They haven't either o' them the
sand to do a thing like that."
Both Prescott and Darrin heard. Both flushed, though that was
all the sign they gave.
"Herr Schimmelpodt, you must have a cent," suggested Dick. "Toss
it, will you, and let Darrin call the turn."
Grumbling a good deal the German produced the required coin.
He fingered it nervously, for a moment, then flipped it high in
the air.
"Tails!" called Dave.
It came down heads.
"Oh, well, the best two out of three," insisted Dick.
"That fellow's nerve is going already," laughed some one. "He's
anxious for the other fellow to get the honor."
There was a grim twitching at the corners of prescott's mouth,
but he said nothing.
Again the coin was tossed. This time Dick called:
"Heads!"
He won.
"I'm ready," announced Dick quietly.
"I congratulate you, old fellow," murmured Dave eagerly. "And
I'm going with you to the base of the flagpole! The last climb
is yours you've won it!"
CHAPTER XII
The Nerve of the Soldier
Again Mrs. Macey sought to interpose. Her husband, too, was at
first against it.
But, now that the die was fairly cast, Herr Schimmelpodt firmly
championed the boys.
"Eider von of dem gan do it---easy!" declared the big German.
"You don't know dem boys----vot? Ach, I do. Dey got der brain,
der nerves und der muscle."
"It's a crime to let such youths attempt the thing," shivered
an anaemic-looking man in the crowd.
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