Following the posting of the notice came word that Rand had resigned the management of the eleven, and then came another notice calling for the election of a new manager.
"Let us put up Henry Fordham again," suggested Phil. "That is, if he is willing to run."
The football meeting was attended by nearly every student of Oak Hall, the gymnasium meeting room being literally packed. The only youth who was absent was John Rand.
Mr. Dale called the meeting to order, and made a neat speech, in which he advised the lads to act soberly and accordingly to their best judgment. He said the football game with Lemington had proved a great disappointment, and he sincerely trusted that the reorganized eleven would be able to lead the school to nothing but victories. He added that as Rand had resigned, they would first proceed to the election of a new manager, and then the rearranging of the eleven would be begun under the direction of Mr. Dodsworth and himself.
The teacher had scarcely finished his speech when Guy Frapley was on his feet.
"Mr. Dale, I wish to say something," he almost shouted. "As everybody here knows, I am the captain of the football eleven. What I want to know is, whether I am to be the captain of the eleven or not. If I am to be nothing but a figurehead, why, I'd rather get out."
It was an aggressive, almost brutal, manner of expressing himself, and it produced an uproar.
"Put him out!"
"Make him resign!"
"Tell him he has got to behave himself and make good!"