rink, but I don't
know what he can do at any distance."

"Well, if he likes to try, he may," said Horace magnanimously.

"I'll tell him so," replied Jack dryly. "You needn't send any answer for
a day or so, and meanwhile we'll see what can be done. It seems too bad
not to even try; I'd hate to have Hammond think we were afraid of her or
that we weren't willing to risk a defeat. Yes, I'll speak to Roy and see
what he suggests."

"Well, of course you understand," said Horace, "that the matter is in my
charge. If you can find anyone, all right; only you'd better let me know
about it before you call the thing decided; I might not approve of the
fellow."

"Oh, that's all right. Maybe, after all, you'd better find a chap
yourself. I'm rather busy just now with exams--"

"No, you go ahead," interrupted Horace quickly. "What I was trying to
get at was--well, you understand, Jack; Porter doesn't like me, you
know, and I don't know what he might do; you spoke of consulting him,
you know."

"Well, if we find any fellow he'll probably be one of the hockey men,
and as Roy's the captain it seems to me--"

"Oh, all right. You see what we can do."

Half an hour later Jack was talking it over with Roy.

"I don't know what you can do at racing," he said, "but if you think
you'd make any sort of a showing I think you'd ought to try. But you can
do as you like."

"I wouldn't stand any chance with that Dutchman," answered Roy, "but if
you can't find anyone else I'll race him. I don't mind being beaten."

So the matter stood for the rest of the day, in fact until the next
forenoon. Then Roy was paying a call on the menagerie between
examinations at the invitation of Harry, who had lately become the proud
possessor of a litter of three Angora kittens. Roy's advice was wanted
in the delicate matter of deciding which one of the three was to be kept
and which two were to be given away to friends at Miss Cutler's. That
momentous question decided and the attractive points of the three little
bunches of fur having been set forth by Harry, Roy made the rounds of
the "cages," as he called the various boxes and receptacles which held
the pets. Methuselah had long ago recovered the full use of his voice
and was willing to prove the fact on any occasion. He had become quite
attached to Roy and would sit on the edge of his box with eyes closed in
seraphic bliss as long as Roy would scratch his head. To-day he talked
incessantly from the tim