Cinder Path Tales

20 CINDER-PATH TALES The effectupon me was, however, directly opposite that expected.My trouble was not so much lack of courage assimple nervous­ ness. With the shock of the pain this dis­ appeared as if by magic, and in its place came at firsta blind rage at the injury, which I could scarcely restrain,and then the deter­ mination towin, if I never ran again. I was adifferent man. I threw offmy top­ coat, and facing my opponent, looked him over critically and carefully. I am free to say I could not deny him a long breath of admiration. He was over six feet tall, dark and slender, showing signs of the infusionof Indian blood which was in his veins. He was clad in a common undershirt, far from clean. Instead of trunks he wore overalls cut off just above the knees, andon his feet were a pair of well-seasoned moccasins. Yet despite his unsportsmanlike and ludi­ crous costume, a better-built man for a sprinter I never saw, and I have seen some of the best. His legswere long and lithe, well-rounded, but nottoo heavily muscled, and every cord and sinewshowed through the brownskin as fine and firm as a bowstring. He carriednot an ounce ofextra weightabove the belt, al­ though his chest was full and his arms sinewy. With the strong jaw and piercing black eyes,