“No, that is no reason,” admitted Dick. “As for trouncing us, that remains to be seen; but I am sure you ought to do it with the kind of team you have brought!”
“Oh, yes! we’ve got a corker this year,” laughed Hickman.
“But aren’t you out of your class a bit?” asked Dick, while Brad stood by the door, grimly waiting the clash of words he expected would come and eying the two chaps with Hickman, to have their measure in case there was an encounter.
“Do you fancy your team so very weak?” asked Hickman jokingly. “Why, you seem to be doing very well.”
“We are strong enough for a school team made up of amateurs, but we may not be able to cope with professionals.”
“And ‘ringers,’” put in Brad.
Hickman pretended to be surprised and astonished.
“Professionals?” he exclaimed. “Ringers? Why, what do you mean? It can’t be that you accuse us of having such men on our team?”
“I have information that leads me to believe you have,” said Dick grimly.
“It’s not true!” retorted the captain of the Franklin team hotly.