There were two other fellows, who were cronies of Nick’s, and who, apparently, had entered for some of the events, because both Leon Disney and Tip Slavin were in evidence and hard at work practicing.

Nick secretly hated, even as he also feared, Mr. Leonard, because the under-teacher had once cowed him and made him “eat humble pie” before the whole class; but, being a wise as well as pugnacious boy, Nick managed to keep his feelings under control, and when Mr. Leonard was around he usually behaved himself.

Later in the afternoon, when most of the boys out for practice had become more or less tired from their exertions, they gathered here and there in little bunches to exchange “chaff,” and express their opinions concerning various matters that had a bearing on the coming tournament.

So Hugh Morgan found himself in a cluster that contained several of his chums, as well as a sprinkling of other fellows.  A trio of lively high school girls hovered near, and occasionally joined in the conversation.  They were Sue Barnes, whom Hugh usually counted on as his partner when any dance was given in the country, or at singing-school during the winter evenings; Ivy Middleton, Thad’s choice for company, because she was both jolly and genial; and pretty Peggy Noland, whom Owen Dugdale liked, as had also Nick Lang, though the latter had of late been badly snubbed by the scornful Peggy because she could not stand for his rowdy ways.

“Mr. Leonard says he’s fully satisfied with the way most of the fellows are showing up,” Joe Danvers was saying, about that time.

“Well, we can’t afford to loaf, for a fact,” remarked Just Smith, soberly.  “Let me tell you something, fellows.  I was down in Paul Kramer’s sporting emporium just last evening, when who should walk in but Big Ed. Patterson, the Allandale pitcher, who came so near to downing us last summer.  He looks as fine as silk, and told me privately he calculates on carrying off that prize offered for hammer throwing, because that is his pet hobby, you see Yes, and more than that, he said they were all crazy up at his ‘burg’ over the big meet, boys being out practicing every sort of stunt, even to road-running by moonlight.”

“That sounds good to me,” Hugh observed, not appearing to show any sign of alarm over the stirring news.  “It means we’ll have a wonderfully successful affair.  Who carries off the prizes is a matter for the different schools to take care of, and those of us who believe in clean, honest sport only hope the best fellows win.”

“Huh!” grunted Owen Dugdale, “it goes to show that Allandale is all worked up over losing the baseball pennant to Scranton, and means to get even by carrying off the majority of the prizes our committee has offered for the dozen or more events to be contested for.”

“But he also informed me,” continued the bearer of news, “that over in Belleville they were just as much excited as in his town, so that every fellow who’d entered for any event, even to climbing the greased pole or the sack race, was diligently practicing his particular stunt.  Oh! it’s just going to be the greatest athletic tournament ever held in this section of the country, believe me.”