He knew that he must conserve his strength for the great undertaking that confronted him that afternoon.

Those who had entered for the long-distance race would not be allowed, of course, to participate in any other event; that had been laid down as law by Mr.Leonard when they entered their names on the list of candidates.

They must simply stand around and watch what was going on until the time came for staging the Marathon; when they could take their place in the long string that would await the pistol shot intended to start them on the telling grind.
Horatio and "Just" Smith were on deck, looking fit and eager.

Then, too, there was Nick Lang, with a grin on his heavy face every time he glanced toward the other three fellows.

It was getting on, and some of the earlier events had already been carried through, amidst great roars of applause as the different prizes went, this one to an Allandale fellow, another to a boy wearing the Belleville High colors; and three in succession to local lads.
"I don't exactly like the way that Nick Lang keeps on laughing to himself every time he looks over in this direction," Horatio was saying to the other two.
"I've noticed the same thing," spoke up "Just" Smith; "and it makes me wonder if the tricky fellow hasn't got some slick game up his sleeve, as usual, looking to giving the rest of us trouble.