to fire the shots that started the two teams, then was to run
with the hounds to act as one of the judges of possible captures.

Purcell, who was captain of the hares, led his men forward to
the line laid across the grass. Just before they formed, the
captain gave some whispered instructions. Ben Badger was already
at the line. He was to run with the hares during the first five
minutes, then give the final signal for beginning to scatter the
paper trail.

"On the line there, quick!" called Thompson, watch in his left
hand, pistol in his right. "Ready!"

The hares, each with a bag of torn paper hanging over one hip,
bent forward.

Crack! At the report of the pistol the hares bounded forward.
In barely more than a minute afterwards they were out of sight.

Then followed some minutes of tedious waiting for the Gridley
freshmen.

"Hounds to the line!"

Dick, who had been elected captain of the freshmen team, led his
men forward on all easy lope. Dick took his place at the extreme
left of the pursuing line, with Tom Reade next to him; then Dan
Dalzell.

"Ready!" A pause of a few seconds. Crack!