“Well, I should hope so!” flashed back Randall. “I’d hate to have a crowd of decent fellows thinking that I was a little tin god on wheels! That’s what you seem to think about Merry.”
“Better take it easy, Bob,” advised Hunt Garding, with a frown. “Go out and cool off, and you’ll see it differently.”
“I see it well enough, thanks,” snapped Randall furiously. “It isn’t hard to see that a bunch of you fellows toady to Chip Merriwell because you think it’s going to get you something. That chap is overrated. He’s got ability, but it’s your crowd that has given him such a case of swelled head that he thinks he can cop off everything. He’s going to find that he can’t.”
“Aw, go away and sneeze! Your brain’s dusty!” jeered Chester.
“I’ll tell you two something!” cried Randall, shaking his fist and advancing a step. “We’re going to win this game on Monday, and I’m going to do it! Look at the team—it’s all shot to pieces! Billy McQuade has left school. Crockett’s going to quit. Clancy is off with Merry at Carsonville, instead of being back here practicing to get into shape to cover first. What kind of a captain would Chip make, when he allows this on the eve of an important game, tell me that?”
“He’d make a better one than you would, losing your fool head this way,” retorted Chester. “He’s at Carsonville trying to persuade Billy Mac to return, and you know it! Say, if I had that jealous disposition of yours I’d hang it on the back fence and throw stones at it! You make me tired!”
Randall’s temper lashed out. His face went white with anger.
“Yuh impudent little Yankee!” he roared. Whenever he forgot himself his voice took on a soft Southern drawl, which it now assumed abruptly. “I reckon I’ll teach yo’-all somethin’ right heah! I’ll show yo’-all yo’ cain’t talk to a Randall like he was a low-down niggah!”
He started for Chester, and Chester started for him with great willingness. Before they could strike a blow, however, Hunt Garding dashed in between with a quick warning, pointing across the gym.
“’Sh-h-h! The athletic instructor’s coming!”