Page:The purple pennant (IA purplepennant00barb).pdf/30

Rh if you can't keep it up? This thing is g-g-going to be a regular w-w-white elephant!"

"It looks pretty soppy, doesn't it?" asked Perry. "I guess we'd better wait until it's drier. I don't mind running, but I wasn't counting on having to swim!"

"Maybe it's better on the straightaway," responded Fudge more cheerfully. "We'll go over and see."

As luck had it, it was drier on the far side of the field, and Fudge advanced the plea that by keeping close to the outer board Perry could get along without splashing much. Perry, however, ruefully considered his Sunday trousers and made objections.

"But it isn't mud," urged Fudge. "It's just a little water. That won't hurt your trousers a bit. And you can reef them up some, too. Be a sport, Perry! Gee, I'd do it in a minute if I could!"

"Guess that's about what I'll do it in," said the other. "Well, all right. Here goes. Give me the sneakers."

"Here they are. Guess we'd better go down to the seats and change them, though. It's too damp to sit down here."

So they walked to the grandstand at the turn and Perry pulled off his boots and tried the sneakers on. They were a little too large, but he thought they