These two boys were looked upon as the chief contestants for
the prize offered by their teacher. Opinions differed as to which
would win.

"I think Luke will get the watch," said Fred Acken, a younger boy.

"I don't know about that," said Tom Harper. "Randolph skates
just as well, and he has a pair of club skates. His father sent
to New York for them last week. They're beauties, I tell you.
Randolph says they cost ten dollars."

"Of course that gives him the advantage," said Percy Hall. "Look
at Luke's old-fashioned wooden skates! They would be dear at
fifty cents!"

"It's a pity Luke hasn't a better pair," said Harry Wright. "I don't
think the contest is a fair one. Luke ought to have an allowance of
twenty rods, to make up for the difference in skates."

"He wouldn't accept it," said Linton Tomkins, the son of a
manufacturer in Groveton, who was an intimate friend of Luke, and
preferred to associate with him, though Randolph had made advances
toward intimacy, Linton being the only boy in the village whom he
regarded as his social equal. "I offered him my club skates, but
he said he would take the chances with his own."

Linton was the only boy who had a pair of skates equal to Randolph's.
He, too, was a contestant, but, being three years younger than Luke
and Randolph, had no expectation of rivaling them.