"I'll bet Pepper Ditmore loses," said Nick Paxton, who was present. Ritter and Coulter had said they did not consider a tug-of-war between such teams worth witnessing.
Frank Barringer was timekeeper and referee, and at the appointed hour he made both teams line up and catch hold of the rope.
"All ready?" he asked.
There was a moment of silence.
"Drop!" was the cry, and on the instant both teams tightened their holds on the rope and dropped down on the wooden cleats.
"Hold them, Pepper!"
"Don't let 'em haul you up, Dale!"
"Glue yourself down, Jack!"
"Stone foundation, Fred! Stone foundation!"
So the cries ran on, as the two tug-of-war teams held on to the long rope like grim death, each team determined not to give in an inch.