CHAPTER X

WHEN MUSCLES COUNTED


There were four of them who made the start, Hugh, "Just" Smith, Horatio
Juggins, and K.K., the Kinkaid boy. Three of the bunch had been
fielders in the baseball nine that carried off the championship
pennant of the three-town-high-school league the preceding summer;
and, having been known as great runners, it was only natural that
they had felt impelled, to enter for the long-distance race.

An equal number could be expected from both Allandale and Belleville,
so that with others who would feel disposed to, at least, be in at
the start, though calculating to fall out after a few miles had been
run, possibly a full score would toe the string at the time the great
Marathon was called.

In an event of this nature a big "field" adds to the excitement of
the occasion; and it is often noticed that those who have no intention
of finishing usually look the most confident during the preparations
for making the grand start. Well, they have no hope of getting any
fun out of the race after losing sight of the crowd, and so they mean
to take what they can beforehand.

Talking is almost tabooed during such a race, since every breath lost