The Go Ahead Boys in the Island Camp Part 25

Once more the canoes approached each other. This time Thomas followed Grant's example and crouched on one knee. He had evidently learned a lesson and had determined to be more wary.

"Get him, Grant! Get him!" shouted John.

"Careful, George; not too fast," warned Grant.

He held his pole back waiting an opportunity to strike. This time he was determined that any blow he delivered would end the match; he had been out-lucked before and did not want it to happen again.

Thomas made a feint at him. Grant was anxious and struck back so eagerly that he almost fell out of the canoe.

"That's the way, Tom," called Hugh. "You'll fix him this time."

Again Thomas feinted and again Grant lunged fiercely at his opponent.

Thomas then followed up his bluff with a quick stab that luckily only struck Grant a glancing blow on the shoulder. Had it hit him squarely, the match most certainly would have been ended then and there; as it was only George's quick action saved them from going over.

"Don't let him fool you, Grant," he warned. "Wait for him."

Again they advanced and as they once more neared each other Thomas repeated his former tactics. He made a feint to lunge at Grant, and as before, Grant was unable to resist the temptation to strike back quickly. This he did and Franklin in the stern of the opposing canoe, antic.i.p.ating this move, backed water and the blow missed Thomas' head by inches.

The poles the boys were using were long and heavy. As a result, they were somewhat clumsy and hard to handle. As Grant lunged forward at Thomas, he leaned over the side of the canoe and the weight of his pole prevented him from regaining his balance at once.

Thomas and Franklin had evidently mapped out their plan of campaign beforehand and apparently Grant had acted exactly as they wished him to.

Thomas held his pole with a shortened grip and before Grant could recover his equilibrium, he jabbed at him with all his might. The great wad on the end of the pole caught Grant squarely on the chest; he dropped his pole and waved his arms violently about his head in an effort to save himself.

All his efforts were of no use, however. Undoubtedly he would have gone overboard anyway, but just to make sure, Thomas gave him a gentle push with the business end of the pole and over he went. As he disappeared over the side he gave the canoe a shove with his feet and a moment later George joined him in the water.

CHAPTER XVII-GEORGE'S STRATEGY

A moment later Grant and George came to the surface puffing and shaking the water from their eyes and hair. Both boys were laughing.

"Nice work," said Grant to their two opponents, who sat in their canoe nearby.

"We were lucky," protested Thomas.

"Lucky, nothing," exclaimed Grant. "You knew more about the game than we did and you deserved to win."

The canoe belonging to the defeated boys floated close at hand, bottom side up. The pole and the paddle were a short distance away. These were soon rescued and the canoe being righted, the contestants made their way to sh.o.r.e. John and Fred were the first to congratulate the winners.

"We'll have to win this canoe race," exclaimed Fred. "You fellows have two points to our one as it is now, and we can't afford to let you get twice as many again this time."

"We're going to do our best to get twice as many though, you may be sure of that," laughed Hugh McNeale. "We want that big flag."

"If you win it, you'll certainly be welcome to it," exclaimed John. "We want it ourselves though, I can tell you."

The best of feeling existed between the two camps, but this fact did not serve to lessen the compet.i.tion and rivalry. Good sportsmanship adds zest to every game.

"Where are the first pairs for this canoe race?" cried Mr. Maxwell. "We mustn't let these events lag, you know."

"We'll be ready in a minute," replied Grant. "We want to get all our wind back and remove all the water from this canoe first."

"That's right," said Herbert Halsey. "You fellows take your time."

The suggestion of the blue team that the next event be made a relay race around the island, had met with an enthusiastic response from their rivals. Two teams from each camp were to compete and each team was to paddle once around. The first pairs consisted of George and Fred, from the blue team and opposed to them were Herbert Halsey and Franklin Dunbar, from the red. Finishing the race were Grant and John, against Hugh McNeale and Thomas Adams. Each camp had selected its strong team to paddle last, hoping to win the race by a powerful finish.

"I guess we're all ready now," said Grant, when a few moments had elapsed. "We'll go ahead any time you say."

"All right," said Mr. Maxwell. "Now remember the rules; the starting line is directly opposite this dock and I've got some string which we will use for tape at the finish. Each team is to paddle once around the island. When the second relay starts, the two canoes that have finished will be stationed out here about twenty feet apart and this string will be stretched between them; that will be the finish line. All four canoes will be used of course and the second relay must not start until those completing the first have touched the canoes with their paddles. Is it all clear?"

"All clear," said Grant, and Thomas answered for his side.

"Very well," exclaimed Mr. Maxwell. "The first canoes may take their places and the second relay had better be ready too."

George and Fred pushed out from the dock and paddled slowly to the starting point; Herbert and Franklin followed close behind.

When they were in position, and by the way the red team had drawn the course nearest sh.o.r.e, Mr. Maxwell lifted his small megaphone and gave his final instructions.

"Remember," he called, "once around, and the inside team this lap will be the outside next. Don't get mixed up."

"That'll be a little help to us," said John in a low voice to Grant. "I hope Fred and Pop can give us a little lead to start out with."

"I hope so too," replied Grant.

"On your marks!" shouted Mr. Maxwell.

Four boys sat up alert and eager for the final word.

"Get set!"

Four paddles were raised and held poised for instant action.

"Go!"

The blades were dipped deeply into the water and the race was on. Side by side the two canoes sped along.

"You fellows better go out there and take your places," said Mr.

Maxwell, turning to the four boys who were to continue the race the next relay. "We don't want any mixup then, you know. It would be a shame to have those boys paddle over half a mile for nothing."

In response to his suggestion, Grant and John, and Hugh and Thomas, paddled slowly out to the starting line, there to await the arrival of their respective team-mates.

"Take it slow, Fred," urged George from his position in the stern of the racing canoe. "Don't kill yourself right at the start."

They had covered about one hundred yards of their course and all four boys were paddling with every ounce of strength they possessed.

"Dip your paddle deep," he continued. "Take a long easy stroke. A good steady pace is what we want."

"They'll get way ahead of us," protested Fred.