Of course, they can't all, 24 of them, run abreast, and so they are being started in heats, six at a time.

The first lot is just starting.

How eagerly they toe the line and look up at the starter! "Are--" he begins, and two of them start, and have to be called back.
"Are you ready ?" he says.

Three of them are off now, and can't understand that they are to wait for the word "Off!" But at last the starter gets to the end of his speech and has them fairly off.

The little fellows go at it as if their lives depended on it.