CHAPTER XXII
DID UNCLE SILAS’ EARS BURN?
Dick braced himself. Not for worlds did he want these chums of his to see how badly he felt at hearing such lavish praise for the effort of his foremost rival. He wanted that golden prize, and would be deeply disappointed if he failed to capture it. But his pride made him laugh now, and assume an indifferent air.
“Oh! don’t worry about me, Peg,” he told the other, hastily. “I’m doing my little best, but if Nat is a genius in that line, why, I suppose I’ll have to knuckle down and take my medicine, that’s all. I hope I’ve got grit enough for that.”
“And you won’t think of giving up, will you, Dick?” asked Leslie, anxiously.
“I was getting a little weak-kneed a while back,” admitted the other, frankly; “but since then I seem to have got my second wind. No-siree, I’ll fight it out on this line if it takes all winter. And say, if I do get knocked out you’ll see my ship going down with her colors flying. Hear that?”
“Bully for you, Dick!” ejaculated Peg, slapping him on the back as he arose to go to some other part of the big room. It was now filling up with older fellows and some of the town people who wanted to hear the lecture.
Dick and Leslie continued to sit there. Others were constantly passing one way or another, but paying no particular attention to the two boys; so they did not hesitate to continue their conversation as they saw fit.
“I’m glad you feel that way about keeping in the fight to the end, Dick,” Leslie went on to say.
“What else can I do, now that every fellow knows I’ve entered for the prize?” demanded Dick. “I’m not the one to give up easily, you understand. My mother seems to think a heap of what I’ve done so far on that farce, and I’ve just got to finish the same, no matter if it comes in the last of the string.”
“Well, there’s no fear of that!” declared Leslie, positively. “I’ve heard enough of it to say it’s just bully stuff.”