"
The inference was obvious, and Perkins, who had been slashing wildly and
leaving many blanks and weeds behind him where neither blanks nor weeds
should be, steadied down somewhat, and, taking more pains with his work,
began to lose ground, while Tim, whose work was without flaw, moved
again to the front place. There remained half a drill to be done and the
issue was still uncertain. With half the length of a hoe handle between
them the two clicked along at a furious pace. Tim's hat had fallen off.
His face showed white and his breath was coming fast, but there was no
slackening of speed, and the cleanness and ease with which he was doing
his work showed that there was still some reserve in him. They were
approaching the last quarter when, with a yell, Perkins threw himself
again with a wild recklessness into his work, and again he gained upon
Tim and passed him.
"Steady, Tim!" cried Cameron, who, with Webster, had given up their own
work, it being, as the latter remarked, "quitting time anyway," and
were following up the racers. "Don't spoil your work, Tim!" continued
Cameron, "don't worry."
His words caught the boy at a critical moment, for Perkins' yell and
his fresh exhibition of speed had shaken the lad's nerve. But Cameron's
voice steadied him, and, quickly responding, Tim settled down again into
his old style, while Perkins was still in the lead, but slashing wildly.
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