For the next ten minutes Dick was as good as his word.  Then, after a brief breathing spell, Prescott ordered his men to the running track in the gallery.

“Three laps at full speed, with a two-minute jog between each speed burst, and a minute of breathing between each kind of running,” called out Dick.

Then, after he had seen the fellows started, he turned to the coach.

“If I never learned anything else from you, Mr. Morton, I think I’ve wholly absorbed the idea that no man is in condition unless he can run well; and that nothing will make for condition like judicious running.”

“As to what you’ve learned from me, Captain Prescott,” replied the coach, “I fully believe that you’ve learned all that I have to teach.  I wouldn’t be afraid to go away on a vacation and leave the team in your hands.”

“Him!” smiled Dick.  “Without you to back me up, Mr. Morton, I’m afraid some of the fellows might kick over the traces.”

“They wouldn’t kick over but once,” laughed the coach.  “The first time any fellow did that you’d drop him from the team.  And the fellows know it.  I haven’t noticed the young men attempting to frisk you any.”

“One did.”

“I know whom you mean,” replied the submaster, his brow clouding.  “But he got out of the team, didn’t he?”

“Yes; but I didn’t put him out.”

“You would have put him off the team if it had been left for you to do it.”

As soon as he thought the squad had had enough exercise to keep them in tone, Dick dismissed them.

“But every one of you do his level best to keep in condition all the time until we get through with Hallam Heights,” urged the young captain.  “That applies, too, not only to team members, but to every man in the squad.  If the Hallam fellows are swift and terrific, we can’t tell on whom we may have to pounce for substitutes.”

This was to be a mid-week game, taking place Wednesday afternoon.  Wednesday morning word reached school that Hudson, who was down to play right guard, and Dan Dalzell, right end, were both at home in bed, threatened with pneumonia.  In each case the doctor was hopeful that the attack would be averted, but that didn’t help out the afternoon’s game any.

“Two of our prize men out,” muttered Dick anxiously to Dave at recess.

“And it’s claimed that misfortunes always travel by threes,” returned Darrin, half mournfully.

“Don’t!” shivered Prescott.  “Let us off with two misfortunes.”

Afternoon came along, somewhat raw and lowering.  Rain might prevent the game.  Less than three quarters of the people who bought seats in advance appeared at the grounds.  The sale of spot seats was not as brisk by half as it would have been on a pleasanter day.

But the Hallam Heights boys came along early, bounding and full of fun and dash.

They were a fine-looking lot of boys.  The Gridley youngsters took to their opponents instantly.