Let go, fellows, he panted. Im all right; just turned my ankle.
The boys drew back and he started on, limping woefully. A dozen yards he traversed ere he gave up and threw himself on the turf. A lad in disreputable football attire was the first to reach him.
Whats the matter, Don? Are you hurt? he cried anxiously.
There was no answer, and he leaned down and drew a bare arm from before a face whereon the tears were trickling.
Keep the fellows away, Paddy, whispered Don huskily. Ill be all right in a minute. I I my ankles sprained, I guess; I cant run a step; and and, oh, Paddy, weve lost the race!
CHAPTER II
WHAT A LAUGH DID
A few minutes later Don was sitting in a corner of the grand stand, smothered in a pile of blankets and with his injured ankle bound in wet bandages. Beside him were two boys of about his own age, one of whom, the lad whom he had addressed as Paddy, was solicitously slopping cold water from a tin can over his ankle at frequent intervals. Nothing serious, Professor Beck had decided, only a strained tendon; and so Don had been helped to his present position, from where he could watch the race run out. He looked pale and woe-begone; but he managed to smile now and then in answer to Paddys sallies.
Paddy Breen his real name was Charles had been given his nickname two years before, when he was a little red-headed junior too small to resent it had he been so inclined. Paddys forbears had been Irish a generation or two back, and although there was little about the boy to suggest the fact, barring his red hair and gray eyes and sunny nature, the name was somehow distinctly appropriate, and it had stuck to him through his junior and lower middle years and promised to stick forever. Paddy played center on the first eleven, a position for which his broad shoulders and hips and great strength eminently fitted him. To-day he was attired in a faded and torn red sweater, a pair of equally disreputable moleskin trousers, two red and black striped stockings whose appearance told a story of many battles, a pair of badly scuffed tan shoes, and a golf cap of such bold and striking tones of brown, green, and scarlet as to stamp it at once as brand-new.
The lad who sat on the other side of Don was of even more generous build than Paddy Breen. Dave Mertons shoulders were broad and set well back, giving him a look of great power. He was, perhaps, the least bit overgrown for his seventeen years, for he topped Paddy by an inch and Don by two. But he looked very healthy and happy, and was as good-natured a fellow as any at the Academy. His hair was black and his eyes dark, giving him a more somber coloring than his bosom companion, Paddy, but, like the latter, he preferred smiling to frowning. Dave had two great ambitions in life at present namely, to throw the hammer farther than any other Hilltonian and to excel at study. The latter seemed quite within the range of possibility, but as for Daves hammer throwing it was a school joke at which even Dave could laugh. Paddy Breen was a brilliant pupil; Dave Merton a hard-working one. Paddy was an excellent football player; Dave an indifferent performer with the weights. Both were leaders in their classes Dave was a senior and popular throughout the school. Their friendship was as much a joke as Daves hammer throwing and the two were inseparable.
Beaten? Paddy was saying scornfully. Never, me boy. Sure tis only beginning we are; just wait till we git our breath! Paddy, as though to lend indorsement to his nickname, at times dropped into a brogue acquired with great labor from such classics as Charles OMalley and Tom Burke.
I only wish we had begun earlier in the race, Paddy, answered Don hopelessly. Who is ahead in the bunch there, Dave can you make out?
The leaders, House and Beaming, were now far up the course and the next group of runners were some distance behind. Farther back of them other contestants straggled. Two runners were out of the race. A Shrewsburg boy had given up on the second round and was philosophically watching the contest from the top of a distant bank, and a Hillton fellow, Turner, had gone to the dressing room suffering with an attack of cramp. In answer to Dons question Dave studied the distant runners for a space in silence.
Well, thats Northrop in the lead all right, Don, and the next two fellows are St. Eustace men. Then Moore and a Shrewsburg chap, and another St. Eustace man, and and one of our team I cant make out who. Dave looked frowningly across the field.
Which one? asked Paddy. The fellow with the long legs just taking the hedge? Why, man, thats Wayne, of course; no mistaking him.
So it is, answered Don. Hes doing well. It would be queer if he managed to keep his present place and got in third, wouldnt it?
Well, he wont, said Dave, for Jones has passed him. Good old Jones! Just look at him spurt!
Those two men just behind Northrop are Keller and Gould, of St. Eustace, said Don. Well, I guess were dished. House and Beaming are sure of first and second place; Northrop ought to get third; then either Gould or Keller is pretty certain to finish ahead of Moore perhaps both will; that would make the score something like twelve to twenty-four, supposing we got three men in after Keller and Gould.
Theres a good half mile to cover yet, my lad, said Paddy cheerfully. Theres lots may happen in that distance. Look there; those fellows are changing all around. And, by Jove, fellows, look at Beaming!
Beaming was dropping back and House was alone at the turn of the course. And some one it seemed as though it must be Northrop, of Hillton was closing up the long gap between the leaders and the next group at a fabulous pace. And even as the three boys on the grand stand strained their sight a second runner left the group as though it were standing still and shot after Northrop if it was Northrop. The runners were too far off to allow of the watchers being certain as to their identity, but a look of hope crept into Dons face. There seemed nothing to do save wait until the runners appeared at the railroad a third of a mile away, until Paddy spied a pair of field glasses in the hands of a boy in the throng below and unceremoniously gained possession of them. He passed them to Don, and the latter, leaning for support on Dave and Paddy, swept the course with them.
Northrops ahead of Beaming! he cried. And Jones is almost up to him! House is leading by forty yards or more! A Shrewsburg fellow is running even with Keller and Gould! Paddy, weve still got a show!
Wheres Wayne? asked Dave.
And Jones? asked Paddy.
Wayne? I cant see him. Hold on; yes, there he is! Hes at the back of the bunch; a Shrewsburg fellows passing him hand over fist. Jones is gaining, Paddy; hes creeping up. There they go over the bank jump. Some fellows done up its Keller; Jones has passed him. Don excitedly turned his glasses toward a point nearer home. House still leads and is spurting, hang him! Northrops fifty yards behind him, and Beaming no, fellows, its Moore! Moores in third place!
What? cried Dave. Whats up with Beaming?
Dont know; he looks tuckered. Hello!
What is it, Don? Talk out; dont be so plaguey slow!
A Shrewsburg chap has gained fifth place and looks as though he were going to beat Beaming in the next twenty yards. What do you think of that? Jones and Wayne are both gaining. By Jove, fellows, we may get it yet! Lets go down to the finish; help me down, Dave.
What is it, Don? Talk out; dont be so plaguey slow!
A Shrewsburg chap has gained fifth place and looks as though he were going to beat Beaming in the next twenty yards. What do you think of that? Jones and Wayne are both gaining. By Jove, fellows, we may get it yet! Lets go down to the finish; help me down, Dave.
If only Jones and Wayne can last, said Paddy, we could win, couldnt we? But Wayne Paddy shook his head as they descended from the stand and went toward the finish line. Do you think he can hold out, Don?
Don shook his head dubiously.
At that moment Wayne was wondering the same thing. He had surprised himself by staying in the race up to the present moment. He had entered the contest only to oblige Don. I dont ask you to hurt yourself, the latter had explained. Drop out when you are tired. It will be good practice and will save us from entering with only nine fellows. So Wayne had laughingly consented. As he had passed runner after runner in the first two rounds of the course he had begun to ask himself what it meant. Don had told him that he had the making of a good long-distance man, but he hadnt given much heed to the statement; apparently Don was right. After the first mile he had begun to suffer a little, and now, with the race almost over, he would like to have dropped out and spent about ten minutes lying on his back, but it seemed a poor thing to give up so near the end, and so he found himself still pounding away, with his legs very stiff and his breath apparently about to fail him at every effort. He realized that the ground had become softer and more slippery and that snow was falling. Then he crossed the track and struggled on toward the next obstacle, a three-and-a-half-foot hedge.
Wayne hated the hedges. He was too heavy to hurdle them well, and he invariably jumped short and lost precious time getting his feet untangled. Luckily he was done with that nightmare the water jump, since on the last round it was avoided and the course led over the brook by the railroad and thence straight down to the finish. As he approached the hedge Wayne drew himself together for a last effort, and at the take-off put all his strength into the leap. But unfortunately the turf was bare at that spot and his foot slipped as he jumped.
Thank goodness! he thought, when he had stopped rolling. Now I can lie here decently until the whole things over with!
But his sensation of joyous relief was rudely dispelled. Over the hedge leaped a boy with a blue monogram on his shirt, who, as he caught sight of Waynes predicament, grinned broadly. In a trice Wayne had struggled to his feet and had taken up the chase race again, rage in his heart.
He laughed at me, hang him! he panted. Ill just beat him out if I die for it!
The St. Eustace boy was several yards ahead already, but Wayne threw back his head and ran desperately. A roar of voices from down the field told him that the first man had finished. He put every ounce of strength into the struggle, thinking nothing of who was winning, only determined to beat the chap who had laughed at him. And as he crossed the railroad the knowledge that he was gaining on the St. Eustace runner brought joy to his heart.
Down at the finish line the air was filled with the cheers of the St. Eustace supporters, who, though few in number, were strong of voice. House had finished first and captured the individual championship and prize. And now, almost side by side, and struggling valiantly for second place, came the two Hillton men, Northrop and Moore, and the wearers of the crimson went wild with joy and shouted until both runners had crossed the line, Northrop in the lead, and had been led away to the dressing room.
Don was busy with pencil and paper now, while Paddy looked over his shoulder and Dave scowled up the course and waited impatiently for the next runner to swing into sight around the corner of the little knoll that hid the railroad track from the finish line. Then two white figures broke into view almost simultaneously.
A Shrewsburg fellow and a St. Eustace fellow! cried Dave. I think the last is Beaming. Yes, it is!
The runner with the green S won the line a good three yards ahead of the almost breathless Beaming, and a little group of Shrewsburg High School fellows broke into applause. Beaming had to be well-nigh carried from the course, although protesting faintly that he could walk.
Dons paper now held the following figures:
Two men each and were one figure ahead, whispered Don. Theres some one, Dave three fellows. Who are they?
St. Eustace fellow ahead, answered Dave.
Its Gould! cried a voice from near by, and the supporters of the down-river academy cheered wildly.
Hurrah! yelled Paddy. Erin go bragh! Theres good old Jones! And a Shrewsburg fellow hot after him.
Don tried to jump, but found he couldnt because of his strained ankle and contented himself with a hair-raising yell. Then he added a 6 to the St. Eustace score, an 8 to that of Shrewsburg, and a 7 to Hilltons row of figures. For Gould, Jones, and the Shrewsburg runner crossed the line in the order given amid the cheers of the three rival contingents.
Its a tie so far, shouted Paddy, as he added up the few figures. St. Eustace has twelve points, Dave, and so have we. By Jove! it all depends on the next man, Don, doesnt it? Can you see any one, Dave?
No one in sight yet. Lets hope the first will be a Hillton chap, fellows. But even if it isnt the scores bound to be close. Wonder whats become of Old Virginia?
That was a nickname that Paddy had bestowed upon Wayne Gordon in allusion to the latters native State.
Im afraid Waynes dropped out of it, answered Don, with a tremble in his voice, but still
St. Eustace wins!
Half a dozen voices took up the cry as a fleet-footed runner whose breast bore the blue monogram came quickly into sight. The three boys groaned in unison. St. Eustaces fourth man was speeding toward the finish.
Done for, whispered Dave.
Wait a bit! cried Paddy. Theres two of them there. Whos the second chap?
Paddy was right. Directly behind the St. Eustace runner sped a second youth, so close that he seemed to be treading upon the formers heels.
Its one of our fellows, Don! cried Dave.
I dont think so. I oh, why doesnt he come out so that we can see!
Im afraid its another Shrewsburg chump, said Paddy dolefully. Oh, hang the luck, anyhow!
Wait! cried Don. Hes coming out! There there he comes! Hes trying to pass, and and
Its Wayne! cried Dave and Paddy in unison.
And Wayne it was. Slowly, doggedly, he drew from his place back of the St. Eustace man and fought his way inch by inch alongside. The cheering spectators saw the wearer of the blue glance swiftly at the Hillton runner and throw back his head. But the boy beside him refused to be thrown off and down the course they came together, their tired limbs keeping time to the frenzied cheers of the throng.
St. Eustace wins! Kellers ahead!
Hilltons race! Gordon leads!
And then, high above the babel of a hundred voices, sounded a mighty shout from Paddy:
Come on, Old Virginia!
Wayne, racing along stride for stride with the St. Eustace runner, heard the cry and made a final, despairing effort.
And then the crowd was thick about him, Dave and Paddy were holding him up, Don was hugging him ecstatically, and the fellows were laughing and shouting as though crazy; and Wayne, panting and weak, wondered what it all meant.