Then each
side laid hold of one end of the rope, and at a given signal they began
to pull. It was a trial of strength; whichever side could draw the
handkerchief past the two stakes and over the line, that side would win.
How tremendously those men pulled! What force they put into it! Yet for
a long time the rope did not move a single inch. All the strength of
those powerful fishermen was put out; they were lying on the ground,
that their pull might be all the stronger. Every sinew, every nerve,
every muscle seemed to be on the strain, but so evenly were the two
sides matched, that the rope was motionless, and it seemed impossible to
tell which party would win.
Little John was eagerly watching his father.
'Pull, daddy, pull!' I heard him cry; and I think I was nearly as
pleased as he and Polly were when Duncan and the mates on his side
suddenly made one mighty effort, and the handkerchief was drawn across
the line. There was tremendous cheering after this. Polly clapped her
hands with delight, and little Jack and big Jack nearly shouted
themselves hoarse.
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