ATHLETICS
"Can you fight?"
The speaker was a young British midshipman. Jack and Frank stood at the
rail, gazing off toward the distant horizon, when the young man
approached them. The lads turned quickly.
"Can you fight?" demanded the young man again. His eyes rested on Jack.
"Well," said the latter with a smile, "I can if I'm pushed to it. Who
wants to lick me now?"
The young midshipman also smiled.
"It's not that kind of a fight I'm talking about," he said. "You're new
aboard, so I'll explain."
"Do," said Jack.
"Well, there has been considerable rivalry between the men of our ship
and the crew of the _Indefatigable_. We had an athletic contest last
year and they beat us, carrying everything but the standing broad jump.
This year we are better fortified and we hope to get even. Among other
things there will be a boxing match. Jackson, that's the man we had
entered in that event, is ill. I have been elected to find a
substitute. I sized you up as being able to hold your own with most."
"Well, if that's the way of it, you can count me in, of course," said
Jack. "When does this come off?"
"As soon as we come up with the _Indefatigable_. Probably tomorrow."
"What other events are there?" asked Frank.
"Plenty," was the reply. "Besides the boxing match and standing broad
jump are the running broad jump; high jumping, a match with foils and a
revolver contest."
"And are your lists filled?" asked Frank.
"I believe so. Why?"
"Well, I'd like to get in the revolver contest," replied the lad. "I'm
pretty handy with a gun."
"I'll see what can be done," returned the midshipman. "By the way, my
name is Lawrence."
They shook hands and walked off.
"Well, that's something to liven things up a bit," said Frank.
"Yes; but I didn't know they were doing such things in time of war."
"Neither did I; but it seems they are."
It was late that evening when Lawrence again approached the two lads.
"You're in luck," he said to Frank. "We are still one man shy on our
revolver team. I have named you for the place."
"Thanks," said Frank. "I'll promise to do the best I can. By the way,
where is this match to take place?"
"Right here. Last year it was pulled off on the _Indefatigable_."
It was drawing toward night when the _Queen Mary,_ steaming swiftly,
sighted smoke upon the horizon. Two hours later she slowed down a short
distance from three other vessels, which proved to be the
_Indefatigable_, the _Invincible_ and the _Lion_, the latter the
flagship of Vice-Admiral Beatty.
The commanders exchanged salutations; and among other things made
arrangements for the athletic contest that was to take place aboard the
_Queen Mary_ the following day. This was explained to the men.
The day's events were to begin at nine o'clock. They were to come in
this order: Standing broad jump, running broad jump, high jump, foil
match, revolver contest and boxing match.
"You're last on the card, Jack," said Frank, with a laugh, when they
were informed of the manner in which the events were to be pulled off.
"Hope I'm last on my feet, too," said Jack, with a laugh.
"Oh, I'm not worrying about you. You'll come through with flying
colors. I hope I am not nervous, though."
"You won't be," said Jack, positively. "I know you and that revolver of
yours too well."
"Guess we had better turn in early so as to be fit," said Frank.
And they did, retiring several hours after mess.
Every man aboard the _Queen Mary_ was astir bright and early the
following morning. Each man was filled with enthusiasm and each was
ready to wager his next year's pay on the outcome of each event. But
there was to be no gambling. Admiral Beatty had issued orders to that
effect.
At eight o'clock the championship entrants from the _Indefatigable_
came aboard, accompanied by many of their companions, who would be
present to cheer them on. Officers as well as men were greatly
interested in the day's sports. Admiral Beatty could not be present,
but Captain Reynolds, of the _Indefatigable_, stood by Captain Raleigh,
of the _Queen Mary_, as the first event was called.
"We're going to get even with you this time, Reynolds," said Captain
Raleigh.
"Oh, no you won't. The score will be two in our favor after today."
They became silent as four men, two from each ship, made ready for the
standing broad jump.
The jumping was superb. After eight attempts one man from each ship was
eliminated; and at length the _Indefatigable_ man won.
"Two points for us, Raleigh," said Captain Reynolds, jotting down
something on the back of an envelope.
"Don't crow, we'll get you yet, Reynolds," was Captain Raleigh's reply.
The running broad jump was won by the _Queen Mary's_ entrants. Then it
was Captain Raleigh's time to smile.
"Told you so," he said to Captain Reynolds.
"Oh, you won one event last year," was the reply. "This high jump comes
to us."
And it did. The score was now four to two in favor of the
_Indefatigable_. Then came the match with foils and this also went to
the _Indefatigable_, making the score nine to two, for this match
carried five points for the winner. Also, the pistol contest and the
boxing match carried five points each.
"We've got you now, Raleigh," laughed Captain Reynolds. "Nine to two.
You've got to take both of the next two events to win. It can't be
done."
"It has been done," was the reply.
"It won't be this time," was the reply. "I think we will win the
revolver contest, for I have some pretty fair shots, but if we don't,
we are sure to take the boxing match. We've a surprise for you there.
Here they go."
The revolver match was on. There were three men on each team. The first
mark was set, a target at twenty yards with a six-inch bull's eye.
Frank fired first. He hit the bull's eye easily. So did the others, all
except one of the _Indefatigable_ crew, who was thus eliminated, much
to his disgust, as the spectators jeered him.
The next shot at a smaller mark eliminated one of the _Queen Mary's_
crew. An _Indefatigable_ man and a _Queen Mary_ man both missed the
next mark and there remained but Frank for the _Queen Mary_ and a man
named Simpson for the _Indefatigable_.
The target had been removed to sixty yards and the bull's eye was but
two inches. Frank fired and scored a hit. So did Simpson. Next both hit
the mark ten yards farther back.
A one-inch bull's eye was substituted. Frank fired first. He scored a
clean hit. Simpson also hit the eye, though not so squarely. Still it
counted a hit.
Now the bull's eye was reduced to half an inch, and at seventy yards it
seemed almost impossible to hit it. This time Simpson was to fire
first. Carefully he took deliberate aim and fired.
A shout went up from the _Queen Mary_ men who stood near.
"Missed it by a hair," said one. "Beat it, Chadwick! Beat it!"
"He can't beat it! Hooray! We've won!" This from the _Indefatigable's_
crew.
"Good shooting, old man," said Frank, quietly, as he took his position.
Carefully he measured the distance with his eye.
Then he raised his revolver slowly, and seeming scarcely to take aim,
fired.
And a yell went up from the _Queen Mary's_ crew.
"Bull's eye! Bull's eye!" they cried, and danced and capered about the
deck.
Frank had won. He had hit the bull's eye squarely.
The men rushed up and danced about him.
"Good work!" they cried. "Five points for us. Nine to seven now. We'll
win this yet!"
Simpson approached Frank and extended a hand.
"Good shooting, son," he exclaimed.
Simpson was a man well along in years, and he put this touch of
familiarity to his words to make Frank realize that they were sincere.
"I used to be something of a shot myself," he said. "But I guess you
are better than I ever was."
Frank took Simpson's hand.
"You would probably beat me next time," he said.
Simpson shook his head.
"Not in a thousand years," he said, and walked off.
Meantime, Captain Raleigh and Captain Reynolds were having it out.
"Told you so! Told you so!" exclaimed the former, as pleased as a boy.
"We'll beat you yet, sure."
"No, you won't, Raleigh," said Reynolds, with a wink. "I'll tell you
something. Ever hear of a man named Harris?"
"Yes; I know several men by that name."
"Ever hear of Tim Harris?"
"By George! You mean Tim Harris, of the _Queen Elizabeth_?"
"The same."
"The champion of the British fleet, eh? You mean to tell me you have
rung him in on us?"
"We didn't ring him in," was the reply. "He was transferred to the
_Indefatigable_ before the _Queen Elizabeth_ went to the Dardanelles.
We've been saving this up as a little surprise."
Captain Raleigh had lost his look of optimism.
"Then our man should be warned," he said. "He may wish to withdraw."
"It is only fair to tell him who his opponent is," agreed Captain
Reynolds. "I guess we should have done it long ago."
"I'll tell him," said Captain Raleigh.
At this moment there was a loud cheer from the crew of the _Queen
Mary_.
"Here he comes!" they shouted.
Jack, stripped to the waist and wearing a pair of trunks, had appeared
on deck. Two men accompanied him. These, it seemed, were to be his
seconds. Jack caught sight of Frank and smiled.
And again the crew of the _Queen Mary_ went wild.