“Don’t be too sure of that. There’s a new fellow up in Clifford that they say never gets tired, and can come in from a ten-mile skip without hardly a hair turned. That may be just talk, or as you say, hot air; but, Lanky, don’t be over-confident. It’s all well enough to be sure you can win; but never let up in your pace because you think you’ve got the thing cinched. A swift runner may dash past you in a second, and after that it’s up to you to get him! because he sets the pace, not you.”
“Frank, it’s mighty good of you giving me these pointers, and you going to be a runner in the long race, too.”
“Oh! whether I win, or you, or Bones, makes little difference to me, so long as the Columbia purple and gold crosses the line first. That’s what we call school loyalty, you know, Lanky. Of course it’s always fine to be the one to get all the cheer, but first of all the school! But there goes the head man of the committee climbing the band stand. The music’s stopped, so I reckon the games are going to begin pretty quick now.”
After the great throng could be quieted down, the heavy voice of the gentleman who had agreed to serve as the head of the arrangements committee started to address the thousands gathered in that field devoted to boys’ sports.
As briefly as possible he explained what clean athletic games would do for the maintenance of health in the bodies of those engaging in them up to a reasonable limit; and also what grand times the three schools had had in the past. He congratulated the people of the towns lying along the Harrapin that there had been so little unpleasant friction in the past; and expressed the hope that the present meeting of their representative young athletes would further cement the bonds of good fellowship among the boys of Columbia, Clifford and Bellport.
After the hearty cheers had subsided he started again to tell of the various contests that had been arranged, as well as to mention a list of prizes donated by the leading merchants of the three places, and which would be awarded to the winners in the numerous events.
Then the first contest was called, and immediately everybody in that great throng became intensely interested.
It was a fifty-yard dash; and there were just nine contestants; since the limit had been placed at three for each school.
In this tournament it had been wisely decided to let each contest stand on its own merits. There were just seventeen events, and as each would count just one point, the school winning a plurality of these prizes would be adjudged the grand champion for the season in track and field athletics.
In this way even the absurd sack race would count just as much as the ten-mile run. But what was fair for one was fair for all, and there was no grumbling because of these arrangements.