er ken a different way o't."

"Ay, Andra," was the reply. "But ye maun mind that Mag mak's mair money
than Sanny does. Jist look at her, the glaikit tinkler that she is.
Black Jock's no' ill to please when that pleases him."

Mag Robertson, the subject of their talk, was quite oblivious,
apparently, of the many remarks that were being passed about her, and
she continued to follow Walker, who as a committee member, was busily
arranging matters for the race.

"She's gie weel smeekit, Andra!" observed Matthew in a whisper, as Mag
passed close by. "Did ye fin the smell o" her breath?"

"Ay!" replied Andrew. "She can haud a guid lot before ye see it on her.
She's--" but a shout from the crowd cut his further revelations short.

"Here they come!" cried Matthew excitedly, as the tent opened, and young
Rundell came out with confident bearing, leading the other half-dozen
athletes to the starting place. "Let's gae roon' to the wunnin' post so
as to see the feenish."

The competitors lined up, each on his separate mark, ready for the
signal to start. Rundell, in a bright-colored costume of fine texture,
showed well beside the other racer who started along with him at forty
yards. Peter was slimly built, but there were energy and activity in his
every movement; his legs especially, being finely developed, showed no
superfluous flesh; his chest alone indicated any weakness, but withal he
looked a likely winner.

Robert, on the other hand, while not carrying a great amount of flesh,
was well built. The chest was broad and deep, the shoulders square and
the head held well up, his nose being finely adapted for good
respiration. The legs, by reason of heavy work in early life, were a
little bent at the brawn, but were as hard as nails; they showed
wonderfully developed muscles, and gave the impression of strength
rather than speed.

They presented a fine picture of eager, determined young manhood, clean
and healthy, and full of life and mettle. Each face betrayed how the
mind was concentrated on, the work ahead, every thought directed with
great intensity towards the goal, as they bent their bodies in
preparation for the start.

The pistol cracked and rang out upon the midday air with startling
suddenness, and immediately they were off on a fine start to the
accompaniment of the cheering of the crowd which lined the whole track
in a great circle. The first round ended with the runners much as they
had started, the interval b