One event after another was carried out by the judges who were appointed to decide upon the merits of the numerous candidates. Even sack racing was indulged in; and the antics of fat Buster Billings when he strove with might and main to come in ahead of his more nimble rivals afforded great fun. He even started to rolling when unable to get on his feet again after a fall, and might have won, only that this method of making progress was declared barred by those in charge. Some of the jumping tests were well carried out; and those who watched and figured on the marks made nodded their heads as though satisfied that Columbia had a good chance in this quarter. The high-jumpers also held a carnival of their own, and brought out loud cheers by their showing; while the pole-vaulters, the shot-putters and hammer-throwers and the short-distance sprinters gave every evidence of being grimly determined not to lose the prizes offered in their departments, if grit and pluck and muscle could win out. Finally, at four o’clock the long-distance runners lined up; and as this was the last, as well as the most important event, on the program, everybody crowded around to witness the start. There was a lot of cross-fire talk between some of the ambitious aspirants and their friends on the side lines. Besides Frank, Lanky and Bones Shadduck, the three who were fully expected to carry off the honors, and get tickets to enter the Marathon in the big meet, there were almost a dozen others, who seemed to have hopes of developing into wonders; or else meant to start, just for the fun of the thing. Since that day in school, when the fire occurred in the basement, nothing had been seen or heard of Bill Klemm and his two cronies, Asa Barnes and Watkins Kline. Asa’s father, the local butcher, had been searching all over the country for his son; but thus far nothing had been heard from him. It was believed that, thinking they must have caused the destruction of the school by fire, the frightened trio of boys were hiding far away, not daring to return home. And among the crowds that gathered on this Saturday, their names were often mentioned, as all sorts of queer theories were advanced to account for their disappearance. But then, as they were most unpopular boys, no one cared very much about it. And really the games that were being carried out were ten times more worth talking about than the fortunes of such a town bully as Bill Klemm, or his followers, who were trying to walk in the same trail he followed. It had been determined that since this was only a trial race, with the result really a foregone conclusion, the boys would not have to go over the entire circuit as laid out for the great meet. Instead of ten miles, they would cover just half that distance. With the crack of the starter’s pistol the long line jumped away. Several ambitious beginners immediately sprinted, and took the lead.