CONCLUSION
"Look at Columbia walk away from them, would you!"
"Hit her up, Frank; you know how to do it, old fellow!"
"Oh! you darling Frank!" gasped Helen, holding on to Minnie as she
stared at the lively picture presented in this race of the two rival
boats.
Again Bedlam seemed to have broken loose around them. Once more men
shrieked, women cried, boys howled, and all sorts of weird noises were
made with horns and strident whistles.
The two shells came flying down the river as though really things of
life. Incredible was the speed shown by both contestants, which spoke
well for the manner of their training. Not a single gap appeared in
the ranks. Every fellow was pumping away like a part of well managed
machines, while the two young coxswains manipulated their crews with
wonderful tact.
Columbia was certainly creeping up, steadily. Now it could be seen
that a gap of half a boat's length separated their shell from that of
Clifford. In vain did the other coxswain increase his stroke to the
utmost limit of which his crew was capable; superior merit held its own
in this case, and so they swept down the river amid a salvo of rousing
cheers, and headed for the finishing line under the railroad bridge.
[Illustration: COLUMBIA WAS CERTAINLY CREEPING UP.]
Now it was seen that an entire boat length lay between. And this time
there was no useless "dead wood" in Columbia's shell. Ginger Harper
was bending to his work like a Trojan, and doing his full share of the
lusty pull that was carrying the colors of good old Columbia High to
another glorious victory!
No need of any admonition from the coach, who was there at the bridge
to witness the wind-up. He had done his work, and could only watch the
result. Ralph stole one look at Coach Willoughby as he stood close by,
and if sheer delight was ever shown on any man's ruddy face it was on
his as he saw his boys shoot underneath, a full length and a third
ahead of their determined rivals!
The great race was over!
And it was again Columbia day!
Enthusiasm ran rampant. Squads of students were in waiting ready to
snatch the members of that gallant crew out of their boat, regardless
of protests, and carry them in triumph through the main streets of the
town in procession, with a thousand cheering persons following in their
wake.
Loud swelled the Columbia yell, and every dear old song so precious to
the hearts of those who had attended the famous seat of learning was
brought forth to do duty again and again.
Dignified men with gray hair seemed to throw off their sedate manner
as though it were a mantle. For the time being they were boys again,
and mingled their bass voices with the shriller treble of the younger
element in chanting the songs with which Columbia had marched to
victory so many times in the past.
Frank was glad to break away at last and get home, where he could
change his clothes and find some rest. But it was not for long. The
Allen house was fated to be a Mecca for pretty much all juvenile
Columbia during the balance of that never-to-be-forgotten Saturday, and
the gentleman of the house laughed the next morning when he examined
the trampled condition of his usually neat lawn.
"Bless my soul, you'd believe we had a Presidential candidate here in
this house, and that delegations of the faithful were bent on paying
visits to assure him of their support, and parcel out the expected
offices in advance," he said; and the rest of the family solemnly
declared that it was not always a profitable thing to have a hero under
the roof.
What took place that Saturday night would not soon be forgotten by
the good people of Columbia. For once they allowed their boys all the
latitude they wanted, and for hours the triumphant hosts of marching,
cheering students literally painted the town red.
Frank did not dare show himself out of doors, for he knew that he would
be immediately seized upon and made to ride on a human platform at the
head of the procession. Once was quite enough for him, and he did not
envy the other members of the successful crew who were given that honor.
Paul and Ralph, as well as Lanky, had come over. Several girls had also
been invited to attend, and they spent the evening after their own
fashion, regardless of the tumult throughout the length and breadth of
the old town.
Columbia High was lighted up from top to bottom for the occasion, and
as the procession wound around near the school, loud and vociferous
were the cheers for Professor Tyson Parke, and every member of the
faculty; even the janitor, Soggy Dolan, and the keeper of the lunch
counter, Mrs. Louden, coming in for their share of the mad applause.
Many Clifford enthusiasts had remained over to see the goings-on of the
victorious crew; and bunches of them would every now and then send out
a defiant bleat for their home school, all of which was taken in good
part by the happy throngs.
Of course there were a few fellows belonging to Columbia High who did
not take much stock in this clamorous celebration of the great river
victory. Bill Klemm and Tony Gilpin were with the crowds of students,
and tried to forget their personal grievances in shouting for the
school; but Lef Seller stayed indoors. Perhaps he had enough to do
attending to the numerous cuts with which his face was still adorned,
and which he told his father he had received in falling down into a
gully, after catching his foot in a root at the top.
Vacation had now set in in earnest and presently most of the fellows
belonging to Frank's set would be separating, as their families went to
various seaside resorts, or the mountains for the summer.
Ralph meant to go back home to Scarsdale, and find some sort of
employment while waiting to hear from Frank's lawyer uncle, who was
following Mrs. John Langworthy over to England. But when Frank heard
this he drew the other aside.
"My father has taken a great interest in you, Ralph," he said,
earnestly, "and through me he wants to extend an invitation to you
to go with us up in the mountains for vacation. We've got a big place
there, and the fishing is fine in the river. Besides, we have boats and
horses, and you'll have a pretty fine time. He says he won't take 'no'
for an answer, so make up your mind it's settled."
Ralph could really say nothing at first. He was utterly overcome by the
generous offer that took him so by surprise. Then, when he started to
weakly protest, Helen came to the assistance of her brother; so that
between the two of them all of his scruples were brushed aside.
"You see Paul Bird's father has an adjoining place, and we're together
pretty much all the time. They have quite a family of girls, and that
makes it nice for Helen--I'm speaking of the girls now, not Paul," with
a wink at Ralph.
"And while about it you might as well tell how my chum Minnie expects
to spend a month or two with me; which makes it particularly nice, for
Frank!" remarked Helen, with a little maliciousness in her manner,
"for," she was accustomed to saying, "when Frank's around I see so
little of my dearest friend."
"Besides," observed Frank, when he and Ralph were planning it over up
in the sanctity of his den, "I'd like to be on hand when you meet the
lady you're expecting sooner or later to arrive. I hope I deserve that
privilege, old fellow, because of the great interest I've had in all
that concerns you."
"You deserve everything, Frank, for you've been as close as a brother
to me. I shiver to think what a lonely life I would have led here in
Columbia only for the generous big-hearted way you and your friends
took me in on trust. I can never forget it, never do enough in return,"
said Ralph, with tears in his eyes, for he felt very keenly upon this
matter.
"Shucks! the favor is all on the other side. We've enjoyed your company
to the limit. Outside of Paul, there isn't a fellow I've come to care
so much for, even good old Lanky. Forget all about your troubles for a
time, and try to have just a bully good vacation. When the proper day
arrives I'm sure it will be all right, and your dearest wish come true."
That was the way Frank talked, and who could withstand his arguments.
Ralph was soon feeling quite merry again, and entered into the
preparations for going off to the country with all the animation any
ordinary care-free boy would be expected to show.
But the scattering hosts would assemble again when the September days
came around with new sports calculated to arouse their enthusiasm
once more. With the cool autumn breezes their thoughts would run to
strenuous endeavors on the football field, with the athletes of the
home school pitted against the rivals from other towns.
Whether the gallant striving of Columbia's best players could avail in
such a tri-cornered struggle for supremacy it would hardly be fair to
disclose just now. And those who would read for themselves concerning
the fierce battles of the pigskin must secure the next volume in this
series, called: "The Boys of Columbia High On the Gridiron; or, The
Struggle for the Silver Cup."
In some roundabout fashion Mr. Seller must have learned about his son's
conduct with regard to numerous things. Indeed, the town was fairly
seething with talk concerning Lef, and it seemed strange that his
father could have failed to hear about his various misdoings up to now.
He came to Frank and tried to get him to tell about the trouble on the
river; but since Lef had brought the wrecked craft down to the yard
of a boat builder, and left orders to have it put in good shape at
his expense, of course Frank declined to complain, and called it an
"accident."
No matter what Mr. Seller learned, he found that his young hopeful was
earning a bad name around Columbia, and stood in danger of getting
into serious trouble unless he mended his ways. Accordingly Lef was
compelled to remain in town through all the summer, and work in the
office of the trolley company. Even his boat was only allowed him on
extraordinary occasions.
With a disposition such as he cultivated, it can be easily understood
that Lef spent a miserable summer, while all his comrades were away
having a delightful time. His father was in hopes that the lesson might
have a salutary effect on the boy; but others who knew declared that
the leopard would change his spots before Lef Seller stopped playing
his mean pranks.
Although the full facts were never actually known, enough was learned
about the burning of the boathouse to indicate that it was the work of
several disreputable fellows who lived along the river below Clifford.
Every one believed that they had been hired by those who had laid
wagers on Columbia failing to win the great race.
The two rascals, Martin and Joey, were made to pay the penalty of their
evil deeds. As Frank had said, neither he nor Lanky would touch a cent
of the reward offered for the finding of the loot; and consequently
Chief Hogg and his trusty officers were compelled to divide it among
them.
And so long as Columbia High stands there as a seat of learning, so
long must the story of that great year be told with reverence; for
surely never was a school blessed so prodigally with victories as came
to Frank Allen and his fellow students in the season just passed.
The memories they carried away with them on their summer vacations were
apt to spur them on to renewed efforts when once again they gathered
upon the field of friendly rivalry, and listened to good Old Herman
Hooker, the cheer captain, as he led his bunch of shouters in the
rallying cry of:
"Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! _Veni! vidi! vici!_ Columbia!"
THE END
* * * * *
The Boys of Columbia High Series
BY GRAHAM B. FORBES
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH
Or The All Around Rivals of the School
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND
Or Winning Out by Pluck
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER
Or The Boat Race Plot That Failed
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON
Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup
THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE
Or Out for the Hockey Championship
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price, per volume,
40 cents, postpaid._
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK