otices of the fifteen for the
Rendlesham match posted on Wakefield's door, on the school-board, and at
Forder's. He solaced himself by writing in bold characters the word
"beast" against each of the names which belonged to a Classic boy, and
discovered, when his task was done, that he had inscribed the word nine
times out of fifteen on each notice. Whereupon he made off at a run to
his senior's.

"Well," said Clapperton, evidently anxious, "didn't I tell you to come
back at once! Any answer?"

"Yes, this," said Percy, producing the captain's letter. "I say, Yorke
grinned like anything when he read yours."

"Did he?" replied Clapperton, opening the envelope.

Evidently Yorke in his reply had not been guilty of a joke, for the face
of the Modern captain was dark and scowling as he read it.

"Cool cheek," muttered he. "Dangle was right, after all. You can go,
youngster."

"All right. I say, they've got the fifteen stuck up on the boards--six
of our chaps in it. We ought to lick them this year."

But as Clapperton did not do him the favour of heeding his observations,
he retired, and tried vainly to collect his scattered forces to conclude
the eight-handed boxing match, which had been so unfeelingly interrupted
an hour ago.

Clapperton, to do him justice, could not deny to himself that the team
selected by the captain was the best fighting fifteen the School could
put into the football field. But, having advanced his claim for half
numbers, his pride was hurt at finding it almost contemptuously set
aside. It would never do for him to climb down now.

The Moderns, after all, had a right to have their men in; and he had a
right to assume they were better players than some of the selected
Classics. It was easy to work himself into a rage, and talk about
favouritism, and abuse of privilege, and all that. His popularity in
his own house depended on his fighting their battles, and he must do it
now. So he wrote a reply to Yorke.

"Dear Yorke,--I do not agree with you about the fifteen. I consider the
men on our side whom you have omitted are better than the three I have
marked on your list. If we are to make the clubs a success, we ought to
pull together, and let there be no suspicion, however groundless, of
favouritism.

"Yours truly, Geo. Clapperton."

To this letter, which he sent over by another junior, more expeditious
than his last, he received the following reply:--

"Dear Clapperton,--Side