ew all those stones, and then ran away laughing,
so I couldn't glimpse 'em. Say, I was struck in half a dozen places.
I've got bump on my head nearly as big as a hen's egg; and my elbow
hurts like everything. I was so flustered that I must have got
twisted in a vine, or else struck a root, for I fell, and barked
my shin something fierce. I wanted to chase after the cowards,
but knew it was silly to think of such a thing. Then I tried to
keep on, but it wasn't any use, and I gave it up as a bad job. But
Hugh, I hope you don't mean to let that skunk profit by his trickery.
Please start off, and beat him out, if it takes a leg."

"But I hate to leave you here, 'Just' Smith, much as I'd like to chase
after Nick, because now he deserves to be beaten."

"Oh! don't bother about me, Hugh. I'll try and get to the main road,
even if I have to _crawl_. Later on you can come back for me in some
sort of rig. Whew! but I'm as mad as a hatter because I've lost my
fine chance, when I was going so strong, with plenty of reserve force
held back."

Hugh realized that duty called upon him to do as his chum demanded.
It would be a shame if Nick Lang actually profited through such a
rank act of treachery toward his fellows of Scranton High. An
individual should be ready to sacrifice his school or its interests
to his own personal ambition, and certainly never should it be allowed
that he gain his ends through such a dastardly trick as the waylaying
of another on the road, and his being assaulted, as "Just" Smith
had been.

"All right, I'll do it, then!" Hugh exclaimed, with a look of sudden
determination. "Expect me back later on, old fellow! Bye-bye! Don't
try to do too much, and hurt yourself worse!"

With these words he sprang away. "Just" Smith gave him a parting
cheer, that must have come a bit hard, owing to the pain he suffered,
and also the bitter disappointment that wrung his boyish and ambitious
heart.

Hugh had but one thought now, which was to speed along at such a clip
as to allow him to finally overtake and pass the treacherous Nick,
and leave him in the lurch. The spur of punishing the other for
such dastardly conduct was apt to prove an incentive calculated to
add considerably to Hugh's running.

Nick had the advantage, since he must be well on the way to the main
thoroughfare by now; and once that was gained there was a clear field
ahead of him. But one more registering station remained, and that
was