A minute later Lanky suddenly cried out; and it gave Frank a shock, for he instantly conceived the thought that his running mate must have wrenched an ankle, and that would put him out of the running.
“What is it?” he gasped.
“Look ahead, at the side of the road!” answered the other, between his set teeth.
Frank did so, and immediately echoed Lanky’s cry.
“Another fellow put out of the race, just like Bones was!” he exclaimed, feeling that this time it certainly could not have been an accident that had disabled the second rival of Larry Parker.
But the sharp eyes of Lanky had made an additional discovery. It was not any too bright there under those great trees; but Lanky was noted for his keen eyesight.
“It isn’t Coddling at all!” he called out, as he ran on.
“That’s a fact; because he’s dressed in regular clothes; but it’s a boy, and he acts like he was suffering like anything!” Frank went on, slackening his pace just a little as they drew nearer the recumbent figure.
Just then the boy who had been lying there like one nearly dead, heard the sound of their voices, likely enough; at any rate, he lifted his head, and seeing them, made a desperate effort to scramble to his feet.
The first thing Frank saw was that one of his legs seemed utterly helpless. Then he felt a thrill of horror, for he discovered that blood was trickling down, as though the wound might be most severe.