"He said his skates were dull."
"Oh, that's only an excuse!" sneered one of the students who had been put off of the football eleven that term.
"It's true," answered Tom Hally. "I saw the skates myself. Can't you see how he slips when he strikes out?"
On and on went the skaters. Nat was still ahead, but now Roger and Phil came up on one side, and Gus Plum on the other, while Ben came up close in the rear. Behind Ben was Dave, determined to see the race out even if he did not win.
With the finishing line but a hundred feet away, Phil, Roger, and Gus Plum shot to the front. Then Ben followed. Nat Poole tried to keep up, but could not. Then of a sudden Dave went ahead also.
"Nat is dropping behind!"
"He put on too much steam at the start!"
"There goes Porter ahead of him!"
"See, Morr, Lawrence, and Plum are even!"
"Yes, and there comes Ben Basswood up to them!"
"Here they come! Clear the way, everybody!"
With a rush the skaters came on. For one brief instant Roger was ahead, but then the others put on a burst of speed, and over the line they came, amid a great yelling and cheering.
