Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

138 1RAVENSHOE.
Then a wild hubbub; and people begin to squeeze and crush
against one another. The boats are off; -the fight has begun;
then the thirteen steamers come roaring on after them, and their
wake is alive once more with boats.
Everywhere a roar and a rushing to and fro. Frantic crowds
upon the towing-path, mad crowds on the steamers, which make
them sway and rock fearfully. Ahead Hammersmith Bridge,
hanging like a black bar, covered with people as with a swarm of
bees. As an eye-piece to the picture, two solitary flying-boats, and
the flashing oars, working with the rapidity and regularity of a
steam-engine.
" Who's in front?" is asked by a thousand mouths; but who
can tell? We shall see soon. Hammersmith Bridge is stretching across the water not a hundred yards in front of the boats.
For one half-second a light shadow crosses the Oxford boat, and
then it is out into the sunlight beyond. In another second the
same shadow crosses the Cambridge boat. Oxford is ahead.
The men with light-blue neckties say that, "By George, Oxford can't keep that terrible quick stroke going much longer";
and the men with dark-blue ties say, "Can't she, by Jove!"
Well, we shall know all about it soon, for here is Barnes Bridge.
Again the shadow goes over the Oxford boat, and then one, two,
three, four seconds before the Cambridge men pass beneath it.
Oxford is winning! There is a shout-from the people at Barnes,
though,roXXol don't know why. Cambridge has made a furious
rush, and drawn nearly up to Oxford; but it is useless. Oxford
leaves rowing, and Cambridge rows ten strokes before they are
level. Oxford has won!
Five minutes after, Charles was on the wharf in front of the
Ship Inn at Mortlake, as happy as a king. He had got separated
from his friends in the crowd, and the people round him were
cheering him, and passing flattering remarks on his personal appearance, which caused Charles to laugh, and blush, and bow, as
he tried to push through his good-natured persecutors, when he
suddenly, in the midst of a burst of laughter caused by a remark
made by a drunken bargeman, felt somebody clasp his. arm, and
turning round, saw William.
He felt such a shock that he was giddy and faint. " Will! " he
said, " what is the matter?"
" Come here, and I'11 tell you."
He forced his way to a quieter place, and then turned round to
his companion, -" Make it short, Will; that's a good fellow. I
can stand the worst."
"Master was took very bad two days ago, Master Charles; and
Master Cuthbert sent me off for you at once. He told me directly
I got to Paddington to ask for a telegraph-message, so that you
might hear the last accounts; and here it is."