Julia said she did not dare hope it. "The race is not always to the
slowest and the dearest." This was in allusion to yesterday's "foul."
The skiffs started down at the island, and, as they were longer coming up
than the eight oars, she was in a fever for nearly ten minutes. At last,
near the opposite bank, up came the two leading skiffs struggling, both
men visibly exhausted--Silcock ahead, but his rudder overlapped by
Hardie's bow; each in his own water.
"We are third," sighed Julia, and turned her head away from the river
sorrowfully. But only for a moment, for she felt Mrs. Dodd start and
press her arm; and lo! Edward's skiff was shooting swiftly across from
their side of the river. He was pulling Just within himself, in beautiful
forum, and with far more elasticity than the other two had got left. As
line passed his mother and sister, his eyes seemed to strike fire, and he
laid out all his powers, and went at the leading skiffs hand over head
There was a yell of astonishment and delight from both sides of the
Thames. He passed Hardie, who upon that relaxed his speed.
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