used by theBoxer Hall contestant was split, so a halt was called until he could getout one of the spare Randall boats. Then he was allowed a half hour to"get acquainted with his craft," this being generously allowed by theother two colleges.
"The tub race! Have the tub race now!" came the general cry, and as noneof the other competitors wished to fill in the vacant time, and as thetub race would not count in points, it was decided to advance that onthe program.
Accordingly, a number of washtubs, of good size, which had beenprovided, were brought forward. There were to be two contestants fromeach college, making six that would compete for first and second prizes,in the shape of silver cups.
Snail Looper and Dutch Housenlager were to represent Randall, Dutchbeing the only regular rower who dared to brave the laughter of thecrowd.
"Why shouldn't I?" he demanded, when questioned. "It'll be fun, and itwill keep me from thinking of the big race. Besides, I think it will begood exercise, and I'm heavy enough to weight my tub down in the water,and that's a point. It won't turn so easily."
"Well, don't strain yourself, that's all," counseled Mr. Lighton. "Wedon't want any slip-up in the eight-oared race just because you wantsome fun."
"Oh, sure, I'll be careful!" promised Dutch, making a playful grab forSid, who jumped back, thereby nearly upsetting an elderly gentleman whowas sitting near the edge of the balcony to see the sports.
"Careful! Careful!" he exclaimed testily.
"Look out what you're doing, Dutch!" warned Tom. "He's one of thecommittee that gave us this rowing outfit. He'll get you down on his badbooks if you don't look out."
"Just my luck!" cried Dutch, ruefully.
"Tub racers this way!" cried the starter. "Lively now!"
With but a single paddle to propel them on, the six lads, amid muchlaughter, took their places in the tubs. They were to paddle to a stakeboat, about half way across the river, turn there, and come back.
Anyone who has seen a tub race knows how almost impossible it is toprevent the craft from whirling about. It doesn't seem to want toadvance in a straight line. This was the case here, and when the ladsstarted off it was only to go swirling madly about in concentric circles.
"Go the other way!" was shouted at them.
"Yes, reverse--you'll get dizzy!"
"Waltz me around again, Dutchy!" called Tom to Housenlager.
"You watch!" he shouted back. "I'm going to win!"
And it did seem as though he had a good chance. Whether it was hisweight, or the way in which he used the paddle, was not manifested, buthe certainly forged ahead.
He managed to turn the stake-boat first, though Snail Looper was a closesecond. Boxer Hall was out of it in this race, her two representativesseemingly not able to do much. But the two Fairview lads were pressingDutch and Snail closely.
"Here I come! Here I come!" cried Dutch, as, amid increased laughter,the four lads neared the finishing line close to the float. But he didnot see how near one of the Fairview lads was to him.
Then one of the latter tubs collided with that of Dutch. He uttered asurprised exclamation, turned to look, and his paddle slipped from hisgrasp.
THEN ONE OF THE LATTER TUBS COLLIDED WITH THAT OF DUTCH.]
"Come back here!" yelled he, making a grab for it.
Alas for Dutch! He over-balanced himself, or perhaps he was dizzy fromthe whirling. At any rate overboard he went with a splash.
"There! I knew something would happen!" cried Mr. Lighton, in vexedtones, as he saw the accident, and he hurried down to see that Dutchquickly changed to dry rowing togs, for the tub racers had worn theirlight garments.
Meanwhile Snail Looper came steadily on, finishing first, with aFairview lad second.
"First win for Randall!" yelled a Boxer Hall adherent. "You fellows hadbetter stick to tubs!"
"Wait!" murmured Tom. "This may put Dutch in just the right trim to pullthe race of his life."