Young athletes were as plentiful as blackberries in August. They could be seen here, there, and everywhere; some exercising to keep in trim for the coming of the event in which they expected to take part; others conferring with the coach, or chatting with groups of admiring friends.
It was a poor contestant who did not have at least a few devoted adherents, who declared it to be their honest opinion that he was bound to make all the others in the same event “look like thirty cents,” as they were fond of putting it.
Lanky was the center of a great deal of attention. After his phenomenal run of the trial day, he was looked upon as the one best hope of Columbia in the long race, which some of the boys called a Marathon, though it could be hardly classed under that head.
Of course they still had faith in Frank Allen and Bones Shadduck, either one of whom they believed could win in case any unlucky accident happened that would cripple the long-legged racer, who looked like a greyhound as he stepped so lightly around among his fellow students.
Clifford and Bellport had their legions present. They seemed to mass together as a rule, so that they might make the most noise, and thus encourage their respective candidates for high honors.
The noise began to be deafening, what with boys yelling; horns tooting; girls singing their class songs; and automobiles honking merrily, as they came in shoals, to leave their passengers or secure positions where the latter could sit still, and see all that was going on.
Chief Hogg was there, and looking spick and span in a new uniform, with his silver shield glittering as splendidly as a newly polished decoration could appear. He had his assistants all in line; and in addition there were a dozen deputy sheriffs sworn in for the occasion by the high official who graced the meet with his presence.
Once upon a time there had been nearly a riot come about at one of these athletic affairs, caused by some turbulent spirits; and the committee in charge had determined to leave no stone unturned on this occasion to prevent a recurrence of that sad event, when several heads were broken by flying stones.
Roderick Seymour, who was said to have been the best leader Columbia ever had, was taking charge of things on this particular day, having come home from the city, where he was in business, especially to see Columbia boys once more show their mettle, and to hear again that slogan:
“Ho! ho! ho! hi! hi! hi! veni! vidi! vici! we came, we saw, we conquered! Columbia! Rah!”