It was fixed that the distance to be run should be a mile, so that the race would be one of two miles, out and back.
Moreover, the competitors were to run without any clothes, except a belt and a small piece of cloth round the loins.

This to the Indians was nothing, for they seldom wore more in warm weather; but Dick would have preferred to keep on part of his dress.

The laws of the course, however, would not permit of this, so he stripped and stood forth, the _beau-ideal_ of a well-formed, agile man.

He was greatly superior in size to his antagonist, and more muscular, the savage being slender and extremely lithe and springy.
"Ha! I will run too," shouted Henri, bouncing forward with clumsy energy, and throwing off his coat just as they were going to start.
The savages smiled at this unexpected burst, and made no objection, considering the thing in the light of a joke.
The signal was given, and away they went.

Oh! it would have done you good to have seen the way in which Henri manoeuvred his limbs on this celebrated occasion! He went over the ground with huge elephantine bounds, runs, and jumps.