I won't try to make any other excuse in case you are the victor." In a mass the boys surged toward a piece of ground just outside of the gymnasium adapted to jumping.
"What shall it be first ?" asked Frank, as he stood at the edge of the long strip of turf.
"Running long jump," decided Rains.
"That's agreeable.

You challenged, and I presume we are to take turns for three jumps, the one who makes the best leap out of the number is the winner ?" "That's all right." Hodge spoke up quickly: "What do you mean by taking turns?
Is one to jump three times, and then the other jump three times ?" "No, I mean for us to alternate," explained Frank.

"First one jumps, and then the other." Hodge nodded his satisfaction.
"That is fair, and it is much better than the other way," he declared.
The rivals made preparations for the contest.

By lot it fell to Rains to lead off.
Rains was smiling and confident.
"If there is anything I can do, I can jump," he told Bascomb, in an aside.

"I will beat him by a foot, at the very least." "I hope you will beat him by a yard!" muttered the big fellow, sullenly.