ubtless
surmise, is also a fake. Now, then, sir! 65--47--23--98! What is it?"

"Left half between end and tackle."

"On the left. Correct. 19--87--77--29?"

"I don't know. Nineteen calls for a numbered play."

"Right again, Mr. Gilbert, your performance is startling! The pity of it
is, though, that about the time you get these signals pat Robey'll
change them for the Claflin game. So far we've only got eight numbered
plays, and they aren't complicated. Want to go into them tonight?"

"No, I guess not. I'd rather get these holes and players sort of fixed
in my mind first. We'll go over the plays tomorrow, if you don't mind."

"It will break my heart, but I'll do it for you. Now will you come over
to Clint's?"

"I'd rather not, Tim. You go. I want to mull over these signals."

Presently, having exhausted his vocabulary on his room-mate, Tim went.
Don settled his head in his hands and studied the numbered diagram for
the better part of an hour. Don was slow at memorising, but what was
once forced into his mind stayed there. A little before ten o'clock he
slipped the diagram under a box in a bureau drawer and went to bed with
a calm mind, and when Tim returned riotously a few minutes later Don was
sleeping peacefully.

On Monday, in chapel, Don and the "heroes" of Farmer Corrigan's
conflagration had another shock, and Don, for one, wondered when he was
to hear the last of that affair. "Since last week," said Mr. Fernald
drily, "when I requested the four boys who helped to put out a fire at
the Corrigan farm to make themselves known to an admiring public, I have
gained an understanding of their evident desire to conceal their
identities. I am forced to the conclusion that it was not altogether
modesty that kept them silent. The fire, it appears, did not break out
until nearly half-past nine. Consequently the young gentlemen were
engaged in their heroic endeavours at a time when they should have been
in their dormitories. I have not yet found out who they were, but I am
making earnest efforts to do so. Meanwhile, if they wish to lighten the
consequences of their breach of school regulations, I'd earnestly advise
them to call and see me. I may add that, in view of the unusual
circumstances, had they made a clean breast of the affair I should have
dealt very leniently with them. That is all, I think. Dismissed."

None of the culprits dared to so much as glance at the others on the way
out of the hall, but afterward,