Soon the turning point was
gained. Larry was in advance still, but now Mumps overtook him,
and suddenly the boy from the Hudson who had such a reputation as
a racer shot fifteen feet in advance. It looked as if the race
was certainly his, and Larry and the others felt much downcast.
CHAPTER XIX
THE SKATING RACE--DAN BAXTER IS CORNERED
The wind had been with the racers thus far, but as one after
another of the skaters turned the mark they found the wind now
full in their faces, and it was blowing freshly.
"Mumps will win beyond a doubt!" was the cry, as the lad from the
Hudson River forged still further ahead.
"My skate is loose!" cried Larry, and second later the skate came
off and flew fifty feet away.
By this time Dick and Fred were coming up, slowly but surely. It
seemed to be nip-and-tuck between them, and the friends of each
cheered wildly.
"Go it, Dick; you can come in second anyway!"
"Make him follow you, Fred! You can do it if you try!"
On and on went the racers, Mumps still ten feet ahead, Fred and
Dick side by side, and the others in a bunch just back of them.
But the strain was now beginning to tell upon Mumps, who had
pushed himself too much from the start.
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