While the road was good Frank hurried the animal as much as he dared. And since they must pass the athletic grounds on their way to Columbia, he would not have been human had he not listened, with his heart seemingly in his mouth, to catch the tenor of the exultant shouts that were being raised by the departing hosts of spectators.
They were streaming in various directions, in knots and crowds, and the greatest enthusiasm seemed to abound; as though the finish of the long run might have been very dramatic.
Borne on the late afternoon breeze came the familiar chorus of voices that the efficient cheer captain, Herman Hooker, led with such powerful effect.
The sound thrilled Frank Allen as nothing else could have done. He found himself involuntarily joining in with that never-to-be-forgotten rallying cry that had so often aroused himself and his mates to undreamed-of endeavors on the field of strife:
“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! veni! vidi! vici! We came, we saw, we conquered! Columbia! ’Rah!”
That told the story! The departing hosts seemed to be all Columbia people, judging from the shouts that arose. Then Lanky—good, reliable old Lanky—had passed both Parker and Coddling in the race, and landed the colors of his school across the tape, winner of the long run!
And Frank felt content that it was so.
CHAPTER XXIV
WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME
“Oh! Frank!”
There was Lanky, dressed in his everyday clothes, and looking very unlike the proud victor of a long, grueling run. But Frank could understand that his chum was tremendously excited.