As the sacks had been secured from a regular sporting goods house in the city they were made substantially, and doubly reinforced at the bottom. Being tied around the necks of the contestants there was no possible way in which they could make use of their arms in order to block a stumble, or save themselves in the event of a fall. At the signal they all started hopping or wriggling along in such manner as each bagged contestant thought would best advance his interests. And soon the vast crowd was shrieking with laughter to see the comical sight, as each lad made the most desperate efforts to get ahead. “Almost down to the last event, Lanky,” said Bones Shadduck, an hour later, crossing over to where a number of the Columbia boys stood clustered around Frank and the tall boy. “If Bellport takes this pole vault, as I’m afraid she will,” declared Buster Billings, dejectedly, “the score will stand a tie between Columbia and Bellport, with seven wins apiece, and two for Clifford. That means you’ve just _got_ to come in ahead of the Bellport runners, Lanky, Frank or Bones. Oh! please get wings on your feet, and don’t let those Bellport crowds go through Columbia this afternoon, shouting and howling like crazy Indians, because they’ve licked us at last!” “Well, here goes the pole vaulting contest,” remarked another Columbia student; “and Captain Lee looks fit to jump over a two-story house. He’s bound to beat our man, Ginger Harper, hand over fist.” His words turned out to be the truth, for Cuthbert Lee easily beat the best record that either of his contestants could hang up. This made the excitement intense; for as the nine long-distance runners came slowly to the scratch, everybody realized that the score was tied between Bellport and Columbia, just as it used to be in a tight baseball game. And if one of their entries won this last match, the long run, it would mean victory for his school! And knowing this, the runners themselves were nerved to do their level best when they drew up in a line, and began to get ready to jump at the crack of the pistol. CHAPTER XXI WHAT HAPPENED TO BONES Crack! It seemed to the mass of spectators, craning their necks to see what took place, as though that whole line of lithe runners sprang forward as one. Every fellow doubtless had his favorite way of waiting for the signal; though a quick start is of far less importance in a long run of ten miles than when the race is a short dash. Some crouched in all sorts of weird attitudes, doubtless assumed for effect; but several simply stood with the body bent for the plunge. “They’re off!” shrieked hundreds of voices, as the nine boys were seen to speed away like the wind.