othing like scuttling a ship in mid-ocean if you want to be attended
to. The only awkward thing is, you are apt to go down with it," said
Fullerton.

"Do shut up, and don't try to be funny," said Clapperton. "Of course no
one wants to wreck the clubs. We shall play up hard next time, and then
they'll see it's worth their while to be civil to us."

"Yes," said Brinkman, "it won't do to let them say we aren't the friends
of the School."

"There's not the least fear of any one thinking that now," gibed
Fullerton.

"Well," said Dangle, "as we are to play the return with Rendlesham this
day week, we shall have a chance of letting them see what we can do.
Only if that cad Rollitt plays, it won't be easy to be civil."

These patriotic young gentlemen were a good deal disconcerted next
morning to find that they had been reckoning without their host. The
captain had posted up the fifteen to play next week. The list contained
the names of Fullerton, Brinkman, and two others on the Modern side, but
omitted those of Clapperton and Dangle.

In their wildest dreams the malcontents had never reckoned on the
captain taking such a step as this. They knew that they were necessary
to the efficiency of any team, and that without them, especially against
Rendlesham, it would be almost a farce to go into the field at all.

At first they were disposed to laugh and sneer; then to bluster. Then
it dawned on them gradually that for once in their lives they had made a
mistake. They had not even the credit of refusing to play, but had been
ignominiously kicked out.

A council of war was held, in which mutual recriminations, assisted by
Fullerton's candid reflections on the situation, occupied a considerable
share of the time.

The result of their deliberations was that Clapperton and Dangle went
over in no very amiable frame of mind to the captain.

Yorke, as it happened, was having an uneasy conference with his own side
at the time. Delighted as the Classics were at the blow which had been
struck at the mutineers, the prospect of almost certain defeat next
Saturday made them anxious for compromise.

"If I were you," said Fisher major, "I'd give them a chance of
explaining and apologising."

"There can be no apology," said Yorke.

"You are quite right in theory," said Denton; "but wouldn't it be rather
a crow for them to see that we are licked without them?"

"We mustn't be licked," said the captain. "We held our own wit