There were not a few among Frank's friends who confessed that he had very little chance, and the faces of those who said nothing showed that they had lost heart to a great extent.
Hodge continued to talk excitedly to Merriwell, who shook his head, looking very grave.
Paul Rains was quietly triumphant, for he felt that he was safely the winner of this contest.
Merriwell and Hodge went up the strip together, the latter still talking and making an occasional gesture.

Reaching the starting point, they paused and stood talking.
"By smoke!" laughed Bascomb; "Merriwell doesn't want to try it at all, and Hodge is having hard work to induce him to do so! Rains has this match in a walkover." "That remains to be seen," said one of Frank's friends, doggedly.

"You may be right, but don't you fancy for a moment that Merriwell is going to give up without jumping.

He isn't that kind of a hairpin, my boy." "Well, he might as well give up without another try, for he doesn't stand any show." "Oh, wait and see--wait and see," was all that Frank's defender could say.
Hodge was now seen to leave Merriwell and come back down the runway, and it was noted that the look on his face was far from one of confidence and satisfaction.
"When Hodge loses confidence in Merriwell, the case is desperate," declared Bascomb.
"That's so," confessed Wat Snell.

"I am beginning to hope." "Merriwell is making ready--he's preparing for the run!" All eyes were now fixed on Frank, who had taken his position at the starting point.