“Cease—­rowing!” said he.  “Ready—­up!”

The Butterfly came in scarcely an instant behind, and her oars were poised in air, like those of her rival.

A long and animating shout rang along the shore, when the result of the race was apparent, and the band struck up “See the conquering hero comes.”

CHAPTER IX.

LITTLE PAUL.

“You have won the race, Frank, and I congratulate you,” said Tony Weston, as the Butterfly came alongside the Zephyr.

“Thank you, Tony; that is noble and generous,” replied Frank.

“But it is the feeling in our club—­isn’t it, fellows?”

“Ay, ay, that it is!” shouted Little Paul.  “Let us give them three cheers, to show the folks on shore that there are no hard feelings.”

The cheers were given lustily—­at least, as lustily as the exhausted condition of the Butterflies would permit.  Each member of the defeated club seemed to feel it his duty to banish even the semblance of envy; and it was pleasant to observe how admirably they succeeded.

I do not wish my young readers to suppose that Tony’s crew felt no disappointment at the result; only that there were no hard feelings, no petty jealousy.  They had confidently expected to win the race, even up to the last quarter of a mile of the course; and to have that hope suddenly dashed down, to be beaten when they felt sure of being the victors, was regarded as no trivial misfortune.  But so thoroughly had Tony schooled them in the necessity of keeping down any ill will, that I am sure there was not a hard feeling in the club.  Perhaps they displayed more disinterestedness in their conduct after the race than they really felt.  If they did, it was no great harm, for their motives were good, and they were all struggling to feel what their words and their actions expressed.

“Zephyr, ahoy!” hailed Mr. Hyde, from the Sylph.

“Ay, ay, sir!”

“The prize is ready for the winner.”

The oars were dropped into the water again, and the Zephyr pulled up to the judges’ boat.

“You have won the prize handsomely, Frank, and it affords me great pleasure to present it to you,” said Mr. Hyde, as he handed him a purse containing the prize.  “After the noble expressions of kindness on the part of your rival, I am sure the award will awaken no feeling of exultation in the minds of the Zephyrs, and none of envy in the Butterflies.  I congratulate you on your victory.”

Frank bowed, and thanked the schoolmaster for his hopeful words; and the Butterflies gave three cheers again as he took the prize.  The Zephyr was then brought alongside her late rival.

“Starboard oars—­up!” said Frank.

“Larboard oars—­up!” added Tony.

“What now, I wonder?” queried Fred Harper.

“Forward oarsman, step aboard the Butterfly,” continued Frank.

“Forward oarsman, step aboard the Zephyr,” said Tony.