There's no one shirking." "And look at the stroke oar," urged another.

"That fellow is the winner! He is working like a veteran, and he is setting a stroke that is bound to tell before the race is over." This was true enough.

The strong, long stroke of the freshmen kept their boat going steadily at high speed once it was in motion, and they steadily overhauled the juniors, who had fallen away from the sophs.

At the stake the freshman crew passed the juniors, and the freshmen witnesses had fits.
But that was not the end of the excitement.

The speed of the freshman boat was something wonderful, and it was overhauling the sophs, despite the fact that they were pulling for dear life to hold the lead.
And now the shouting for 'Umpty-eight was heard on every side.