"Those girls sure can swim some," was Will's admiring comment.
"For girls," grunted Roy.
"Get ready now, fellows," commanded Allen. "They've almost reached the
point."
"I think we gave them too big a handicap," said Frank doubtfully. "They
swim like fish."
"You old croaker!" Will exclaimed. "Why, we ought to be able to beat
them with twice that handicap."
"Look out, Mollie has reached the point, fellows!" Allen shouted. "Now's
the time!"
Without more ado, the boys struck out bravely, determined to overtake
the girls in the shortest time possible. They found it was not so easy,
however, as might have been anticipated. The girls had had a big
advantage and were still swimming strongly. Will and Roy began to agree
with Frank that they had given them too long a handicap.
On the other hand, the girls were not so confident. The strain was
beginning to tell even upon their tried young muscles. Their breath was
becoming labored and the goal seemed terribly far away.
Mollie and Betty had fallen a short distance behind the other two. They
had felt the tax the speed was making on their strength, and had decided
wisely to save the rest of it until it was more needed then at the
present.
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