“Do your prettiest!” begged Tom of Jerry and Joe Jackson as they came to the scratch, for they were the Randall representatives now.
“Sure,” they assented.
Once more the pistol cracked, and again the eager lads started off. Joe was well in the lead, taking the hurdles with an ease that surprised his friends, and sent a wave of envy through the hearts of his rivals. Nor was Jerry far behind him.
“He’ll win!” decided Tom.
“Give ’em something to keep ’em going!” cried Bean to his crowd, and forth welled the song: “There’s nothing like a Randallite to do or die, to eat or fight!”
Jerry carried off for Randall first honors of that heat, and so qualified for the final. Sid, too, was also in the class, and with Joe Jackson and others made up those who would try for final honors. There were two lads from Boxer—Dave Ogden and Pinkey Davenport—three from Fairview—Lem Sellig, Frank Sullivan and Roger Barns,—and two from Exter—George Birch and Ted Morrison—who were in the final, making a goodly crowd.
This was to be the supreme test, and on it depended much, for the winner of this race would add a goodly number of points to his college’s total.
They lined up, a throbbing, eager batch of lads, with ears on the alert for the sound of the pistol that was to send them off.
Crack! it came with startling suddenness, and they all sprang forward.
“Now, boys, the ‘Conquer or Die,’ song!” yelled Bean, and the Latin song, which had helped win many a victory under the banners of Randall filled the air. It came at a time when the other college cheering crowds were silent, and produced an unusual effect.