Though coach’s manner was mild enough, there was look of the resolute eyes of this famous college athlete that made Phin Drayne realized how I hopeless it was to expect any consideration from him.

“All right then Mr. Morton,” he replied huskily.  “I’ll do my best on a small showing, and take what comes to me.”

Yet, as he walked slowly over to join the tacklers around the swinging figure, the hot blood came again to young Drayne’s face.

“I’ll make this year a year of sorrow Gridley!” he quivered indignantly.  “I’ll hang on, and make believe I’m meek as a lamb, but I’ll spoil Gridley’s record for this year!  There was in olden times a chap who had a famous knack for getting square with people who used him the wrong way.  I wish I could remember his name at this moment.”

Drayne couldn’t recall the name at the time, but another name that might have served Drayne to remember at this instant was—–­

Benedict Arnold.

CHAPTER II

A Hint from the Girls

There had been nothing rapid in Dick Prescott’s elevation to the captaincy of the eleven.

Back in the grammar school he had started his apprenticeship in athletics.  During his freshman year in High School he had kept up his training.  In his sophomore year he had trained hard for and had won honors in the baseball nine.  In his junior year, after harder training that ever, he had performed a season’s brilliant work, playing left end in all the biggest games of the season.

So now, in his senior and last year at Gridley High School he had come by degrees to the most envied of all possible positions in school athletics.

The election to the football captaincy had not been sought by Dick.  In his junior year it had been offered to him, but he had declined it, feeling that Wadleigh, both by training and judgement, was better fitted to lead the eleven on the gridiron.  But now, having reached his senior year, Dick was by far the best leader possible.  Coach and football squad alike conceded it, and the Alumni Association’s Athletics Committee had approved.

Dick Prescott had grown in years since first we saw him, but not in conceit.  Like all who succeed in this world, he had a good degree of positiveness in his make-up; but from this he left out strong self-conceit.  In all things, as in his school life, he was prepared to sacrifice himself along whatever lines pointed to the best good.

Dave Darrin, of all the chums, was nearly as well fitted as was Prescott to lead, though not quite.  So Dave, with Dick’s own kind of spirit, fell back willingly into second place.  This year Dave was second captain of the eleven, ready to lead to victory if Dick should become incapacitated.

Beyond these, any of the four other chums were almost as well qualified for leadership.  Ability to lead was strong in all the “partners” of Dick & Co.