y Hugh Morgan; or,
it might happen to be, Horatio Juggins, "Just" with, or possibly Nick
Lang, the last-named looking ever so confident, as he leaned over
nearly double in his favorite crouch, his fingertips in contact with
the ground, and his knees bent.

Then came the sharp report of the pistol.

"They're off!" involuntarily exclaimed a thousand persons in unison,
as the line of nimble runners was seen to leap into action, and shoot
away with amazing speed.

There were a few little lively brushes in the start, before the runners
settled down to real business. Some were immediately left behind,
but this fact seemed to give them little concern, for they kept
jogging away as though quite happy.

Doubtless, a number had entered with no idea of covering more than a
few miles of the long course. They just enjoyed the excitement, and
the honor of being able to say they had once run in a fifteen-mile
schoolboy Marathon race.

After a bit these novices would drop out, perhaps even hasten back
with various clever excuses for giving up; and having gained the cheers
of their particular coterie of friends they could don a few more
clothes to keep off the chill, and settle back to watch the rest of
the entertainment. Their opinion would naturally be much sought
after, as to the chances of this or that genuine contestant; which
was one of the things they desired.

As it takes considerable time for even fleet-footed runners to go over
a fifteen-mile course, the sensible committee, who knew just about
how long the crowd would have to wait, had provided plenty of
amusement meanwhile.

Interspersed with a number of minor events, such as further sprinting
matches for younger entries, and some more pole vaulting, as well as
Indian Club exhibitions of skill, would come the humorous features of
the meet.

These are always popular with the country people; indeed, nearly
everybody seems to welcome them as a diversion calculated to raise
hearty laughter.

There was also keen competition even in the potato race; and the crowd
yelled itself hoarse to the antics of those who met with all manner of
mishaps when engaged in the hurdle, and the obstacle affairs.

The boys who had engaged to try for these prizes seemed to "get their
dander up," as some fellow expressed it, and the way they struggled
and vied with one another was "equal to a circus with a brass band."

Although mention may not have been made of he fact up to now, the