AN ATHLETIC CONTEST.
The two boy riders were taking their usual afternoon walk, when they
met Carden. The canvas man frowned, but his face seemed also to wear an
expression of triumphant malice, as if he could foresee some evil in
store for Robert.
"Did you notice how Carden looked, Robert?" asked Charlie.
"Not very pleasant. He hasn't forgotten me for detecting him in his
attempt to rob me."
"He looked as if he had heard of some bad luck for you."
"That must be your imagination, Charlie. I've had no bad luck."
"I wonder what makes Carden stay here now he is discharged from the
circus," said Charlie, thoughtfully.
"I suppose he can stay here as cheap as anywhere," said Robert. "I
don't trouble myself about him or his plans."
"He is your enemy, Rob. He may try to do you some harm."
"I will be on my guard, but I won't worry myself about it."
They came to an open field, where half a dozen boys were engaged in
athletic sports. There was soon to be a picnic, and prizes had been
offered for the best running, leaping and vaulting, and these boys were
engaged in practising for the grand contest.
"Let us stop and look at them," said Charlie.
"Very well," answered his friend.
So they took up a position about fifty feet away and regarded the
contestants with interest.
Their presence was noticed by the boys, who at once recognized them as
circus riders.
"Let us invite them to join us," said Frank Perry, a boy of sixteen.
"Yes," chimed in several others.
"I object," said Ronald Percy, stiffly. "My father wouldn't care to
have me associate with circus performers."
Ronald was the son of a rich manufacturer, and was generally
considered snobbish by his companions. At any rate he presumed greatly
upon his "blue blood" and his father's wealth, and attempted to be very
exclusive. It certainly was nothing to the discredit of his father that
he had worked his way up to his present position from the position of
a poor factory boy, but it might have led Ronald to reflect upon the
folly of his personal pretensions. But his mother claimed to be of
"genteel" family, and had imbued the boy with her own notions.
"What's the objection, if they are circus performers?" asked Sidney
Grey, who might really have claimed aristocratic lineage if he had so
desired.
"Do you consider circus performers fit company for you?" asked Ronald,
superciliously.
"Yes, if they behave themselves like gentlemen; and these two look as
well bred as we are."
"Of course they do," said Frank Perry. "Let us have them here."
This seemed to be the general wish, and Ronald's protest went for
nothing.
Sidney Grey left the group of boys and walked towards where Robert and
Charlie were standing. He was a slender boy with a frank, pleasant
face which prepossessed a stranger in his favor at first sight.
"Won't you join us?" he asked. "We are practising for the picnic next
Saturday. There are to be some prizes offered for running, vaulting,
and so on."
"Thank you," answered Robert. "I will join you with pleasure."
"So will I," said Charlie, "but I am afraid I might beat you all in
jumping."
"We will take the risk," said Sydney, smiling.
"We are just going to have some leaping, and will give you a chance.
Perhaps it is lucky you won't be at the picnic."
Sidney returned to his friends, followed by the two circus boys.
The trial about to commence was a standing jump. The two rivals for
superiority were Sidney and Ronald. They were of about the same size,
and seemed, so far as appearance went, very well matched. Probably
there was nothing, save his family and position, of which Ronald was
more proud than of his jumping, and he looked forward complacently to
the trial which was now about to take place.
"Will you try first?" asked Sidney of Robert.
"No, thank you; I will wait to the end."
"Won't you?" he next asked of Charlie Davis.
"I don't mind," answered Charlie, readily.
Charlie was small of his age, and was not likely to be a very
formidable competitor. He made a jump which proved to be a little less
than five feet, and was not bad for a boy of his size who was not
accustomed to this kind of exercise.
"There, boys, beat that if you can," he said, of course in fun.
The boys smiled and the trial continued.
It is unnecessary to chronicle each jump. Sidney Grey came up at last
and jumped six feet and three inches.
"Very well, Sidney," said one of his friends. "I don't believe that
will be beat."
"I do," said Ronald, emphatically. "I haven't tried yet."
"Take your turn, then," said Sidney, good-naturedly. "I shouldn't be
surprised if you beat me."
Ronald appeared to be of the same opinion, and it turned out that his
expectations were fulfilled. He gathered himself up for a tremendous
effort, and cleared six feet four inches.
"Good!" said Sidney, not disturbed by his rival's success. "If you jump
like this next Saturday you will carry off the prize."
"I've beat you all," said Ronald, triumphantly.
"Not quite all," said Sidney. "There's one here who hasn't jumped yet,"
pointing to Robert.
"Oh well, he can try if he wants to," said Ronald, superciliously,
looking as if he thought it didn't matter much whether he did or not.
"Your name is Robert, isn't it?" said Sidney.
"Yes."
"Then, Robert, you will have the honor of closing this contest."
Under ordinary circumstances Robert would not have cared to win, but he
had chanced to overhear Ronald's objections to associating with circus
performers, and had noticed the airs of superiority which he assumed,
and he thought he would like to take down his pride a little. His
training had given him unusual strength and elasticity of limb, and he
was better prepared than any of the other boys to excel in a contest of
this kind.
He took the position which had been marked as the starting point, and
standing for a moment motionless, made a sudden spring forward, and the
result was regarded with admiring astonishment.
"Six feet and eight inches!" declared Sidney, after measuring. "You are
the champion, Robert. None of us can come up with you."
The face of Ronald was an interesting study. He was astonished and
mortified. He couldn't bear to have his record surpassed.
"It wan't a fair leap," he said with chagrin. "He stood too far
forward."
"No, he didn't," answered, Sidney; "I noticed how he stood myself."
"If you like, I will jump again," said Robert quietly, turning to
Ronald.
"That will be fairer," said Ronald, hoping Robert would the second time
fall short of his own mark.
Again Robert took his place, and would not jump till Ronald himself had
declared that he was in the right place. Then, making an extra effort,
he cleared six feet and nine inches.
"You didn't make much by your doubting, Ronald," said Frank Perry.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"I didn't bargain to jump against a circus boy," said Ronald, sullenly.
"That won't affect your chances at the picnic," said Sidney. "Robert
won't be there."
"Nor I," said Charlie Davis.
"We are not much afraid of you, Charlie," said Sidney, smiling.
"Oh, I didn't half try!" said Charlie.
"It's lucky for us you didn't," said Sidney.
Ronald walked off in disgust, but Robert and Charlie remained with
their new friends, whom they found pleasant and companionable. That was
the last of the contests, but a game of ball was got up, in which the
two circus boys joined.
When they were ready to part Sidney said, in a friendly way, "I am glad
to have made your acquaintance. Come and see me to-morrow afternoon if
you feel like it. I should like to ask you something of your life and
adventures, for I suppose you have had adventures."
"Thank you; I will come," answered Robert.
But circumstances arose which prevented his keeping his engagement.