He was captain enough to know just what each of his men could
endure, and for how long they could stand up under it.

"Life is of little use to the vanquished!" Dick shouted on. "Go
in to win---kill yourselves!"

At an earlier point on the course it would have been fearfully
bad leadership. It would have resulted in disaster had any of
Dick & Co. had any form of serious physical weakness.

But Dick Prescott knew his boys!

"Kill yourselves!" he shouted out again, as he saw the two canoes
running neck and neck. "For the honor of Gridley High School!"

Right noble was the response, though flesh and blood could not
stand this new and savage grilling for long.

"Wake up, Trentville!" shouted Ted Pascal, when he saw the
"Scalp-hunter" gaining. "Wake up! Let out all of your steam!
Push!"

Dick Prescott said no more. His straining gaze was now fixed
on the finish line. 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!"