This time Franklin finally broke down, Henderson barely scrambled over, and Walter, nerved by excitement and indignation, cleared the bar by a brilliant flying leap. There was no mistake about the applause this time. The boys had seen how their coolness had told on him. They were touched by the pluck he showed in spite of his dejected look, and as though to make up for their former deficiency, they clapped him as loud as either of the others.
And now a spirited contest began between Henderson and Walter. Four feet six and a half they both accomplished—Walter the first time, and Henderson the third. When Henderson, at his last trial, barely succeeded, a loud shout rose from the field, quite enthusiastic enough to show that the wishes of the school were on his side. This decided Walter, for he too was anxious that Henderson, who had set his heart upon the prize, and was now quite eager with emulation, should be the successful competitor. At four feet seven, therefore, he meant to break down, but, at the same time, to clear the bar so nearly each time of trial, that it might not be obvious to any one that he was not putting forth his best strength. The first time, however, he jumped so carelessly that Henderson suspected his purpose, and, therefore, the second time he exerted himself a little more, and, to his own astonishment, accomplished the leap without having intended to do so. Henderson also just succeeded in managing it, and as Walter refused to try another half inch, the prize was declared, amid loud cheers, to be equally divided between them, after the best competition that ever had been known.
The boys and the spectators now moved off to the pavilion, where the prizes were to be distributed by Mrs Lane. But when Walter’s name was called out with Henderson’s, only the latter stepped forward. Walter had disappeared; and the boys were again made to feel, by his voluntary absence, what bitterness of heart their unkind conduct caused him.
Henderson took the prize for his friend, when he received his own. The prizes were a silver-mounted riding-whip, and a belt with a silver clasp, and Mrs Lane told Henderson that she was sorry for the other victor’s absence, and that either of them might choose whichever prize he liked best. When the crowd had dispersed Henderson, knowing Walter’s haunts, strolled with Kenrick to a little fir-grove on the slope of Bardlyn Hill, not far above the sea. Here, as they expected, they found Walter. He was sitting in a listless attitude, with his back towards them, and he started as he heard their footsteps.
“You let yourself be beaten, Evson Walter,
And afterwards you proved a base defaulter,”
said Henderson, who was in high spirits, as he clapped his hands on Walter’s shoulders, and continued—
“Behold I bring you now the silver prizes,
Meant to reward your feets and exercises.”
Even Walter could not help smiling at this sally, but he said at once, “You must keep both prizes, Flip; I don’t mean to take either—indeed I won’t; I shouldn’t have gone in at all but for you.”
“Oh, do take one,” said Kenrick; “the fellows will think you too proud if you don’t.”
“I don’t care what they think of me, Ken; you saw how they treated me. Flip, I’d take the prize in a minute to please you, but, indeed, it would only remind me constantly of this odious jumping, and I’d much rather not.”