"He’s a bad egg," said somebody.
"This is a serious charge against you, Scudder," said Dick Merriwell. "If the boy tells the truth, you ought to be tarred and feathered."
"Oh, that would be horrid!" exclaimed Smart. "I wouldn’t think of taking part in the obsequies. I’d hide my face with shame till it was all over."
"You have no right to do anything of the sort!" choked Scudder, in great fear. "Will you take the word of this kid against mine? He can’t prove a thing he says."
"Do you know the fellow he met on the other team, boy?" asked Dick.
"Sure thing."
"Then we’ll take this chap to him and see what he has to say."
Scudder’s heart sank, for, remembering Glennon’s contempt and words, he feared the Hudsonville center might expose him. But it would not do for him to show hesitation, and Uric knew that, so he cried:
"That’s right; take me to him! Let’s see who speaks the truth. I’m ready to go."
The Hudsonville team had gathered in the dressing-room to get out of the dirty suits, take baths, and put on their street clothes. To these rooms Scudder was marched, with the boy in advance and the angry cadets following behind in a dense body.