"We're ready now," answered Horace soberly. Schonberg looked about him. The crowd had surrounded the mark by this time and Mr. Cobb had his watch in hand.
"Where's your man, Burlen?" asked Custis, Hammond's senior class president.
"Right here," answered Horace, indicating Harry. "Miss Emery is our man."
Hammond howled with laughter. Harry's cheeks reddened and her eyes flashed.
"You're joking, aren't you?" asked Custis.
"Not at all," replied Horace impatiently.
"But, I say, Burlen, that's poppycock, you know! We didn't challenge a girl's school!"
"That's all right," said Burlen. "We said we'd race you, and we will. Miss Emery is Doctor Emery's daughter and she belongs to the school just as much as any of us. If you're afraid to race her—"
"Don't be a fool! Of course we're not afraid, but—but it's such nonsense!"
"Course it is," broke in Schonberg. "I didn't come over here to race a girl!"