The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview Part 55

But the broken oar landed on Harry's arm, causing him to cry out from pain.

"Drop that, Si Peters."

The command, coming so unexpectedly, startled Peters. He turned, to find Jerry at the gunwale directly behind him.

"Oh, Jerry, help!" cried Harry.

Si Peters gave a low yell of rage.

Again Harry sprang away, and now armed himself with an oar.

"You can't frighten me, you fool!" shouted Peters. "Don't you dare to put your hand on the boat!"

And as Jerry grasped the gunwale, Peters raised his heavy foot as if to crush our hero's fingers.

But Jerry was too quick for him.

He dropped off. Then whizz! something dark flew through the air.

It was part of the broken oar, thrown by Jerry, and it took Si Peters in the neck.

"Whack him one, Harry, while you have the chance!"

Harry needed no advice on the subject. He sprang in, and a second later a resounding crack laid Si Peters flat on his back.

"That was a good one," cried Jerry, as he clambered over the side. "Now bind him before he comes to."

"Haven't a blessed thing," replied Harry.

"Here is some cord. Tie his hands together."

While Harry was doing this, Jerry began to look around for Wash Crosby.

"This way! We are in trouble!" yelled Crosby.

"Pshaw!" exclaimed Jerry. "He'll have that yacht down on us in another minute."

But for once the young oarsman was mistaken. The men on the Redeye had no desire, after befriending Si Peters and Wash Crosby, to fall into the hands of the law, and instead of coming up they allowed their craft to float off in an opposite direction.

"There is Crosby!" shouted Jerry, a moment later, as he beheld the youth floundering around in the water. "And look, here comes the Whistler."

He was right. A slight breeze had sprung up and Jack Broxton had nursed the yacht along with all of the skill at his command.

The coming of the old sailor ended the battle, so far as the bad boys from Rockpoint were concerned. Both Si Peters and Wash Crosby were hauled on board, and here they were tightly bound, to prevent their making further trouble.

It was after midnight when Lakeview was reached and the prisoners were handed over to the local police. Then Harry and Jerry separated, to go home and tell of their fresh adventures.

The following morning Si Peters and Wash Crosby were taken to Rockpoint and an examination was held. The bad boys confessed robbing the hotel and the larger part of the money taken was recovered, as was also Harry's gold watch, which Si Peters had been bold enough to wear. Some time later the evil-doers were tried and sent to jail, and that was the last our heroes heard of them.

CHAPTER XLI.

A LAST RACE--GOOD-BYE TO THE RIVAL OARSMEN.

"Hurrah, here they come!"

"It's going to be a dandy race, Harry."

"Indeed it is, d.i.c.k."

"There comes Hosmer!"

"Here comes Pinkney!"

"What's the matter with Villelet?"

"He's all right!"

The conversation took place on the bank of the Hudson River, not far from Poughkeepsie.

It was the day of the great intercollegiate boat races.

The single-sh.e.l.l race had just been ordered.

Among the number to compete in this race was Jerry Upton.

Our hero was rich now--that is, his folks were, which amounted to the same thing.

On trial it had been proven what a villain Alexander Sloc.u.m was. All of his masquerading in the west under the name of Darnley was exposed, as well as his fraudulent land schemes in the east. The real-estate manipulator was sent to prison for a term of years, and the property in California was divided up between Jerry's father, Nellie Ardell and several others who held an interest in it.

The land was found to be within the city limits of Sacramento, and the Upton share was computed to be worth forty-five thousand dollars.

Mr. Upton was offered forty thousand dollars for it, but by the advice of Colonel Dartwell, who became his intimate friend, he concluded to keep it.

"The investment is bringing in good interest," he said, "and as it was Jerry who did the work in getting it, the lad shall have it just as it stands when I and my wife die."

Immediately after these matters were settled up, Jerry began to study for college, and Harry did also, and both made the entrance examination with ease.

Jerry was a fine scholar and he was also one of the best oarsmen in his cla.s.s. Harry likewise rowed a good deal, although not near as much as formerly.

It was a perfect day and the river was filled with pleasure boats, loaded down to the rails with sightseers. The banks of the stream were likewise lined with the crowds which had poured in to see the various college oarsmen compete for the supremacy in aquatic sports.

In the crowd on short was our old friend Blumpo Brown. Blumpo was now in business at Lakeview, letting out pleasure boats, of which he owned several, and he was unusually prosperous. Just at present he was wearing the colors of Jerry's college and "whooping her up" for our hero whenever the chance presented itself.

At the given signal the single sh.e.l.ls took their places at the starting point.