n6 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



he seemed in quite as bad a plight as himself. An unlucky 

 swan got in the way, and Frank struck it violently with his oar, 

 and very nearly caught a crab in consequence. A sudden puff 

 of wind blew somebody's hat off, and Frank smiled as he saw 

 it float past and knew that it was Dick's. 



The oars flashed with increasing quickness, the shouts on 

 the bank grew louder, and still the long slim boats swept over 

 the water side by side, their opponents drawing slightly ahead. 



" Now ! " gasped Marston ; and Frank knew that the time for 

 the final spurt had come, and if the stroke had been quick 

 before it was doubly so now. Frank felt that each stroke 

 must be his last, but he struggled on ; and just as he felt faint 



PAIR-OARED BOAT. 



(Tor his want of training had told) and he lost sight of the other 

 boat in a mist, he heard the sound of a pistol and knew that 

 the winning post was reached. 



" Who's won ? " he managed to ask. 



" We have, by half a length," answered the coxswain. 



They drew close up to the bank amid the cheers of the 

 people, and they staggered ashore ; and Frank went away a little 

 distance and leaned against a tree with his face to the wind, 

 trying to regain his breath again. Who does not know the 

 agony of thus fighting for breath after a severe struggle ! Even 



