One of the committee now came forward and announced the boys' race. The distance was to be the same, the prize five dollars, and there was a limitation of age. No boy over seventeen years of age was permitted to enter.
"Are you going to compete, James?" asked Ben.
"I guess not. I don't stand any chance against you."
"I don't know about that. I might stumble or give out."
"I should like the five dollars well enough."
"Then enter your name."
"Well, I will. I may as well try."
So Ben and James were the first to enter their names.
"Are you coming in, George?" asked Ben of George Herman.
"No; I lamed5 myself in jumping yesterday, and am not in condition; my brother, Frank, is going to enter. Of course he won't stand any chance, for he is too young."
The next to put down his name was Radford Kelso.
"You can't run, Radford. You're too fat," said George Cormack.
"You're as fat as I am," retorted Radford. "I stand as much chance as you."
Next came Arthur Clark and Frank Jones, both tall and long of limb, and looking as if they might be dangerous rivals. Both were strangers to Ben.
"I am afraid one of those fellows will outrun me," said Ben, aside, to James.
"They are taller, but perhaps they can't hold out as well."
"But the course is only two hundred yards," said Ben; "that is against me."
Just then the announcement was made, on behalf of the committee, that the distance would be increased to three hundred yards, and that there would be a second race of a hundred and fifty yards for boys under fourteen, the prize being two dollars and a half.
"Frank," said George Herman to his brother, "you had better wait and enter the second race."
"I think I will and here is Charlie. He can go in, too."
Edward Kemp, Harry6 Jones and George Huntingdon next entered their names for the first race. The list was about to be declared complete, when an active, well-made youth advanced, and expressed a wish to compete. He had just reached the grounds, and learned that a race was to be run. He gave his name as John Miles, from Boston.
"Who is he, George? Do you know him?" asked Ben.
"I believe he is visiting some friends in Milltown."
"He looks as if he might run."
"He is well made for running. The question is, has he had any training."
"That's going to decide the matter."
"Take your places, boys!"
At the order, the contestants, whose names have already been given, took their places in line.
John Miles glanced carelessly and rather contemptuously at his rivals.
"I'll show them how to run," he said.
"You are very kind," said Frank Jones, who stood next to him. "We never saw anybody run, you know."
"Running is the same all the world over."
"Perhaps it is; but I run on scientific principles."
Frank Jones laughed.
"You are very condescending8 to run with us, then."
"Oh, I go in for all the fun I can get."
"I suppose you expect to win the prize?"
"Of course I do. Who is there to prevent? You don't pretend to run, do you?"
"Well, I've always supposed I could run a little, though I have never run in a gymnasium; but there are better runners here than I. That boy"—pointing to Ben—"is said to be a good runner."
"Well, we shall see."
Time was called, and the signal to start was given.
The boys started almost simultaneously10; Arthur Clark was fastening a girdle about his waist, and that delayed him a little. For a few rods all the boys kept pretty well together. Then three gradually drew away from the rest. These three were John Miles, Frank Jones, and Ben Bradford. Arthur Clark was just behind, but his loss at the start put him at a disadvantage.
When the race was half over, John Miles led, while, fifteen feet behind, Ben Bradford and Frank Jones were doing their best to overtake him. John Miles wore upon his face the complacent11 smile of assured victory.
At two hundred yards, Frank and Ben had partially12 closed the gap between themselves and John Miles. Intent though he was on his own progress, Ben had leisure to observe that Miles was beginning to lose ground. It seemed clear that he was inferior to Ben in sustained power.
"There is hope for me yet," thought Ben. "I am not in the least tired. Toward the end I will put on a spurt13, and see if I can't snatch the victory from him."
"Go in and win!" exclaimed Frank Jones. "You're got more wind than I. Don't let a stranger carry off the prize."
"Not if I can help it," said Ben.
He was now but four feet behind John, and there were fifty yards to be run.
For the first time, John Miles became apprehensive14. He turned his head sufficiently15 to see that the boy whom he had considered beneath his notice was almost at his heels.
"I can't let a baby like that beat me," he said to himself, and he tried to increase the distance by a spurt. He gained a temporary advantage, but lost more in the end, for the attempt exhausted16 his strength, and compelled him to slacken his speed farther on.
Twenty yards from the goal the two rivals were neck and neck.
"Now for my spurt!" said Ben to himself.
He gathered himself up, and darted17 forward with all the strength that was in him. He gained six feet upon his rival, which the latter tried in vain to make up.
The excitement was intense. Popular sympathy was with Ben. He was known to be a Milltown boy, while John Miles was a stranger.
"Put on steam, Milltown!" shouted the crowd.
Ben crossed the line seven feet in advance of John, amid shouts of applause.
Frank Jones came in an easy third, and Arthur Clark ranked fourth.
"I congratulate you," said Frank to Ben, who stood, flushed and pleased, at the goal. "You've won the prize fairly."
"Better luck next time!" said Frank Jones. "You see we know a little about running."
"I should have won easily enough if I hadn't had a sudden attack of cramp21," said John grumbling22.
"You didn't run as if you had the cramp."
"You say so, because you don't know how fast I can run. I didn't run at all this morning."
"That's unlucky. I wanted to see some real running."
"I should like to run the race over again," said John.
"Of course, you can't for the prize has been won."
"I don't care about the prize. I've got money enough."
"I haven't," said Ben; "I care more for the money than the victory."
"Look here!" said John. "I'll put up five dollars myself, if you'll run with me again."
"You will?" exclaimed Ben, his eyes sparkling.
"Yes, I will."
"And you won't ask me to put up anything?"
"No."
"Then I'll run if the committee will let me."
A ready permission was obtained from the committee; but it was stipulated23 that the younger boys should have their race first. To this both contestants readily agreed, since it would give them a chance to recover from the fatigue24 of the race they had just engaged in.
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1
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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3
contestants
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| n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 ) | |
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4
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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5
lamed
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| 希伯莱语第十二个字母 | |
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6
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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7
pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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8
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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9
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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10
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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11
complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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12
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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13
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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14
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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15
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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16
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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17
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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18
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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19
mortified
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| 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） | |
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20
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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21
cramp
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| n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚 | |
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22
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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23
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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