VII] THE TWO ETONIANS. — 337

 

leave Oxley labouring behind and charge the ditch
almost abreast several yards before him. A roar
from the ‘ Dry-bobs ’ and lower boys, and correspond-
ing shouts of disgust from the ‘ Aquatics,’ accompany
the sight of this extinction of Oxley’s hopes. Poor
fellow ! he was the biggest and the strongest of the five,
but although he would have trained with good-will for
a boat-race, he had probably held a land-race too
cheap to secure it by equal care and abstinence. from
unwholesome diet. So his natural strength, though it
served him well, failed him when tested beside boys
who had bestowed more care upon making the most
of themselves for this important occasion. i

Neither of the two, however, was in a condition to
enable him to clear the ‘school jump’ at the end ofa
fast-run steeple-chase. Both gallantly jumped,and both
were struggling in the ditch at the same instant, but so
close to the opposite bank that it was not long before
each scrambled up into ‘the Field’ and headed for the
winning-post. At this instant the excitement of the
bystanders was tremendous, and their shouts positively
deafening. As the two boys struggled manfully on,
each straining every nerve, a crowd of friends and
well-wishers ran by the side of each, encouraging their
favourite by word and gesture, and perfectly wild with
the intoxication of the moment.

Side by side kept the boys until within a very few
yards of the winning-post. Then each made his great
and final effort, and the result was no longer doubtful.
Moore’s pluck and strength had carried him well
through the day ; but Ethelston had the turn of speed,
and in these last few yards he succeeded in leaving his

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