CHAPTER XII.
THE BOAT RACE ON THE BAY.
"I think this is a very foolish proceeding," observed St. John as theywalked along.
"I think it's going to be lots of fun," replied Marion. "The one whowins shall receive a lovely bunch of roses from me."
"Then I'll win," said the spendthrift, and bestowed a meaning smile uponher, which instantly made her turn her head.
They used a short cut to the beach, consequently they did not meet OldBen and Dr. Mackey.
When the boathouse was gained they went to inspect the four boats lyingthere.
St. John knew the boats well, for he was by no means an unskilled rower.
He picked out the lightest of the craft, one which was long and narrow,and also took the best pair of oars.
Marion was going to remonstrate, but Jack silenced her.
"But, Jack, if you have a poor boat, and carry me, too----" she began,in a whisper.
"I'll beat him, anyway," replied our hero. "I know I can do it."
Soon they had the boats out.
Marion half expected St. John to invite her to enter his craft, but inthis she was mistaken. The spendthrift was afraid that the extra weightwould prove fatal to his success. Yet it angered him to have his cousingo off with Jack.
"Marion, you ought to remain on shore," he said. "The race ought to berowed with both boats empty."
"Well, if you think best----" she began.
"No, Marion, you are to go with me," put in Jack hastily. "I said Iwould row with you in my boat, and I will."
"But I am quite a weight----"
"Never mind; jump in."
As there seemed no help for it, Marion entered Jack's boat and our heropulled a rod away from the shore.
"Now where is the race to be?" asked St. John, as he followed Jack'sexample and pulled off his coat.
"Let Marion decide that," said the youth promptly.
"Then make it to the Sister Rocks," said Marion. "Each boat must godirectly around the rocks."
"That suits me," said Jack.
"It's a good mile and a half," grumbled St. John. He had no desire toexert himself in that warm sun.
"It's no farther for you than for Jack," answered the girl. "Come, areyou ready?"
There was a pause, and then St. John said that he was.
"And you, Jack?"
"All ready, Marion."
"Then go!" cried the girl.
The four oars dropped into the water and off went the two boats, side byside.
St. John, eager to win for the sake of finding favor in Marion's eyes,exerted himself to the utmost, and soon forged ahead.
"Oh, Jack! he is going to beat," cried the girl, in disappointment. "Iam too much of a load for you."
"The race has but started," he replied. "Wait until we turn the rocksand then see who is ahead."
On and on went the two boats, St. John pulling strongly, but somewhatwildly--a pace he could not keep up. Jack rowed strongly, too, but kepthimself somewhat in reserve.
When half the distance to the Sister Rocks was covered St. John was fourboat-lengths ahead.
"Ha! what did I tell you!" he cried. "I will beat you, and beat youbadly, too!"
"'He laughs best who laughs last,'" quoted Jack. "Marion, sit a littlemore to the left, please. There, that's it--now we'll go alongstraighter."
"I wish I could help row," she said. "But that wouldn't be fair. But,oh, Jack! you must beat him!"
Slowly, but surely, they approached the Sister Rocks. Being ahead, St.John turned in, to take the shortest cut around the turning-stake, ifsuch the rocks may be called.
"Too bad, Jack, you will have to go outside," cried Marion.
"Never mind, I'll beat him, anyway," answered our hero, and now lethimself out.
The added strength to his stroke soon told, and before long he began tocrawl close to St. John's craft. Then he overlapped his opponent andforged ahead.
"Hurrah! you are ahead!" cried Marion excitedly, but in a voice hercousin might not hear. "Keep up, Jack; you are doing wonderfully well."
Our hero did keep up, and when he reached the first of the Sister Rockshe was more than two boat-lengths ahead.
He knew the rocks well, and glided around them skillfully, with justenough water between the rocks and the boat to make the turning a safeone.
"Now for the home stretch!" he murmured, and began to pull as neverbefore. He felt certain he could defeat St. John, but he wished to makethe defeat as large as possible. "He'll find even a nobody can row," hetold himself, with grim satisfaction.
To have Jack go ahead of him drove St. John frantic, and as he drewcloser to the rocks he became wildly excited.
"He must not win this race--he a mere nobody," he muttered. "What willMarion think if he wins?"
The thought was maddening, and he pulled desperately, first on one oarand then on the other. Around the rocks the waters ran swiftly, andbefore he knew it there came a crash and his craft was stove in andupset. He clutched at the gunwale of the boat, but missed it, andplunged headlong into the bay.
When the mishap occurred Jack was paying sole attention to the work cutout for him, consequently he did not notice what was taking place. Nordid Marion see the disaster until several seconds later.
"St. John will----" began the girl, and then turned deadly pale. "Oh,Jack!" she screamed.
"What's the matter?" he cried, and stopped rowing instantly.
"Look! look! St. John's boat has gone on the rocks and he is overboard!"she gasped.
"How foolish for him to row so close," was Jack's comment. And then headded, in something like disgust, "I reckon the race is off now."
"We must go back for him," went on Marion. "See, he has disappeared."
The girl was right, the weight of St. John's clothing had carried himbeneath the surface. The swiftly running water had likewise caught him,and when he came up it was at a point fifty feet away from the nearestrock.
"He will be drowned, Jack!"
"Help! help!" came in a faint cry from the spendthrift. "Help me, Jack!Don't leave me to perish!"
"Keep up, I'm coming!" answered Jack readily, and as quickly as he couldhe turned his boat and pulled in the direction where St. John had againsunk from sight.
The spendthrift was but an indifferent swimmer, and the weight of hisclothing was much against him. Moreover, he was scared to death, andthrew his arms around wildly instead of doing his best to save himself.
He had gone down once, and now, as Jack's boat came closer, he went downa second time.
"Oh, Jack! he will surely be drowned!" gasped Marion, and she placed herhands over her eyes to keep out the awful sight.
"Look to the boat, I am going after him!" cried our hero suddenly, andleaping to the bow, he dove into the bay after the sinking young man.
LEAPING TO THE BOW, HE DOVE INTO THE BAY AFTER THE SINKING YOUNG MAN.--_Page 92._]
He had been afraid of bringing the craft closer and hitting St. John.Now he struck out boldly, and then made a second dive, coming up closeto the spendthrift's side.
St. John wished to cry out, but the words would not come. Espying Jack,he grabbed for the lad and clutched him around the throat.
"Don't hold on so tight!" cried Jack in alarm. "I will save you. Takehold of my shoulder."
But St. John was too excited to be reasoned with, and instead of lettingup, he clung closer than ever, so that soon both were in peril of goingdown.
"Let up, I say!" repeated Jack, and then, drawing up one knee, heliterally forced the young man from him. Then, as St. John turned partlyaround, he caught him under the arms and began to tread water.
By this time Marion was at the oars, her temporary fear vanishing withthe thought that not only St. John, but also Jack, was in peril. Withcaution she brought the rowboat closer.
"Catch hold there," said Jack, and seeing the boat, St. John made a wildclutch for the gunwale, nearly upsetting the craft.
"Don't--you'll have me in th
e water next!" screamed Marion. Then Jacksteadied the boat, and St. John scrambled in over the stern, to fall onthe bottom all but exhausted, and so frightened that he could not uttera word. Jack followed on board.
"Oh, St. John, what a narrow escape!" gasped Marion, after Jack wassafe. "I thought you would surely be drowned!"
For the moment St. John did not speak. He sat up, panting heavily.
"The race is off," said Jack. "Shall I go after your boat, St. John?"
"I don't care," growled the spendthrift, at last. "Where is she?"
"Caught between the rocks."
"Let Old Ben get the boat," put in Marion. "Both of you had better gethome with your wet clothing."
"I'm all right," answered the spendthrift coolly.
"St. John, Jack saved your life."
"Oh, I would have been all right--although, to be sure, my boat waswrecked."
"Why, what would you have done?" asked Marion, in astonishment.
"I would have swam to shore, or else crawled on the rocks and signaledOld Ben to come out after me," answered St. John.
He never thought to thank Jack, and this made Marion very indignant.
"Jack did a great deal for you, St. John," she exclaimed. "And he wonthe race, too," she added, and would say no more.
Without loss of time Jack rowed the boat back to the landing and St.John leaped out. He wished to assist his cousin, but she gave her handto Jack. Then the three walked toward the plantation in almost uttersilence.
Young Captain Jack; Or, The Son of a Soldier Page 13