CHAPTER XVII. AN ATHLETIC CONTEST.

 THE two boy riders were taking their usual afternoon walk, when they met Carden. The canvas man frowned, but his face seemed also to wear an expression of triumphant¹ malice², as if he could foresee some evil in store for Robert.

"Did you notice how Carden looked, Robert?" asked Charlie.

"Not very pleasant. He hasn't forgotten me for detecting him in his attempt to rob me."

"He looked as if he had heard of some bad luck for you."

"That must be your imagination, Charlie. I've had no bad luck."

"I wonder what makes Carden stay here now he is discharged from the circus," said Charlie, thoughtfully.

"I suppose he can stay here as cheap as anywhere,"137 said Robert. "I don't trouble myself about him or his plans."

"He is your enemy, Rob. He may try to do you some harm."

"I will be on my guard, but I won't worry myself about it."

They came to an open field, where half a dozen boys were engaged in athletic³ sports. There was soon to be a picnic, and prizes had been offered for the best running, leaping and vaulting⁴, and these boys were engaged in practising for the grand contest.

"Let us stop and look at them," said Charlie.

"Very well," answered his friend.

So they took up a position about fifty feet away and regarded the contestants⁵ with interest.

Their presence was noticed by the boys, who at once recognized them as circus riders.

"Let us invite them to join us," said Frank Perry, a boy of sixteen.

"Yes," chimed in several others.

"I object," said Ronald Percy, stiffly. "My father wouldn't care to have me associate with circus performers."

Ronald was the son of a rich manufacturer, and138 was generally considered snobbish⁶ by his companions. At any rate he presumed greatly upon his "blue blood" and his father's wealth, and attempted to be very exclusive. It certainly was nothing to the discredit⁷ of his father that he had worked his way up to his present position from the position of a poor factory boy, but it might have led Ronald to reflect upon the folly⁸ of his personal pretensions⁹. But his mother claimed to be of "genteel" family, and had imbued¹⁰ the boy with her own notions.

"What's the objection, if they are circus performers?" asked Sidney Grey, who might really have claimed aristocratic lineage if he had so desired.

"Do you consider circus performers fit company for you?" asked Ronald, superciliously¹¹.

"Yes, if they behave themselves like gentlemen; and these two look as well bred as we are."

"Of course they do," said Frank Perry. "Let us have them here."

This seemed to be the general wish, and Ronald's protest went for nothing.

Sidney Grey left the group of boys and walked towards where Robert and Charlie were standing¹².139 He was a slender boy with a frank, pleasant face which prepossessed a stranger in his favor at first sight.

"Won't you join us?" he asked. "We are practising for the picnic next Saturday. There are to be some prizes offered for running, vaulting, and so on."

"Thank you," answered Robert. "I will join you with pleasure."

"So will I," said Charlie, "but I am afraid I might beat you all in jumping."

"We will take the risk," said Sydney, smiling.

"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 looked140 forward complacently¹³ 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.

It is unnecessary to chronicle each jump. Sidney Grey came up at last and jumped six feet and three inches.

"Very well, Sidney," said one of his friends. "I don't believe that will be beat."

"I do," said Ronald, emphatically. "I haven't tried yet."

"Take your turn, then," said Sidney, good-naturedly. "I shouldn't be surprised if you beat me."

Ronald appeared to be of the same opinion, and141 it turned out that his expectations were fulfilled. He gathered himself up for a tremendous effort, and cleared six feet four inches.

"Good!" said Sidney, not disturbed by his rival's success. "If you jump like this next Saturday you will carry off the prize."

"I've beat you all," said Ronald, triumphantly¹⁴.

"Not quite all," said Sidney. "There's one here who hasn't jumped yet," pointing to Robert.

"Oh well, he can try if he wants to," said Ronald, superciliously, looking as if he thought it didn't matter much whether he did or not.

"Your name is Robert, isn't it?" said Sidney.

"Yes."

"Then, Robert, you will have the honor of closing this contest."

Under ordinary circumstances Robert would not have cared to win, but he had chanced to overhear Ronald's objections to associating with circus performers, and had noticed the airs of superiority which he assumed, and he thought he would like to take down his pride a little. His training had given him unusual strength and elasticity¹⁵ of limb, and he was better prepared than any of the other boys to excel in a contest of this kind.

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He took the position which had been marked as the starting point, and standing for a moment motionless, made a sudden spring forward, and the result was regarded with admiring astonishment¹⁶.

"Six feet and eight inches!" declared Sidney, after measuring. "You are the champion, Robert. None of us can come up with you."

The face of Ronald was an interesting study. He was astonished and mortified¹⁷. He couldn't bear to have his record surpassed.

"It wan't a fair leap," he said with chagrin¹⁸. "He stood too far forward."

"No, he didn't," answered, Sidney; "I noticed how he stood myself."

"If you like, I will jump again," said Robert quietly, turning to Ronald.

"That will be fairer," said Ronald, hoping Robert would the second time fall short of his own mark.

Again Robert took his place, and would not jump till Ronald himself had declared that he was in the right place. Then, making an extra effort, he cleared six feet and nine inches.

"You didn't make much by your doubting,143 Ronald," said Frank Perry. "Are you satisfied now?"

"I didn't bargain to jump against a circus boy," said Ronald, sullenly¹⁹.

"That won't affect your chances at the picnic," said Sidney. "Robert won't be there."

"Nor I," said Charlie Davis.

"We are not much afraid of you, Charlie," said Sidney, smiling.

"Oh, I didn't half try!" said Charlie.

"It's lucky for us you didn't," said Sidney.

Ronald walked off in disgust, but Robert and Charlie remained with their new friends, whom they found pleasant and companionable. That was the last of the contests, but a game of ball was got up, in which the two circus boys joined.

When they were ready to part Sidney said, in a friendly way, "I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Come and see me to-morrow afternoon if you feel like it. I should like to ask you something of your life and adventures, for I suppose you have had adventures."

"Thank you; I will come," answered Robert.

But circumstances arose which prevented his keeping his engagement.

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1 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

2 malice   

n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋

参考例句：

• I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
• There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。

3 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

4 vaulting   

n.（天花板或屋顶的）拱形结构

参考例句：

• The vaulting horse is a difficult piece of apparatus to master. 鞍马是很难掌握的器械。
• Sallie won the pole vaulting. 莎莉撑杆跳获胜。

5 contestants   

n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries. 这次比赛吸引了代表8个不同国家的500多名参赛者。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 snobbish   

adj.势利的，谄上欺下的

参考例句：

• She's much too snobbish to stay at that plain hotel.她很势利，不愿住在那个普通旅馆。
• I'd expected her to be snobbish but she was warm and friendly.我原以为她会非常势利，但她却非常热情和友好。

7 discredit   

vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑

参考例句：

• Their behaviour has bought discredit on English football.他们的行为败坏了英国足球运动的声誉。
• They no longer try to discredit the technology itself.他们不再试图怀疑这种技术本身。

8 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

9 pretensions   

自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力

参考例句：

• The play mocks the pretensions of the new middle class. 这出戏讽刺了新中产阶级的装模作样。
• The city has unrealistic pretensions to world-class status. 这个城市不切实际地标榜自己为国际都市。

10 imbued   

v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等）

参考例句：

• Her voice was imbued with an unusual seriousness. 她的声音里充满着一种不寻常的严肃语气。
• These cultivated individuals have been imbued with a sense of social purpose. 这些有教养的人满怀着社会责任感。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 superciliously   

adv.高傲地；傲慢地

参考例句：

• Madame Defarge looked superciliously at the client, and nodded in confirmation. 德伐日太太轻蔑地望了望客人，点头同意。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

12 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

13 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

14 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

15 elasticity   

n.弹性，伸缩力

参考例句：

• The skin eventually loses its elasticity.皮肤最终会失去弹性。
• Every sort of spring has a definite elasticity.每一种弹簧都有一定的弹性。

16 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

17 mortified   

v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等）

参考例句：

• She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了，直羞得无地自容。
• The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 chagrin   

n.懊恼；气愤；委屈

参考例句：

• His increasingly visible chagrin sets up a vicious circle.他的明显的不满引起了一种恶性循环。
• Much to his chagrin,he did not win the race.使他大为懊恼的是他赛跑没获胜。

19 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。