“What were you going to say about Hollingsworth’s methods a short time ago, Merriwell?” persisted the president of the club.
“It is now three days before the great match?”
“Yes.”
“Already contestants are coming in. If you will take the pains to look yonder and watch the woods on the side of that hill away there, using the glass, you will soon see three runners emerge and descend the hill. They are some of the men who are going to compete, and they are getting practical cross-country work.”
Proctor seized the glass and leveled it as directed. After fifteen or twenty seconds, he muttered:
“You’re right! There comes one of them—yes, and there is another! Now I can see all three of them. How in the world did you discover them?”
“Oh, I often look around. I surveyed the country, with the aid of that glass, when we first came up here. There are two more chaps hidden in that valley yonder, while still a third, a solitary fellow, is skirting the bend of the river down yonder. It’s likely I have not seen all the men who are out getting practical cross-country work to-day, for we know that at least a dozen are stopping in Ashport.”
“Well?”
“Well, here are your men hammering round a fine, smooth track. Why, they should have quit track running long ago. For the past two weeks they should have run cross country at least five times a week, directed by the trainer. One day out of every six in the last two weeks could have been given to work here on the track, where Hollingsworth would be able to watch the men and note their peculiarities and progress. Has Mr. Ashley taken special note of Hollingsworth’s methods?”
“No; but he has confidence in Hollingsworth.”