"See, Captein Rover is crawling ahead!"
"Swim, Jackson, swim!" yelled Lew Flapp frantically. "You must win!" And Pender took up the call, and so did Rockley.
Again Jackson did his best. The finish of the race was now but twenty yards off.
"Go in and win, Dick," came from Larry Colby. "I'm about used up," and he let Dick go ahead.
Dick was almost as fresh as at the start and slowly but surely he kept gaining upon Jackson until the two were not over two yards apart.
"Hurrah, Captain Rover is crawling up!"
"Don't give up, Jackson, you can win out yet!" screamed Lew Flapp.
"Go it, Dick!" yelled Sam. "Go it, I say! The race is yours!"
Cheered by the last cry Dick increased his stroke and in a second more he was alongside of Jackson.
The latter made a side kick, intending to catch Dick in the stomach, but the eldest Rover was wise enough to keep out of his opponent's reach.
The kick made Jackson lose ground, and like a flash Dick passed him.
"Dick Rover is ahead!"
"See, Jackson is played out! He can hardly take another stroke!"
