Glass attempts to escape at night, but is
captured. Fresno gives Gallagher, the
Centipede foreman, $500 to bet against
Speed for him. Helen Blake hears nf it
and bets $500 on Speed. Glass recognizes
Skinner as a professional runner.
CHAPTER XVII. Continued.
Instantly a full-lunged roar went up
that rolled away to the foot-hills, and
the runners sped out of the pandemon
ium, their legs twinkling against the
dust-colored prairie. Down to the
turn they raced. Speed was leading.
Fright had acted upon him as an elec
tric charge; his terror lent him wings;
he was obsessed by a propelling force
outside of himself. Naturally strong,
lithe, and active, he likewise pos
sessed within him the white-hot flame
of youth, and now, with a nam pi ess
fear to spur him on, he ran as any
healthy, frightened young animal
would run. At the second turn Skin
ner had not passed him, but the thud
of his feet was close behind.
