"We are just going to have some leaping, and will give you a chance. Perhaps it is lucky you won't be at the picnic."
Sidney returned to his friends, followed by the two circus boys.
The trial about to commence was a standing jump. The two rivals for superiority were Sidney and Ronald. They were of about the same size, and seemed, so far as appearance went, very well matched. Probably there was nothing, save his family and position, of which Ronald was more proud than of his jumping, and he looked forward complacently to the trial which was now about to take place.
"Will you try first?" asked Sidney of Robert.
"No, thank you; I will wait to the end."
"Won't you?" he next asked of Charlie Davis.
"I don't mind," answered Charlie, readily.
Charlie was small of his age, and was not likely to be a very formidable competitor. He made a jump which proved to be a little less than five feet, and was not bad for a boy of his size who was not accustomed to this kind of exercise.
"There, boys, beat that if you can," he said, of course in fun.
The boys smiled and the trial continued.