The crowd cried its impatience. The stranger craned forward again.
"Back up!" called Hubert. "Keep back down there, you fellows!" and the crowd obeyed, forming a splendid gantlet of spirited youth.
The contestants took their places side by side.
Hubert's arm rose, and seeing the pistol pointed heavenward several of the young women in the carriages screwed their fingers into their ears.
"Ready!"
There was a dead silence. The arms of the champions shot forward and back, rigid.
"Sett!"
Like perfect machines, they crouched at the word with one accord.
At the crack of the pistol there was a swift in-taking of breath along the lines.