Description

In response ten boys dressed in white shirts bearing the crimson H, white running pants, and spiked shoes disentangled themselves from the crowd about the dressing-room door and assembled at the corner of the grand stand. The youth who had uttered the command was the captain of the Hillton Academy Cross-country Team, and, with the runners clustered close about him, he gave his last instructions before the race in low and earnest tones: "Fellows, we must win this, you know. It's going to be hard work; House and Beaming, of St. Eustace, are difficult men to beat, but I think we can do it. Northrop and I will try to attend to them. The rest of you must try your best for the next places. I don't believe there is a dangerous runner in Shrewsburg's team; at all events, there aren't four. If they get less than four in ahead of us it won't matter. Save yourselves for the last three quarters of a mile, and don't try to leap the 'combination jump' or the 'Liverpool'; get over by the side railings or run up the braces, as you've done in practice. It's not style over the obstacles that's going to win this race, but good hard running and lots of wind at the end. Keep your strength till you need it most.