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And then the crowd gathered around George Strong to learn the time. "Eight seconds better than Lew Flapp!" was the cry. "And Tom Rover came in four seconds better!" "That shows what Sam Rover would have done had Franell kept out of his way." "The race should have gone to Sam Rover!" So the cries kept up until Captain Putnam compelled the cadets to quiet down.
But Sam was on his mettle and now bounded ahead faster than ever, leaving Flapp and Pigley several yards in the rear. "Confound him," thought Lew Flapp. "He'll win sure, unless Franell does as he agreed good!" Flapp almost shouted the word, as he saw Sam run into Franell with a crash and go down. The other boy had crossed the running path and gotten directly into Sam's way.
"Oh, I hope that Rover boy wins," said Alice Staton to her sister. "So do I," answered Helen. "By Jove, but I think I'll rest a bit!" panted William Philander Tubbs, after running a couple of hundred yards, and he sat down on the grass, while the crowd laughed at him. Sam was keeping the lead in good shape, although hard pressed by Flapp, Pigley, and Franell.
Then Sam Rover shot ahead, followed by Flapp and two cadets named Pigley and Franell. "There they go!" was the shout. "Leg it, Sam!" yelled Tom. "Leg it, old man!" "Go it, Flapp! Don't let them win this race!" "It's yours if you want it, Franell!" "Remember how you won the race at Ithaca, Pigley!" So the cries went on, while the outsiders cheered for nobody in particular.
The other runners were questioned, but could give no testimony, as they had not been close enough at the time of the collision. "It is too bad it happened," said Captain Putnam. "I would have won if it hadn't been for the fall," said Sam bitterly. "I was in the lead." "Yes, but you were about winded," said Flapp. "I saw you getting groggy. That's what made you fall into Franell, I guess."
Franell, at a look from Flapp, had dropped behind. On the rock stood the lieutenant George Strong had mentioned. He was friendly to Lew Flapp and as Sam swept around the rock, he leaned forward, making the youngest Rover run about a yard further than was necessary. Then he allowed Flapp to cut the rock closely.
"Well, if that isn't beastly!" cried Franell, in apparent surprise. "I knocked him over! Why the little clown plumped right into me! "Were you running on your side of the path?" questioned George Strong. "I was, sir. Flapp and Pigley can prove it." "That's right, Mr. Strong," said Lew Flapp. "It was entirely Rover's fault," added Pigley. "He didn't keep to the right as he should."
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