Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
See you again, said Stearns. The others nodded with various degrees of friendliness and Allan took himself off. The track was in good condition to-day and held the spikes firmly. Allan jogged up and down the stretch a few times, trying his muscles, which on Saturday had felt a bit stiff after the mile run, and lifting his knees high. Then he started around the track. Half-way around he drew up behind Hooker.
Hello! said the latter. Nice day, isnt it?
Allan agreed that it was, and the two went on together to the turn. There Hooker turned up the straightaway.
Going to try starts? he asked. Lets go up to the end there.
Allan couldnt see the necessity for becoming proficient in the crouching start until Hooker explained as they returned from a brief dash, in which the younger lad had been left wofully far behind.
Sometimes, said Hooker, youll want the pole at the start, and if youre placed two or three places away from it, you wont get it from a stand, you see. But if you use the crouch and get away quick, you have a pretty good show of getting ahead of the men who have the inside of you. Lets try it again. You give the signal this time.
After ten minutes of it, Allan picked up his sweater and followed Hooker down the track to report to Kernahan. The football men had taken possession of the gridiron by this time, Long and others were practising at the high jump, and altogether the field looked very busy.
You and Ware try three laps, said the trainer to Hooker. Watch your form, now, and never mind about your time. Ill attend to that for you. Take turn about at the pacing; you take the first lap, Hooker. Want to get into this, Larry?
Rindgely nodded and peeled off his sweater. The others had to trot about for a minute or two while Rindgely stretched his muscles. Then the three got on to the mark, Billy gave the word, and they started off at an easy pace, Hooker in the lead, Allan next, and Rindgely in the rear. All three hugged the rim of the track and settled down into their pace. On the back-stretch they had to slow down once to avoid a group of football substitutes who were crossing the cinders, and once Rindgely was forced to leap over a ball that came bouncing out onto the track, and was much incensed about it. Hookers pace was wonderfully steady, but Allan thought it rather slow. At the mark Billy told them to hit it up a bit now, and Hooker slowed down, letting Allan into the lead.
Allan increased the pace considerably. This time there were no interruptions, and they neared the end of the second lap fresh and untired. Kernahan glanced up from his watch as they sped by.
All right! he shouted. Get up there, Larry, and hold that pace.
Rindgely took the lead. As they commenced the turn Allans gaze, wandering a second from the front, lighted upon a tall, wide-shouldered and somewhat uncouth figure at the edge of the track. Strange to say, the figure nodded its head at him and waved a hand, and as Allan went by there came a stentorian cry of encouragement that might have been heard half across the field:
Chase em down, Freshman! Give em fits!
Allan bit his lips angrily as he sped on. What business had that big chump yelling at him like that when he didnt even know him? Pretty fresh, thats what it was! Allan hadnt made the acquaintances of so many fellows but that he could remember them, and he was quite sure that he had never met the big chap who had yelled. But at the same time there had been something familiar about the fellows voice too familiar, thought Allan with a grudging smile and he wondered who he might be and why he had singled him out for his unwelcome attentions. Then the incident passed for the time out of his mind, for the last turn was almost at hand and Rindgely was increasing the pace.
Allan began to feel it at the turn, and when they swung into the home-stretch and the pace, instead of settling down to a steady finish, grew faster and faster, he came to the unwelcome conclusion that he was not in the same class with the other two. Rindgely, in spite of all Allan could do, lengthened the space between them. Hooker, seeing that Allan was out of it, passed him fifty yards from the mark and strove to overhaul the leader. But Rindgely was never headed, and finished several yards in front of Hooker and at least thirty ahead of Allan. When they turned and jogged back to the trainer, the latter was slipping his watch into his pocket.
Whats the good of doing that, Larry? he asked, disgustedly. That wasnt a race.
Oh, I just wanted to liven it up a bit, answered Rindgely, grinning. What time did I make, Billy?
I didnt take you, answered the trainer, shortly. Thats enough for to-day.
Allan turned away with the others, but Billy called him back.
What was the matter? he asked. Pace too hot for you?
I suppose so; I couldnt stand that spurt.
Well, that was some of Larrys nonsense; hed no business cutting up tricks. He was silent a moment, looking across to where the second eleven was trying vainly to keep the varsity from pushing over her goal-line. Then, Ever try the two miles? he asked. Allan shook his head.
I dont believe Id be any good at it, he answered. Not that Im any good at the mile, either, he added, somewhat discouraged at the outcome of the trial.
Whats the best you ever did at the mile?
About four minutes forty-five seconds.
You did it inside of forty, Friday.
I did? Allan looked his surprise. Oh, but I ran a hundred and twenty yards short.
I allowed for that, answered Billy, quietly. Now, look here, Ware; youve got it in you all right, but you dont make the most of yourself. You let your feet drag back badly, and youve been trying after too long a stride. You make that shorter by six inches and youll cut off another second after a while. And to-morrow Ill show you what I mean about the stride. Theres plenty of time before the dual meet in the spring, and by then well have you doing things right. The only thing is, he added, thoughtfully, whether you wouldnt do better at the two miles. What do you think?
I really dont know, answered Allan, doubtfully, but Id like to try it.
Well, theres lots of time. The indoor meet in Boston comes along in February; well have you in shape for that, and you can go in for the mile and the two miles. Meanwhile, youd better come out with the other men while the decent weather lasts.
Do you think I can make the team? Allan asked, hopefully.
Easy; but they dont take new men on till after the trials in the spring.
Oh! said Allan, a trifle disappointed.
Dont let that bother you, advised the trainer. Youre as good as on it now. You make the most of the fall training, Ware, and keep fit during the winter. Id go in for hockey or something. Ever play hockey?
Yes, but I cant skate well enough.
Well, get plenty of outdoor exercise of some sort this winter; dont let the weather keep you indoors.
All right, Ill remember. Allans gaze wandered toward the locker building. Half-way across the field a big figure was ambling toward the gate, hands in pockets. Allan turned quickly to the trainer. Do you know who that fellow is? Kernahans gaze followed his. After a moment:
Thats a freshman named Burley. Know him?
No; I just wondered who he was, Allan replied.
And I dont want to know him, he muttered, irritably, as he trotted off to the locker house.