Struggling Upward | Page 3

ordinary skaters, and stood
no chance of winning the match themselves. They wished Randolph to
win, for each hoped, as he had a silver watch himself already, he might
give the Waterbury to his faithful friend and follower. Nothing in
Randolph's character granted such a hope, for he was by no means
generous or open-handed, but each thought that he might open his heart
on this occasion. Indeed, Tom ventured to hint as much.
"I suppose, Randolph," he said, "if you win the watch you will give it
to me?"
"Why should I?" asked Randolph, surveying Tom with a cold glance.
"You've got a nice silver watch yourself, you know."
"I might like to have two watches."
"You'll have the ten dollars your father promised you."
"What if I have? What claim have you on me?"
Tom drew near and whispered something in Randolph's ear.
"I'll see about it," said Randolph, nodding.

"Are you ready?" asked the teacher, once more.
"Aye, aye!" responded the boys.
"One--two--three--go!"
The boys darted off like arrows from a bow. Luke made a late start, but
before they were half across the pond he was even with Randolph, and
both were leading. Randolph looked sidewise, and shut his mouth tight
as he saw his hated rival on equal terms with him and threatening to
pass him. It would be humiliating in the extreme, he thought, to be
beaten by such a boy.
But beaten he seemed likely to be, for Luke was soon a rod in advance
and slowly gaining. Slowly, for Randolph was really a fine skater and
had no rival except Luke. But Luke was his superior, as seemed likely
to be proved.
Though only these two stood any chance of final success, all the boys
kept up the contest.
A branch of a tree had been placed at the western end of the pond, and
this was the mark around which the boys were to skate. Luke made the
circuit first, Randolph being about half a dozen rods behind. After him
came the rest of the boys in procession, with one exception. This
exception was Tom Harper, who apparently gave up the contest when
half-way across, and began skating about, here and there, apparently
waiting for his companions to return.
"Tom Harper has given up his chance," said Linton to the teacher.
"So it seems," replied Mr. Hooper, "but he probably had no expectation
of succeeding."
"I should think he would have kept on with the rest. I would have done
so, though my chance would have been no better than his."
Indeed, it seemed strange that Tom should have given up so quickly. It

soon appeared that it was not caprice, but that he had an object in view,
and that a very discreditable one.
He waited till the boys were on their way back. By this time Luke was
some eight rods in advance of his leading competitor. Then Tom began
to be on the alert. As Luke came swinging on to victory he suddenly
placed himself in his way. Luke's speed was so great that he could not
check himself. He came into collision with Tom, and in an instant both
were prostrate. Tom, however, got the worst of it. He was thrown
violently backward, falling on the back of his head, and lay stunned and
motionless on the ice. Luke fell over him, but was scarcely hurt at all.
He was up again in an instant, and might still have kept the lead, but
instead he got down on his knees beside Tom and asked anxiously:
"Are you much hurt, Tom?"
Tom didn't immediately answer, but lay breathing heavily, with his
eyes still closed.
Meanwhile, Randolph, with a smile of triumph, swept on to his now
assured victory. Most of the boys, however, stopped and gathered
round Luke and Tom.
This accident had been watched with interest and surprise from the
starting-point.
"Tom must be a good deal hurt," said Linton. "What could possibly
have made him get in Luke's way?"
"I don't know," said the teacher, slowly; "it looks strange."
"It almost seemed as if he got in the way on purpose," Linton
continued.
"He is a friend of Randolph Duncan, is he not?" asked the teacher,
abruptly.
"They are together about all the time."

"Ha!" commented the teacher, as if struck by an idea. He didn't,
however, give expression to the thought in his mind.
A minute more, and Randolph swept into the presence of the teacher.
"I believe I have won?" he said, with a smile of gratification on his
countenance.
"You have come in first," said the teacher coldly.
"Luke was considerably ahead when he ran into Tom," suggested
Linton.
"That's not my lookout," said Randolph, shrugging his shoulders. "The
point is that I have come in