a mortal antipathy-第8章

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must　attract　many　lookers…on；　and　which　it　seemed　to　them　very

hoidenish　to　venture　upon。　　Some　said　it　was　a　shame　to　let　a　crew　of

girls　try　their　strength　against　an　equal　number　of　powerful　young

men。　　These　objections　were　offset　by　the　advocates　of　the　race　by

the　following　arguments。　　They　maintained　that　it　was　no　more

hoidenish　to　row　a　boat　than　it　was　to　take　a　part　in　the　calisthenic

exercises；　and　that　the　girls　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　young　men's

boat；　except　to　keep　as　much　ahead　of　it　as　possible。　　As　to

strength；　the　woman's　righters　believed　that；　weight　for　weight；

their　crew　was　as　strong　as　the　other；　and　of　course　due　allowance

would　be　made　for　the　difference　of　weight　and　all　other　accidental

hindrances。　　It　was　time　to　test　the　boasted　superiority　of　masculine

muscle。　　Here　was　a　chance。　　If　the　girls　beat；　the　whole　country

would　know　it；　and　after　that　female　suffrage　would　be　only　a

question　of　time。　　Such　was　the　conclusion；　from　rather　insufficient

premises；　it　must　be　confessed；　but　if　nature　does　nothing　per

saltum；by　jumps；as　the　old　adage　has　it；　youth　is　very　apt　to

take　long　leaps　from　a　fact　to　a　possible　sequel　or　consequence。　　So

it　had　come　about　that　a　contest　between　the　two　boat…crews　was

looked　forward　to　with　an　interest　almost　equal　to　that　with　which

the　combat　between　the　Horatii　and　Curiatii　was　regarded。



The　terms　had　been　at　last　arranged　between　the　two　crews；　after

cautious　protocols　and　many　diplomatic　discussions。　　It　was　so　novel

in　its　character　that　it　naturally　took　a　good　deal　of　time　to　adjust

it　in　such　a　way　as　to　be　fair　to　both　parties。　　The　course　must　not

be　too　long　for　the　lighter　and　weaker　crew；　for　the　staying　power　of

the　young　persons　who　made　it　up　could　not　be　safely　reckoned　upon。

A　certain　advantage　must　be　allowed　them　at　the　start；　and　this　was　a

delicate　matter　to　settle。　　The　weather　was　another　important

consideration。　　June　would　be　early　enough；　in　all　probability；　and

if　the　lake　should　be　tolerably　smooth　the　grand　affair　might　come

off　some　time　in　that　month。　　Any　roughness　of　the　water　would　be

unfavorable　to　the　weaker　crew。　　The　rowing…course　was　on　the　eastern

side　of　the　lake；　the　starting…point　being　opposite　the　Anchor

Tavern；　from　that　three　quarters　of　a　mile　to　the　south；　where　the

turning…stake　was　fixed；　so　that　the　whole　course　of　one　mile　and　a

half　would　bring　the　boats　back　to　their　starting…point。



The　race　was　to　be　between　the　Algonquin；　eight…oared　boat　with

outriggers；　rowed　by　young　men；　students　of　Stoughton　University；　and

the　Atalanta；　also　eight…oared　and　outrigger　boat；　by　young　ladies

from　the　Corinna　Institute。　　Their　boat　was　three　inches　wider　than

the　other；　for　various　sufficient　reasons；　one　of　which　was　to　make

it　a　little　less　likely　to　go　over　and　throw　its　crew　into　the　water；

which　was　a　sound　precaution；　though　all　the　girls　could　swim；　and

one　at　least；　the　bow　oar；　was　a　famous　swimmer；　who　had　pulled　a

drowning　man　out　of　the　water　after　a　hard　struggle　to　keep　him　from

carrying　her　down　with　him。



Though　the　coming　trial　had　not　been　advertised　in　the　papers；　so　as

to　draw　together　a　rabble　of　betting　men　and　ill…conditioned　lookers…

on；　there　was　a　considerable　gathering；　made　up　chiefly　of　the

villagers　and　the　students　of　the　two　institutions。　　Among　them　were

a　few　who　were　disposed　to　add　to　their　interest　in　the　trial　by

small　wagers。　　The　bets　were　rather　in　favor　of　the　〃Quins；〃　as　the

University　boat　was　commonly　called；　except　where　the　natural

sympathy　of　the　young　ladies　or　the　gallantry　of　some　of　the　young

men　led　them　to　risk　their　gloves　or　cigars；　or　whatever　it　might　be；

on　the　Atalantas。　　The　elements　of　judgment　were　these：　average

weight　of　the　Algonquins　one　hundred　and　sixty…five　pounds；　average

weight　of　the　Atalantas；　one　hundred　and　forty…eight　pounds；　skill　in

practice　about　equal；　advantage　of　the　narrow　boat　equal　to　three

lengths；　whole　distance　allowed　the　Atalantas　eight　lengths；a　long

stretch　to　be　made　up　in　a　mile　and　a　half。



And　so　both　crews　began　practising　for　the　grand　trial。









II



THE　BOAT…RACE。



The　10th　of　June　was　a　delicious　summer　day；　rather　warm；　but　still

and　bright。　　The　water　was　smooth；　and　the　crews　were　in　the　best

possible　condition。　　All　was　expectation；　and　for　some　time　nothing

but　expectation。　　No　boat…race　or　regatta　ever　began　at　the　time

appointed　for　the　start。　　Somebody　breaks　an　oar；　or　somebody　fails

to　appear　in　season；　or　something　is　the　matter　with　a　seat　or　an

outrigger；　or　if　there　is　no　such　excuse；　the　crew　of　one　or　both　or

all　the　boats　to　take　part　in　the　race　must　paddle　about　to　get

themselves　ready　for　work；　to　the　infinite　weariness　of　all　the

spectators；　who　naturally　ask　why　all　this　getting　ready　is　not

attended　to　beforehand。　　The　Algonquins　wore　plain　gray　flannel　suits

and　white　caps。　　The　young　ladies　were　all　in　dark　blue　dresses；

touched　up　with　a　red　ribbon　here　and　there；　and　wore　light　straw

hats。　　The　little　coxswain　of　the　Atalanta　was　the　last　to　step　on

board。　　As　she　took　her　place　she　carefully　deposited　at　her　feet　a

white　handkerchief　wrapped　about　something　or　other；　perhaps　a

sponge；　in　case　the　boat　should　take　in　water。



At　last　the　Algonquin　shot　out　from　the　little　nook　where　she　lay；

long；　narrow；　shining；　swift　as　a　pickerel　when　he　darts　from　the

reedy　shore。　　It　was　a　beautiful　sight　to　see　the　eight　young　fellows

in　their　close…fitting　suits；　their　brown　muscular　arms　bare；　bending

their　backs　for　the　stroke　and　recovering；　as　if　they　were　parts　of　a

single　machine。



〃The　gals　can't　stan'　it　agin　them　fellers；〃　said　the　old　blacksmith

from　the　village。



〃You　wait　till　the　gals　get　a…goin'；〃　said　the　carpenter；　who　had

often　worked　in　the　gymnasium　of　the　Corinna　Institute；　and　knew

something　of　their　muscular　accomplishments。　　〃Y'　ought　to　see　'em

climb　ropes；　and　swing　dumb…bells；　and　pull　in　them　rowin'…machines。

Ask　Jake　there　whether　they　can't　row　a　mild　in　double…quick　time；

he　knows　all　abaout　it。〃



Jake　was　by　profession　a　fisherman；　and　a　freshwater　fisherman　in　a

country　village　is　inspector…general　of　all　that　goes　on　out…of…

doors；　being　a　lazy；　wandering　sort　of　fellow；　whose　study　of　the

habits　and　habitats　of　fishes　gives　him　a　kind　of　shrewdness　of

observation；　just　as　dealing　in　horses　is　an　education　of　certain

faculties；　and　breeds　a　race　of　men　peculiarly　cunning；　suspicious；

wary；　and　wide　awake；　with　a　rhetoric　of　appreciation　and

depreciation　all　its　own。



Jake　made　his　usual　preliminary　signal；　and　delivered　himself　to　the

following　effect：



〃Wahl；　I　don'　know　jest　what　to　say。　　I've　seed　'em　both　often　enough

when　they　was　practisin'；　an'　I　tell　ye　the'　wa'n't　no　slouch　abaout

neither　on　'em。　　But　them　bats　is　all…fired　long；　'n'　eight　on　'em

stretched　in　a　straight　line　eendways　makes　a　consid'able　piece　aout

'f　a　mile　'n'　a　haaf。　　I'd　bate　on　them　gals　if　it　wa'n't　that　them

fellers　is　naterally　longer　winded；　as　the　gals　'll　find　aout　by　the

time　they　git　raound　the　stake　'n'　over　agin　the　big　ellum。　　I'll　go

ye　a　quarter　on　the　pahnts　agin　the　petticoats。〃



The　fresh…water　fisherman　had　expressed　the　prevailing　belief　that

the　young　ladies　were　overmatched。　　Still　there　were　not　wanting

those　who　thought　the　advantage　allowed　the　〃Lantas；〃　as　they　called

the　Corinna　boatcrew；　was　too　great；　and　that　it　would　be　impossible

for　the　〃Quins〃　to　make　it　up　and　go　by　them。



The　Algonquins　rowed　up　and　down　a　few　times　before　the　spectators。

They　appeared　in　perfect　training；　neither　too　fat　nor　too　fine；

mettlesome　as　colts；　steady　as　draught…horses；　deep…breathed　as　oxen；

disciplined　to　work　together　as　symmetrically　as　a　single　sculler

pulls　his　pair　of　oars。　　The　fisherman　offered　to　make　his　quarter

fifty　cents。　　No　takers。



Five　minutes　passed；　and　all　eyes　were　strained　to　the　south；　looking

for　the　Atalanta。　　A　clump　of　trees　hid　the　edge　of　the　lake　along

which　the　Corinna's　boat　was　stealing　towards　the　starting…point。

Presently　the　long　shell　swept　into　view；　with　its　blooming　rowers；

who；　with　their　ample　dresses；　seemed　to　fill　it　almost　as　full　as

Raphael　fills　his　skiff　on　the　edge　of　the　Lake　of　Galilee。　　But　how

steadily　the　Atalanta　came　on！…no　rocking；　no　splashing；　no

apparent　strain；　the　bow　oar　turning　to　look　ahead　every　now　and

then；　and　watching　her　course；　which　seemed　to　be　straight　as　an

arrow；　the　beat　of　the　strokes　as　true　and　regular　as　the　pulse　of

the　healthiest　rower　among　them　all。　　And　if　the　sight　of　the　other

boat　and　its　crew　was　beautiful；　how　lovely　was　the　look　of　this！

Eight　young　girls；young　ladies；　for　those　who　prefer　that　more

dignified　and　less　attractive　expression；all　in　the　flush　of　youth；

all　in　vigorous　health；　every　muscle　taught　its　duty；　each　rower

alert；　not　to　be　a　tenth　of　a　second　out　of　time；　or　let　her　oar

dally　with　the　water　so　as　to　lose　an　ounce　of　its　propelling　virtue；

every　eye　kindling　with　the　hope　of　victory。　　Each　of　the　boats　was

cheered　as　it　came　in　sight；　but　the　cheers　for　the　Atalanta　were

naturally　the　loudest；　as　the　gallantry　of　one　sex　and　the　clear；

high　voices　of　the　other　gave　it　life　and　vigor。



〃Take　your　places！〃　shouted　the　umpire；　five　minutes　before　the　half

hour。　　The　two　boats　felt　their　way　slowly　and　cautiously　to　their

positions；　which　had　been　determined　by　careful　measurement。　　After　a

little　backing　and　filling　they　got　into　line；　at　the　proper　distance

from　each　other；　and　sat　motionless；　their　bodies　bent　forward；　their

arms　outstretched；　their　oars　in　the　water；　waiting　for　the　word。



〃Go！〃　shouted　the　umpire。



Away　sprang　the　Atalanta；　and　far　behind　her　leaped　the　Algonquin；

her　oars　bending　like　so　many　long　Indian　bows　as　their　blades

flashed　through　the　water。



〃A　stern　chase　is　a　long　chase；〃　especially　when　one　craft　is　a　great

distance　behind　the　other。　　It　looked　as　if　it　would　be　impossible

for　the　rear　boat　to　overcome　the　odds　against　it。　　Of　course　the

Algonquin　kept　gaining；　but　could　it　possibly　gain　enough？　　That　was

the　question。　　As　the　boats　got　farther　and　farther　away；　it　became

more　and　more　difficult　to　determine　what　change　there　was　in　the

interval　between　them。　　But　when　they　came　to　rounding　the　stake　it

was　easier　to　guess　at　the　amount　of　space　which　had　been　gained。　　It

was　clear　that　something　like　half　the　distance；　four　lengths；　as

nearly　as　could　be　estimated；　had　been　made　up　in　rowing　the　first

three　quarters　of　a　mile。　　Could　the　Algonquins　do　a　little　better

than　this　in　the　second　half　of　the　race…course；　they　would　be　sure

of　winning。



The　boats　had　turned　the　stake；　and　were　coming　in　rapidly。　　Every

minute　the　University　boat　was　getting　nearer　the　other。