Not one of his chums even glanced at the imaginary line.

All their thoughts, like all their glances, were on their paddles.
"A final dash, now!" called Dick.

"Slam up the pace for Gridley!" But Trentville was showing its boasted reserve steam.
Close as they now were to the finish, Pascal had no thought of permitting defeat to come to his crew.
No dinning of whistles was there now.

Every spectator waited breathlessly for the outcome that would be reached in the next few seconds..