“I’ll wish you good-day, then,” broke in Badger, crisply, and moved away.  “I want to be reckoned as one of Dick Prescott’s friends.  He’s one of the most promising young fellows in Gridley H.S.”

Ripley let loose an astounded gasp.  He stood still where Badger had left him, boiling over with rage.  Had Ripley been wise, he would have chosen another time for anger.  Any trainer or physician could have told this young snob that just before going off on a long race is the worst possible time for letting anger get the best of one.  Anger excites the action of the heart to a degree that makes subsequent running performance a thing of difficulty.

Gridley H.S. was out for the October paper chase.  This was an annual event, in which the sophomores, or third classmen, acted as the hares, while the freshmen played the part of the hounds.  The course was six miles across country.  Three courses, of equal length, were laid down, each with a different terminal.  It was known, in advance, only to the hares, which course would be run over.  But, which ever course was taken, it must be followed to the end.  Five minutes’ start was allowed to the hares.  Then the hounds were sent after them in full yelp.  By starting time for the hounds the hares were sure to be out of sight.  An official of the first class, who followed the hares at the outset, gave the call when the five minutes were up.  Beginning with that call the hares were obliged to scatter bits of paper, as they ran, all the way to the finish of the run.

All three of the courses were somewhat parallel during the first five minutes of the run, but, as the hounds had no means of knowing which course was the right one, the hounds had to divide their forces until the first of the paper trails was struck.  Then the “baying” of the hounds who found the trail brought the other two parties of freshmen to them.  Usually, four or five upper classmen ran with the hounds to decide upon “captures” in case of dispute.  A hound overhauling a hare had to throw his arms around the prize, stopping him fairly for at least fifteen seconds.  Then the hare was sent back, out of the race.  Each hound was credited with the hare he captured.

Twelve hares ran, also twelve hounds.  If the hounds captured seven or more of the hares ere the race was finished, then the hounds won.  If they captured less than six, the hares won.  If six hares were captured, then the race was a “tie.”  But, as will be seen, with the five minutes’ start, and the hares averaging a year more of age, the sophomore class usually won this chase.

These rules had originated at Gridley, where the High School boys considered their form of the game superior to the rules usually followed.

This year, as in previous years, the sophomores felt confident of winning.  The freshmen hounds averaged rather small in size, though little was known as to the freshmen running powers or wind.  The sophomores were all good runners.