, and call the
fellows."

So the course was cleared, and proclamation made that the new boys were
about to race. Whereat Templeton lined the quarter-mile track; and
showed a languid interest in the contest. Swinstead called over the
first five names on his list.

"Take off your coats and waistcoats," said he.

They obeyed. Dick, who was not in the first heat, took charge of
Heathcote's garments, and secretly bade him "put it on."

"Toe the line," said Swinstead. "Are you ready? Off!"

They started. It was a straggling procession. Two of the boys could
scarcely use their legs, and of the other three Heathcote was the only
one who showed any pace, and, greatly to Dick's delight, came in easily
first.

Dick's turn came in the second round, and he, greatly to Heathcote's
delight, won in a canter.

In the fourth heat Aspinall ran; but he, poor fellow, could scarcely
struggle on to the end, and had literally to be driven the last fifty
yards. For no new boy was allowed to shirk his race.

Templeton evinced a more decided interest in the final round. It had
looked on as a matter of duty on the trial heats; but it got a trifle
excited over the final. The winner of the fourth round, the youth who
had been robbed of his light blue tie, commanded the most general
favour. Swinstead on the other hand secretly fancied Dick, and one or
two others were divided between Heathcote and the winner of the third
round.

"Keep your elbows in, and don't look round so much," whispered Swinstead
to Dick, as the four champions toed the line.

Dick nodded gratefully for the advice.

"Now then. Are you ready?

"Go!" cried the starter.

The hero of the blue tie led off amid great jubilation among the
sportsmen. But Swinstead, who trotted beside the race, still preferred
Dick, and liked the way he kept up to the leader's heels in the first
hundred yards. Heathcote, in his turn, kept well up to Dick, and had
nothing to fear from the other man.

"Pretty race," said some one.

"Good action number two," replied another.

"Swinstead fancies him, and he knows what's what."

"I should have said number three, myself."

Two hundred yards were done, and scarcely an inch had the position of
the three runners altered.

Then Swinstead called.

"Now then, young 'un."

Dick knew the call was meant for him, and his spirit rose within him.
He "waited on his man," as they say, and before the next hundred yards
were done he wa