calculated to thrill the heart, and give fresh impetus to wearied boys.

On the whole, Hugh felt fairly well satisfied with himself. He knew
he had gone about as fast as ordinary runners would care to travel,
who wished to conserve their strength toward the close of the race;
and that he was holding back a good reserve stock of energy. Yes,
he believed he was at his best, and if he failed to land the prize it
as because some fellow was a better runner than he could ever hope to be.

Just then he heard a sound that gave him a sudden thrill. It was like
a faint human cry for help, uttered in a weak voice, and seemed to come
from his right.

Hugh stopped short.

His first inclination was to instantly dash from the road and endeavor
to discover what caused that cry. Then he had a wave of suspicion
dart over him. Could this be a sly trick on the part of some enemy,
meant to lure him into the brush and rocks, where he could, perhaps,
be overpowered? But Nick, as well as his two satellites, Leon Disney
and Tip Slavin, had been on the grounds at the time Hugh started
his run, for he had taken particular notice of this fact; consequently,
it was hardly likely that they could be concerned in any practical
joke; and certainly no other fellow would be guilty of such a thing.

That decided Hugh. He left the road, and started toward the spot
where he judged that strange sound had welled forth. The country was
exceedingly rough just there, and he fancied that some sort of deep
gully, possibly a precipice, might lie off on his right, judging from
the aspect of the land.