no doubt he would keep his sovereign safe in his
pocket, and come off conqueror.

Poor Walter's reply to his friends was not particularly cordial in its
tone, and made Gregson see that he must put in a word of conciliation.
"Come, old fellow," he said, "you must forgive me if I took you too
literally at your word. I really thought you meant it; it will do no
harm to anybody, and will only show that you've got the old Huntingdon
pluck and spirit in you."

"All right," said Walter, but not very cheerily; "I'm booked now, and
must make the best of it. How many are there who are going in for the
trial, do you think?"

"We shall see," said Saunders, "if we wait a bit; it wants a quarter to
four, still."

Everything was then duly arranged for the contest. A mile's course had
been previously marked out, and a shooting-butt set up, and also two
poles with a leaping-rod across them. As the hour approached, several
young men respectably dressed came up, and among them a powerful and
active-looking fellow whose appearance was hailed by a general shout of
mirth. His clothing was none of the best; his face was scarred in
several places; and there was a free-and-easy manner about him, very
different from that of the other competitors. He answered the loud
laughter by which his appearance had been greeted with a broad grin and
a profound bow of mock salutation. Each candidate for the trial had
brought his gun with him, and stood prepared for the contest. Gregson
and Saunders managed all the arrangements after a brief consultation
with Walter.

Four o'clock had now come, and Gregson, having ascertained the fact by
looking at his watch, brought the competitors forward, and informed them
that the shooting would be the first thing, and that six shots would be
allowed to each, the winner being of course he who should place the
greatest number of marks nearest the bull's-eye. At the same time
Gregson made it to be distinctly understood that the sovereign was only
to be given to the man, if such should be found, who should beat Walter
Huntingdon in all three things,--namely, in shooting, leaping, and
running.

By his own request Walter came first. Whatever may have been his
feelings of annoyance or reluctance up to this time, they were now
completely swallowed up in the excitement of the moment and the desire
to maintain the high reputation he had previously gained. So he threw
his whole soul into the contest, and with ste