The High School Freshmen; or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and Sports

ker going to

scott, who was seated unconcernedly on a stone wall, awaiting the arrival of Tom Reade a

to run?" ask

cker, Prescott?

urned Badg

confined to the best sort of fellows in the school. These little muckers, these

ipley," retorted B

n. "I'm democratic enough, when it comes to that, and I associate with a good

ust at the rich lawyer's son. "Of course, you feel just as though anything

er, that I'm not stuck up just on account of family or position. I'm ready to give the friend's hand to any of

for the third time. "Some mighty big people have done that in times past. As to position, Prescott's father isn't a rich ma

red Fred. "And his son will be a bigger mistake in life. I don't

ved away. "I want to be reckoned as one of Dick Prescott's frien

her time for anger. Any trainer or physician could have told this young snob that just before going off on a long race is the worst possible time for

h a different terminal. It was known, in advance, only to the hares, which course would be run over. But, which ever course was taken, it must be followed to the end. Five minutes' start was allowed to the hares. Then the hounds were sent after them in full yelp. By starting time for th

he paper trails was struck. Then the "baying" of the hounds who found the trail brought the other two parties of freshmen to them. Usually, four or five upper classmen ran with the hounds to decide upon "captures" in case o

ounds won. If they captured less than six, the hares won. If six hares were captured, then the race was a "tie." But, as will

he High School boys considered their form of t

he freshmen hounds averaged rather small in size, though little was known as

e days before, by a committee of men from the first class. The soph

All the runners were now here, Reade and Dalzell having been among t

ooking lot, aren't they?" asked Ripley, as

pleasantly. "I thought them a clean a

eap lot! I call 'em

allusion, coming from the source that it did. But Dick was b

o fire the shots that started the two teams, then was to run w

y formed, the captain gave some whispered instructions. Ben Badger was already at the line. He was to run wit

ed Thompson, watch in his left h

g of torn paper hanging o

of the pistol the h

minute afterwards th

tes of tedious waiting

to the

n forward on all easy lope. Dick took his place at the extreme left

use of a few

way at an easy lope, for there were miles yet to be covered. Six miles, in fact, is more than average High School boys of the lower cla

alert for the first sign of a paper trail. There were six upper classmen running with the hounds. Ben Badger was somewhere ahead, hidin

ghost of a show to wi

eplied Dick, doggedly. "It isn't in the Gridley

ps firmly. He must save his w

. The center was moving along the highway,

w-oo!" sounded a de

ay over to the right!"

on, fe

e wall on the leap, vaulting the fence at the other side of the road.

all in a minute. Save your wind!"

nds. It was needful only that they be near enough

t the first glimpse of their quarry. Yet, all along, the paper trail was in evidence. One of the hares was req

re--the trail is so mean and diff

ahead--I see two of

ll, l

the chase. But the rearmost hares were still a good half mile away. Then the hares d

in Dick. "Go easily and save

the hounds knew when to start on the fas

h! sp

! spla

water. Well doused, they must none the less das

he four who had been badly wet ran heavily now, yet afraid of ridicule if they fell out. Th

res, found the pace too swift for him. With a slight pain in his side he lagged so th

dges, and Dawson, dropping out, sat

s four more of the hares fell

. Only two more needed, and

ng saved his wind well, now put on a slightly better spurt and jogged ahead, full of the pu

ught an indistinct glimpse of a sweater and a moving pair of

Dick gave another

tter medicine for him, if I make the catch

to allow malice to creep in, Prescott certainl

d. But Badger, who was an easy runner, forged ahe

ind him, Fred Ripley glanced

e lawyer's son. "He must

en knew that he was failing. That ill-advised anger before the start was surely t

uch me, you mucker!" hissed F

d Prescott. "I'll

, then the other, fairly around Ripley. Fred fought furiou

ur touch soils!"

ld, counting: "--twelve, t

re!" rumble

ere stripping by now. Dick, at the ju

strength, Ripley hauled off and struck astounded Dick on

cker!" shouted

o had not shot by, hal

is feet, his eyes flashing

uted. "I can take care of this