Hugh's often-expressed motto that the "best man should win" found an
echo in the majority of their hearts, and they vied with each other in
promising to give every ounce of ability to doing Scranton High credit.

Mr. Leonard came around to have a few words with his boys. He was
a great favorite with the majority of the scholars under his charge,
and to his clever method of coaching they attributed considerable
of their success on the diamond of recent months. If only his rules
were strictly adhered to it was possible that Allandale and Belleville
might be due for another rude surprise when they came over, bent on
carrying off the majority of the high honors.

"It is going to be no easy sledding for anybody,---remember that,
fellows," the athletic instructor went on to say, after he had been
told how both adjoining towns entered in the meet were striving
with might and main to excel in every sort of event. "No matter
who wins he'll only get there by doing his level best. That's all
Scranton High asks of her representatives. Let there be no loafing,
and if some of our good friends from A and B succeed in carrying away
a few of the prizes, why, we'll know they earned the right, and are
welcome to their reward. And now, I'd like to see you runners try
one more ten-minute sprint, every one of you in a bunch, as a sort
of wind-up for the day."

Accordingly they ran off to the starting-point and lined up, each
assuming his particular favorite crouching attitude, which he seemed
to think best fitted for a speedy "get-away" when the signal was
given.

They ran like colts, and some displayed amazing speed, considering that