And now the team was quickly made up.  Wadleigh was to play center.  Dick was to play left end, with Dave for left tackle.  Greg Holmes went over to right tackle, with Hazelton right guard.  Dan Dalzell was slated as substitute right end, while Tom Reade was a “sub” left tackle.

Fred Ripley was put down as a substitute for left end.  As one who kept in such close training as did Prescott he was not likely to miss many of the big games, and Fred’s chances for playing in the big games was not heavy.  Yet Ripley was satisfied.  Even as a “sub,” he had “made” the High School eleven.

“I think, gentlemen,” declared Mr. Morton, in dismissing the squad, “that we have as good a team to put forward this year as Gridley has ever had.  The only disquieting feature of the season is the report, coming to us, that many of the rival schools have, this year, better teams in the field than they have ever had before.  So we’ve got to work—–­well like so many animated furies.  Remember, gentlemen, ‘coldfeet’ never won a football season.”

Bayliss and Dodge when they heard the news, were much disgusted.  They had hoped that subs.  Instead, Dick and three of his cronies had been put in Gridley’s first fighting line, only two of the redoubtable six being on the sub list.

School and second teams, being now sharply defined, fell to playing against each other as hard and as cleverly as they could.

Wadleigh’s choice as captain was confirmed by the Athletics Committee.

“But I’d never have had the chance, Prescott, old fellow, if it hadn’t been for you,” “Hen” protested gratefully.  “Dick, I won’t forget your great help!”

“I didn’t do anything for you, Hen,” Prescott retorted, with one of his dry smiles.

“You didn’t?” gasped Wadleigh.

“No, sir!  I did it for the school.  I wanted to see our team have the best possible captain and the winning eleven!”

Bert and Bayliss happened to be passing the gymnasium when they heard of the selection of Wadleigh.

“Bert,” whispered Bayliss, “I believe you’re at least half a man!”

“What are you driving at?” demanded Dodge.

“We owe Dick Prescott a few.  If you’re with me we’ll see if his season on the gridiron can’t be made a farce and a fizzle.”

CHAPTER XIII

Bert Dodge “Starts something”

As always happens the schedule of the fall’s games was changed somewhat at the last moment.

In the first change there was a decided advantage.  Wrexham withdrawing its challenge almost at the last, Coach Morton took on Welton High School for the first game of the season.

Now, Welton must have played for no other reason than to gratify a weak form of vanity, for there were few High School teams in the state that had cause to dread Welton High School.