d received. "Who wants my chance may have it."

"'Tith an old club," sobbed Pip, "and who wantth my chanth may have it."

"O, fellers, let's not get mad," said the president.

"Pooh!" exclaimed the governor. "You can say so, who gave all the
lickin's."

"And not had one yourself," said Charlie.

"O, fellers, don't get mad," besought Sid once more. "You know it was for
your good."

This last remark was greeted with sneers, showing that Sid's labors for
the welfare of youth were not appreciated. There was not only a
determination to get mad, but to stay mad. Besides, the offended ones were
moving toward the door, and this in a quarrel always looks bad.

"Let it go," said Sid. "I did not mean to hurt you. Come, let's march down
stairs. I was going to have you march down stairs properly, just as we do
at school. Come, let's form a line."

"Yes, and you be cap'n," sulked Wort.

"You may be, then," said Sid.

"I aint goin' to march," sobbed Pip.

That feather was too much for the camel's back, especially as the camel in
this case was a two-legged one, and a boy like Sid, and he made no further
attempts at reconciliation.

"Go it as you please, then," he said, angrily, and it was, indeed, a
go-it-as-you-please column that rushed down stairs.

"I'm going home," said Wort.

"O, don't!" pleaded Charlie.

"Let him go!" shouted Sid.

"And me, too," squeaked Pip, and a second sullen knight passed out of the
yard.

"It's of no us staying here, and I guess I'll go off and find Billy,"
observed the governor, and he left to hunt up his absent cousin.

"My mother wants me, and I might as well go, for the club is broken up,"
said Sid. He sauntered out of the yard with a reckless air, his hands in
his pockets.

Charlie, Juggie, and Tony were now the only ones left, and they looked at
one another sorrowfully.

"Charlie! Come!"

It was Aunt Stanshy calling. Tony and Juggie now moved off, and Charlie
went into the house with a heavy heart.

"What _is_ the matter, Charles Pitt Macomber?"

"Club has broken up," and Charlie's lips quivered.

"Mad?"

Charlie did not speak, but moved his head up and down like a saw.

"Who? Sid, Rick, Wort, Pip?"

Each time the saw went up and down.

"Are you mad?"

"I was, but I am not now."

"I'm sorry. I guess it's a pretty bad case, and the club has all gone to
splinters."

The club in splinters! All that day the chamber was deserted. It was
forsaken the next bright su