The strain was too much for Huntley. Within sight of the finish he began to reel.
Bramwell shot past, and a wild yell went up from the Ashportites.
But Merriwell was gaining, gaining, gaining! Could he pass Bramwell? He was doing his best.
The tape was stretched; the judges were waiting.
Bramwell heard thudding feet close behind him. Something seemed bursting in his breast. It was his heart. Let it burst! He heard a dull roar, which was the cheering of the excited throng. But he could not see. Twenty yards from the tape he went blind for the time. He kept on his feet, however.
To the crowd in general it seemed that the two runners breasted the tape at the same moment.
But, looking down from the observatory, Bart Hodge uttered a groan, for he saw that Bramwell reached it a second in advance.
The Ashport man had won.
That night, in the Ashport Opera House, before a great gathering of enthusiastic people, the trophy was presented to Bramwell by Mr. Ashley.