"And he has beaten you!" "It looks that way, doesn't it ?" "But--but--I--I won't believe it! You can do better--you must do better! Why, old man, you will lose your grip if you don't beat him!" "You do not expect impossibilities, do you ?" "No, but----" "Would you go back on me if I lost this match ?" "You know better, Frank! I would stick by you under any circumstances!" "Then I shall not feel so bad about losing it." Hodge gasped and clutched the arm of his roommate.
"For gracious sake, you don't mean to say he had set you a stint you cannot beat?
You mustn't lose--you shan't lose! Do brace up, old man! Why, think how those fellows who are envious of you will rejoice if Rains comes out on top! You must win!" "Well, I will do my best on the next.

There goes Rains for the last jump." With the ghost of a triumphant mile on his face, Paul again took his place at the starting point.

The smile vanished, and a look of resolution took its place.
"He is going to try to beat your other jump!" said Bascomb.
"He can't do it," declared Snell.
"Wait and see." Paul had really resolved to beat his last jump.

As he ran, he gathered momentum, gauging the distance carefully, and reaching the mark exactly.

The jump was a splendid one, and it was instantly seen that he had actually beaten his former record.
Quickly and carefully the tape was stretched.
"Nineteen feet, nine inches and three-fourths!" Then there were exclamations of wonderment from all sides, and more than one declared Merriwell was badly beaten.