Frank and Andy Afloat / Or, The Cave on the Island

race to the

whom,

ere-loser to stand treat for the

a quiet look of determination on his face, rested on the oars of his skiff, and g

ndy, with a laugh rippl

raid I'll

was a grim tightening

t that way, here go

order better to trim the boat. He took a tighter grip on the oars, and

ater, adding: "I can taste that ch

counseled Frank good-naturedly, as h

r a long dock that ran out into the quiet inlet of the Atlantic which washed the shores of th

ng no attention to his brother's well-meant advice, and then the two lads got into the s

as well as a fishing centre, were expert oarsmen, sturdy and capable of long exertion. They were nearly matched in strength, too, in spite of

ome speed in your strokes, Fra

d Frank glanced over his shoulder to where the public dock stretched out into the bay li

him to do whatever he did with all his might, while his more fun-loving brothe

n, as he found the exertion too much, he eased u

it a bit too heavy," rem

beat you yet. But I like your company

ou can't talk and row, I've told you that lots of times. That's the reason you lo

to get him rattle

But go on. I don't care. I'm going to win, but

. You never can beat me in a thousand years.

winds do b

ing race wil

come

ime is

briny deep,

the bri

e increased his strokes by several a minute, until his skiff had shot ahead of his brother's, and was dancing ov

wo can play at that game," and he, also, hit up the pace until in front of both boats there was a little smother of foam, while

one could hear the labored breathing of the other. The pace was beginning to tell, for, though Frank was not ove

torm," spoke Andy again, after a pause. He

ll the repl

our tongue overboard?" que

did no

he had regained the place he had held, with the bow of his craft in line with Frank's. Then

at he still had some power in reserve, for he caught up to his brother, and held his p

?" at length the younger lad fairly pan

so he, likewise, rowed slower until the two boats were on even terms, bob

t his course, for they could do that over the stern, having previously taken their rang

orning, now sprang up in fitful gusts, with a rather uncanny, moaning sound, as

to kick up a rumpus?" asked

his breath was needed to ke

he sting out of his words. "Your tongue will get so tired being

other craft making for the more sheltered part of the harbor. Frank was calculating the space yet to be covered, to decide when he should begin the final spurt, for, though the race

ought it was," came from Andy, afte

sly. "I'm going to finish whether you do or

l finish, too, a

rongly on one oar than on the other, or because of the drift of the current, and the eff

o play a little trick on him. Skillfully judging the distance, he suddenly swept back his left oar, s

n?" Frank cried,

e of his brother, and g

race, not a splashing conte

rs, Andy paused, rested on the ashen blades, and, holding the handles of both unde

s that out t

h me that way-pretending to show me a

nd humpy-it's moving, too! Don't you see it? Look, r

sea. His manner was so earnest that, in spite of the many times he had joked with his brother, Frank

forgetting all about the race now, and standin

ried Andy. "A f

wreck," dec

what i

m any judge. A whale

ea

er! It's alive, Andy, an

bomb gun now, that would be the end of

zy?" demanded Fra

y? No

whale will keep on a straight course, though he'll be stranded if he goes much farther in. The tide's out, and it's shallo

ried Andy. "Maybe he's hurt, or perhaps there's a harpoon

out of the way while you've got time.

gan to swing his craft around. They could both see the whale plainl

natural enemies, there was a sudden swirling of water and the whale increased his s

ing!" yel

cried Frank. "Row! Ro

rantically on their oars. The whale was now coming on with the s

shouted Andy. "He ma

, who was a little the better

huge wave in front of him. Andy was rowing as hard as was his brother until he sudd

skiff of the younger lad. The monster might have thought

ourse, the leviathan, w

, now turned

ntically shoute

's got me!"

high in the air. Frank's boat rocked on the heavy swell caused by the flukes of the whale, as t

er's edge. He saw the green sea pouring in, and he saw Andy standing up, ready to leap ov

coming! I'll save you

t ju

h desperate energy, bent to his oars and swung his boat i