“Did you run against the track team of the Meadowbrook Academy?” inquired Mott.

“No.  Is that where you fitted?” replied Will simply.  Hawley broke into another loud laugh and Mott’s face flushed.  Will perceived that he had made a mistake and his better plan would be to say as little as possible, whatever the provocation might be or the opening his adversary might give him.

“Did you beat the fast sprinter from the Toad Hollow Institute?” demanded Mott.

“Can’t say that I did.  I never heard of the school till now.”

“Ever run against anybody from the Honeyville Classical Seminary?”

“No.”

“Or from the Smartville Four Corners team?”

“We didn’t have anything to do with those schools.  We weren’t in their class.”

“Oh, let up, Mott.  We’ve done enough.  Let ’em go now,” suggested one of the sophomores.

“Not yet,” responded Mott.  “We must have these freshmen give us an exhibition of what they can do.  You fellows take off your collars,” he said, turning again to Will and his classmate.

For an instant Will Phelps hesitated and there was a sudden tightening of the muscles in his arms, but Hawley, good-natured and imperturbable as ever, at once removed his collar and Will quietly followed his example.

“That’s good,” said Mott encouragingly.  “Now take out your collar buttons.”

Both freshmen obeyed, wondering what was to be required of them.  Their curiosity was speedily relieved when Mott said, “We’ll have a collar-button race.  You two athletes put these buttons on the floor and push them across to the other side of the room with your noses.  The one that wins will make the track team here I haven’t a doubt.”

Hawley again laughed loudly as he and Will took the places assigned them.  For a moment their faces were near together and Hawley whispered a few words in Will’s ear.  His companion’s eyes flashed in response, but he did not reply, and in a moment, at Mott’s word, the race was begun.

CHAPTER VI

A RACE IN THE DARKNESS

Slowly and steadily the two freshmen began to push the collar buttons across the floor.  The floor itself was uncarpeted and not particularly clean, and the position and actions of the two boys certainly did not add to their dignity; but there was not a trace of a smile to be seen on the face of either as they complied with the demands which had been made.  The sophomores in the room were also serious, that is, all were save one, and, as he laughed aloud at the ridiculous aspect of their victims, Mott said savagely, “Put him out!  He’s no business here?  Get out of this room!”