swered the backers of the up-river school; "we didn't have our
best man, Wagner, in that sprint; we're saving him for the next, when
your wonder will be winded more or less. And the third sprint will be a
walkover. Oh! shout while you have the chance, Riverport; but all the
same your cake is going to be dough. We've taken your number, and the
count is two against one, so far. Mechanicsburg! All together now; three
more cheers, boys!"

CHAPTER XXII

FRED ON THE TRACK

Fred Fenton was in the throng that welcomed the victorious Colon. He had
heard that remark of a Mechanicsburg lad about the plan arranged to wear
Colon down by putting a fresh man in against him with the second sprint,
this time for half a mile. And it set Fred thinking.

He had himself been entered for the second and third sprint; but because
the five mile road race was of such vast importance, the track captain
had prevailed upon Fred not to make either of the others, leaving them
to the marvelous Colon to take care of.

Several more events were pulled off in rapid succession, showing how
well organized the tournament seemed to be, in the hands of competent
men. One of these happenings was a sack race, which afforded great
amusement to the crowd, and gave Paulding her first score, to the
uproarious delight of everybody.

"Paulding can _crawl_ to victory, anyhow!" shouted the megaphone boy,
derisively.

"That's better than crawling after getting licked!" answered a resolute
backer of the town down the river, "that never gave up until the last
man was down."

When the basket ball game of the girls, between Paulding and
Mechanicsburg first, and then Riverport against the victor of the first
round, was called, everybody sat up and took notice.

It was a spirited game, and Paulding girls proved themselves superior to
those of the rival town, for they finally won. Then their team was
patched up with a couple to replace those who were tired out; after
which they started to show Riverport what they knew about basketball.

And sure enough, in the end they did carry the Paulding colors to
victory; though it was a close decision; and if the balance of the home
team could have shown the same class that little Mame Wells put into her
playing, it would have been a walkover for Riverport.

Colon came to the scratch, smiling and confident, when the half mile run
over the track was called. So did that fellow up the river, who had
always been such a h