All ready"?
There was a pause.
"Start!" yelled Tom, and made a wild splash that sent the water flying in all directions.
"A race! A race!" shouted one of the students on the shore, and his cry soon brought a score or more of the others to the spot.
"I think Tom Rover will win that race." "I'll bet on Major Larry." "Fred Garrison is ahead.

He's the best swimmer in the school." "He can't swim as well as Dick Rover." "I'll bet Jackson wins," came from Lew Flapp, who was in the crowd on the beach.

Jackson, it will be remembered, was one of his particular cronies.
"Jackson can't swim against Dick Rover," came from Songbird Powell, who had hardly spoken to Flapp since the row at Mike Sherry's resort.
"I'll bet you a dollar he beats Rover," replied the tall boy, in a low tone.
"I don't bet, Flapp." "You're afraid to bet," sneered the tall boy.
This statement angered Powell and he quickly dove into his pocket and pulled out the sum mentioned.
"This is the time you lose, Flapp," he said quietly.
Another student was made stakeholder and each boy passed over his money.
By this time the race was well underway.

Tom was still in the lead, but Jackson was close behind him, with Larry Colby third and Dick fourth.
"Go it, Tom, you are sure to win!" shouted one of his friends.
"Don't know about that," Tom returned pantingly.

"Guess I started too hard!" And soon he began to drop behind.
"Jackson is ahead!" was the next cry.
"Major Colby is a close second!" "That is true, but Dick Rover is crawling up!" So the cries went on until the big rock that was the turning point was gained.
Jackson touched the rock first, several seconds before either Larry or Dick came up.