"Let's have a race," cried Maude. "To that big white rock down
there," and she pointed to the farther end of the pond. Harry took
the lead with short, swift strokes, but the long, steady paddling of
Captain Hornaby gained on him steadily, and to Maude's disgust the
Captain reached the rock first, Harry being a close second, and
Quincy a late third.
Maude was excited. "Let's race back to the boat house. A prize for
the first one who reaches it."
"What will be the prize?" asked the Captain.
Maude saw that Harry needed encouragement.
"I haven't anything with me but kisses and only one of them to
spare."
Harry shut his teeth with a snap. He was going to win that race.
As they were nearing the boat house Harry was in the lead, the
Captain close behind, with Quincy following leisurely. This was a
young people's race--married men barred. For some unexplainable
reason Captain Hornaby tried to cross Harry's bow. The project was
ill-timed and unsuccessful. Harry had just made a spurt and his canoe
went forward so fast that the Captain's boat, instead of clearing
his, struck it full in the side and Harry and Maude were thrown into
the water. Florence, who really loved her sister despite their many
quarrels, gave a loud scream and stood up in the boat. Her action was
fatal to its equilibrium, and the Captain and she were soon in the
water's embrace.
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