“Cut it out, Hiltz,” he growled. “He’s only half your size.”
“He called me a liar!”
“Well, what of it? I wouldn’t believe you on oath, Hiltz. I don’t believe he cut the course.”
“Nobody cares what you believe,” answered Hiltz savagely. “I’ve put it up to Ryan and Mr. Bendix and they’ll settle it without your help, my fresh friend.”
“Where did I cut the course?” Gerald demanded.
“You know well enough,” responded Hiltz. “At the first turn going into Greenburg. You cut across the field when you ought to have kept to the road.”
“I didn’t! Groom can prove it. He was right ahead all the time. Did I, Groom?”
“I don’t know,” answered that youth from the other end of the room. “I wasn’t looking.” Evidently he didn’t want to be drawn into the discussion.
“Well, I didn’t,” reiterated Gerald. “I was right beside you all the last two miles, Hiltz, and you know it very well.”
“I’ve said what I know. We’ll see whether you can cheat me out of my place on the team. If you weren’t so small I’d give you a mighty good licking for talking like that to me.”