o overtake the
lagging Fred.

Gradually, the young captain left the hares behind. But Badger,
who was an easy runner, forged ahead so as to keep the leading
hound in full sight.

Hearing some one running behind him, Fred Ripley glanced backward
over his shoulder.

"The mucker!" gritted the lawyer's son. "He mustn't catch me---he
shan't!"

Yet vainly did Ripley try to put on more speed. He kept it up
for a few yards, then knew that he was failing. That ill-advised
anger before the start was surely telling on him now. Dick still
kept forward, gaining a yard or so every few minutes.

"Keep back! Don't you dare touch me, you mucker!" hissed Fred
sharply over his shoulder.

"Mucker?" retorted Prescott. "I'll pay you for that!"

At a bound he covered the distance, throwing first one arm, then
the other, fairly around Ripley. Fred fought furiously to break
the clasp, but was so winded that he couldn't.

"Let go of me! Your touch soils!" he cried, hoarsely.

But Dick still kept his hold, counting: "---twelve, thirteen,
fourteen, fifteen!"

"Fair capture!" rumbled Ben Badger.

The other hounds, or their leaders, were stripping by now. Dick,
at the judge's words, loosed his hold on Fred.

"You cur!" snarled Fred. Then, summoning all his remaining strength,
Ripley hauled off and struck astounded Dick on the face, sending
the captain of the hounds to the ground.

"Take that, mucker!" shouted the assailant.

Those of the hounds who had not shot by, halted in sheer amazement.

Like a flash Dick was on his feet, his eyes flashing, cheeks flushing
crimson.

"Go on, hounds, go on!" he shouted. "I can take care of this
one disgrace to Gridley H.S.!"

CHAPTER V

THE "MUCKER" AND THE "GENTLEMAN"

Ben Badger gave Captain Dick a shove. "Go on, Prescott! Go on,
hounds!" roared Badger. "You've only one more capture to make.
Run along, Dick! I'll take care of Ripley. He'll stay right
here until you come back, or else he'll never have the nerve to
show his face at Gridley H.S. again! Run, you hounds!"

Dick needed no farther urging.

Though he was naturally wild with anger, inside, he managed to
keep that feeling down and back. He was captain of the hounds.
He had his duty to his team and his class first of all to think
about.

"Come on, hounds!" he shouted to those who had lagged at sight
of the knock-down. "One more hare in our trap---then we'll be
back here!"

What he meant by bei