[CHAPTER XXVI]
FOR YARDLEY!
In the west, beyond Meeker’s Marsh, the sun was settling, big and glowing, toward the tops of the distant hills. The surface of the river held hues of copper and purple, and the shadows were lengthening. The pole-vaulters and the jumpers had trailed away, and the standards were being taken down. Somewhere out of sight behind the grand stand, the final field event, the hammer throw, was being decided. In front of the stand, along the edge of the track, competitors and officials whose duties were over, had congregated for the last and deciding race. In the stand every one was on his feet, and cheers for Yardley and for Broadwood were ringing forth.
“Milers, this way!” cried the Clerk.
A little way up the track Andy Ryan was standing with Captain Maury, Goodyear, Norcross, and Gerald about him. The trainer’s face was as expressionless as ever, but there was a hard glint in his little green eyes, and he chewed a grass-blade while he talked.
“It’s pretty close, boys,” he was saying, quietly, “and I guess the meet hinges on you. Now here’s your plan. Let Broadwood go ahead at the start, but keep close up. Let her make the pace for the first lap. She may make it pretty hot, for I guess she’s hoping to wear you out in the first three-quarters and then send Stewart in to win on a sprint. But do you keep close, do you see? Then when the second lap begins, Pennimore, I want you to take the lead and keep it to the end of the third lap—and after that, if you can. You haven’t the speed to win the race, but you’ve got endurance, my boy. Run yourself out in the three laps. After that, if you can get a place, well and good. When the last lap begins, Cap, move up and get where you can pass Stewart over there on the back-stretch. After that it’s a case of hitting it up. Save yourself all you can for the last lap. Norcross, you ought to get a third or fourth if you use your head. Goodyear, you look after Stewart for the three laps; keep him back all you can. Next to Stewart, I guess Webster is their best man. Keep an eye on him, and try to beat him out. Understand, boys?”
They nodded. Only Gerald questioned.
“You mean for me to start in at the second lap, Andy, and run as hard as I can?”
“Run as hard as you can to last the three laps, my boy. They want a fast race, and we’ll give it to them. Keep your heads, all of you, and don’t lose your form. We’ll land the race if you do your best. Go ahead now.”