them.

At last, however, the Timekeeper, and Starter, assisted by various
members of the Kennel Club, had cleared a space into which the first
entry was led with great ceremony. It was Bob, with the cordial, if
ancient, Nero in the lead.

They were to leave three minutes apart; the time of each team being
computed from the moment of its departure till its return, as is always
done in the Great Races.

The Timekeeper stood with his watch in his hand, and the Starter beside
him. Bob, eager for the word, spoke soothingly to the dogs to keep them
quiet. He was devoutly hoping that Nero would not discover any intimate
friend in the crowd and insist upon a formal greeting; for Nero's
affability was a distinct disadvantage on such an occasion.

At last the moment came, and the Starter's "Go" was almost simultaneous
with Bob's orders to his leader, whose usual dignified and leisurely
movements were considerably hastened by the thunderous applause of the
spectators.

It was a "bully get-away," George and Dan agreed, and only hoped that
theirs would be as satisfactory.

Bill followed with equal ease, and equal approbation.

Jim, justifying Dan's earlier unfavorable report, lost over a minute by
letting his dogs become tangled up in their harness, and then coaxing
them to leave instead of commanding.