ckets buttoned
tight, waiting for the coach.

"Look here, sir," says the guard, after giving a sharp toot-toot;
"there's two on 'em; out-and-out runners they be. They comes out about
twice or three times a week, and spirts a mile alongside of us."

And as they came up, sure enough, away went two boys along the footpath,
keeping up with the horses--the first a light, clean-made fellow going
on springs; the other stout and round-shouldered, labouring in his pace,
but going as dogged as a bull-terrier.

Old Blow-hard looked on admiringly. "See how beautiful that there un
holds hisself together, and goes from his hips, sir," said he; "he's a
'mazin' fine runner. Now many coachmen as drives a first-rate team'd
put it on, and try and pass 'em. But Bob, sir, bless you, he's
tender-hearted; he'd sooner pull in a bit if he see'd 'em a-gettin'
beat. I do b'lieve, too, as that there un'd sooner break his heart than
let us go by him afore next milestone."

At the second milestone the boys pulled up short, and waved their
hats to the guard, who had his watch out and shouted "4.56," thereby
indicating that the mile had been done in four seconds under the five
minutes. They passed several more parties of boys, all of them objects
of the deepest interest to Tom, and came in sight of the town at ten
minutes before twelve. Tom fetched a long breath, and thought he had
never spent a pleasanter day. Before he went to bed he had quite settled
that it must be the greatest day he should ever spend, and didn't alter
his opinion for many a long year--if he has yet.

CHAPTER V--RUGBY AND FOOTBALL.

"Foot and eye opposed
In dubious strife."--Scott.

"And so here's Rugby, sir, at last, and you'll be in plenty of time
for dinner at the School-house, as I telled you," said the old guard,
pulling his horn out of its case and tootle-tooing away, while the
coachman shook up his horses, and carried them along the side of the
school close, round Dead-man's corner, past the school-gates, and down
the High Street to the Spread Eagle, the wheelers in a spanking trot,
and leaders cantering, in a style which would not have disgraced "Cherry
Bob," "ramping, stamping, tearing, swearing Billy Harwood," or any other
of the old coaching heroes.

Tom's heart beat quick as he passed the great schoolfield or close, with
its noble elms, in which several games at football were going on, and
tried to take in at once the long line of gray buildi