Adventure, June 1911 — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

218 Now the points totaled as ° follows! Napeague leading with eighteen, Gilgo fif- teen, and Zachs-Inlet twelve. It surely looked as if Zachs Inlet’s last chance were gone, and the men were cor- respondingly discouraged. Saunders, who had not finished puffing from his recent exeftions in the run, stood in front of the score-board and watched the totals as they were written by the scorer. “Didn’t I tell you so?” he declared. ‘An’ there ain’t no one to blame but the sup’entendant. Suy- dam would a’ won that mile easy, an’ there ain’t a man on the beach can beat him’ shootin’ clay birds. We might jest as well pack up an’ go home. It’s only wastin’ time foolin’ with that swimmin’ race. O'Donnell ain’t got a chance.” And it was evident that the others thought the same regarding O’Donnell, their only representative in the swimming match. But O’Donnell did not seem particularly concerned at this lack of confidence on the part of his team-mates. Instead, he turned to the downcast crew with a smile of en- couragement. “Sure, boys, don’t be givin’ up yet! There’s a chance, an’ you ain’t beat till the last score’s counted. Come on an’ watch me win that swim,” he urged, but they paid no attention to his chatter, so he left them and walked across the beach to the bay in which the swimming race was to be held. Reynolds looked after his retreating back for a moment and then said: ‘‘Come on, boys, let’s be decent, anyhow. There ain’t a doubt in the world but what he'll get beat, but he belongs to our Station and it ain’t hardly right to stay here an’ not even watch him.” So they straggled over the beach hills and seated themselves on the bluff over- hanging the bay shore. Off about three hundred yards a fair sized float had been anchored, and on this were the starter and the six competitors. The finish was marked by a small boat anchored close to the shore and occupied by the judges. <3 AT A WORD from the official on SS (XY the float the swimmers took posi- ‘SSY) tions close to its edge and awaited the signal. It was given, and six bodies cleft the water in long, clean dives. For a moment all was a confusion of splash- ing water, but, as the men came to the sur- Adventure face.and struck out sturdily for the judges’ boat with long, powerful strokes, ,they gradually separated and it resolved into a hard-fought struggle with little choice as to the winner. Half-way in and there was but little difference in their positions; then, as the distance began to tell, changes became ap- parent in their ranks. Now the stronger swimmers forged ahead, until it finally narrowed down to a fight between two, with the others stringing out behind. But the men lying about on the bluff were hardly interested. “Tf Baker was here that race would be worth seein’,” grieved Drake. ee “Well, he ain’t, so what’s the use of kickin’ ’bout it?” snapped Hulse. “I don’t care who wins the darn cup, anyhow! S’pose O’Donnell’s somewhere back with the tail-enders, ain’t he,- Jim?” he asked, observing that Reynolds -had suddenly jumped to his feet and was‘studying the race intently. “Stand up an’ holler, you chumps!” Reynolds excitedly replied. ‘If that little cuss ain’t givin’ Parker the race of his life, I’ll eat my hat! Holler, I tell you! Holler!” And they did. Over the water they sent a yell of delight, of hope, of encouragement. “©Q’Donnell, O’Donnell!” They shouted. ‘Come on, you Billy O’Donnell!”’ Their discouragement was forgotten... Already it had occurred to them that, with the swimming race won, they had a fighting chance for the cup. Scrambling down the steep, bushy side of the bluff, careless of tumbles and scratches, they rushed to the water’s edge, eagerly shouting their team- mate’s name and excitedly urging him on- ward. | And it seemed as if their shouts had the desired effect, for no sooner had the first ones been uttered than O’Donnell shot ahead with a speed that was marvelous. Swim- ming low in the water with a curious, grasp- ing stroke that was new to the surfmen, he left Parker behind so rapidly that it made him gasp with surprise. Straight toward the judges’ boat he swam, gaining on his competitors so easily that it was almost. laughable. “Swim? He can outswim a fish!” Hulse gleefully shouted. ‘‘An’ we said he never had a chance, we did! Ain’t we a smart bunch! Fools! Jest plain ordinary fools, that’s what we are!” Co JOO ANG <SiG@ »