Cinder Path Tales

24 CINDER-PATH TALES on this subject for at least five minutes, Hacking arguing that there wereno restric­ tions, and that I could wear top-boots or golden slippers ifI chose. Simmons was silenced at last by the crowd, who plainly saw I would not run without spikes, and were bound to see a race. All this controversy, together with the continued brutality ofmy opponent, had put me fairly on edge. I was as cool aspossible, ready to do all I knew, eager to start, and growing moredetermined ifnot more confi­ dent every minute. I had given an occasional glance at the attic windowof the hotel where I could see Jennie, and every time I looked came the wave of a little handkerchief that did me a heap of good. As I "set myself," and looked down the track, fringedon either side by the crowds of spectators pressed close against the ropes, not one of whom was friendly to me, every nerve of my body tingled, and the " fighting blood "passed down to me through many generationsof good old English stock was at a fever heat. Now I sawnothing andthought ofnothing but thered worsted at the finish; I strained at the mark with every muscle tense, my