They were started by pistol; and Seth Ede, jumping off with a stroke
of forty to the minute, went ahead at once. In less than twenty
strokes he was clear, the _Nonpareil_ lifting forward in great heaves
that made the spectators tell each other that though 'twas no race
they had seen something for their money. They didn't see how sweetly
the other boat held her way between the strokes, nor note that Sally
had started at a quiet thirty-four, the whole crew reaching well out
and keeping their blades covered to the finish--coming down to the
stroke steadily, too, though a stiffish breeze was with them as well
as the tide.
I suppose the longest lead held by the _Nonpareil_ during the race
was a good forty yards. She must have won this within four minutes
of starting, and for half a mile or so she kept it. Having so much
in hand, Ede slowed down--for flesh and blood couldn't keep up such a
rate of striking over the whole course--and at once he found out his
mistake. The big man Hosken, who had been pulling with his arms
only, and pulling like a giant, didn't understand swinging out; tried
it, and was late on stroke every time. This flurried Ede, who was
always inclined to hurry the pace, and he dropped slower yet--dropped
to thirty-five, maybe, a rate at which he did himself no justice,
bucketting forward fast, and waiting over the beginning till he'd
missed it.
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