Thad looked pleased.

“Why, that’s a boss idea; who suggested it, Hugh?” he demanded.

“Oh! somebody just happened to think of it, and the committee agreed it was a good scheme,” returned Hugh; but something about his manner told Thad the truth.

“Huh!  I can give a pretty good guess who that smart chap is; but don’t bother trying to deny it, Hugh.  The only bad thing about it in my mind is that we’ll miss those jolly fires.  It’s always been so fine to skate up and stand before one, to get warm, and hear the flames crackle, while the girl you’re skating with sits on a log, or something like that, to warm her feet.”

“Oh! well, when you want the romantic side of night-skating, Thad, you’ll have to go out to Hobson’s mill-pond, like you say you used to do.  There, with plenty of wood handy, you can have the biggest fire you feel like making.  Here, so close to town, we have to get our light in a more modern way.  Now, I reckon I’m ready for any sort of a scrimmage that comes along.”

A shout presently announced that the boys from Keyport had arrived in a big car of the “rubber-neck” variety, with five seats across; and used for sight-seeing purposes, or any excursion where a dozen or twenty wished to go in a crowd.

A little later the fellows came on the ice in a body, with their distinguishing jerseys.  They appeared to be an exceedingly lively bunch, and were soon spinning about, displaying a nimbleness that excited apprehensions in many a loyal Scranton heart.

As boys need little introduction, the opposing players quickly intermingled, and seemed on the best of terms.  Captain Mossman and Hugh paired off, to talk over matters connected with the game.  They were soon joined by Mr. Leonard, and several gentlemen, some from Keyport, others hailing from Allandale and Belleville.

It was soon decided that the officials should be chosen as far as possible from neutral territory.  There were to be a referee, an assistant referee, two goal umpires, as many timekeepers, and a pair of penalty timekeepers.

Fortunately, Allandale and its sister town had quite a quota of former college players and gentlemen who had been members of famous hockey clubs in Canada and elsewhere when younger.  They had kept in touch with the progress of events, so that they were eminently qualified to act in the various capacities to which they were now assigned by Mr. Leonard and the coach of the Keyport Seven.

Hugh kept looking around from time to time.  He wished to be posted as to what other promising players connected with Scranton High were on the ice, so that in case of necessity he could call on one of them to take the place of an injured Scranton boy.

And when he finally noted that Nick Lang had arrived, and was on his skates, somehow Hugh seemed relieved.  Deep down in his heart he believed that should he have occasion to replace a player, as the rules allowed, on account of serious injury, which is about the only excuse for such a thing, Nick would be his first choice.