The only persons at Oak Hall who did not look forward to the match with favor were Plum, Poole, and Jasniff. At first they thought to remain at home during the contest, but afterwards changed their minds, the reason being a plan which Nick Jasniff proposed.
Jasniff was thoroughly unscrupulous, and a year before had been dismissed from another boarding academy because of his dishonorable actions. He was a lad who was willing to do almost anything to accomplish his end.
Jasniff's plan was nothing more or less than to play a trick on some members of Roger's eleven, so that they could not take part in the game. This would weaken the Oak Hall club to such an extent that they would be likely to lose.
"Can we do it?" asked Poole.
"Certainly we can," answered Nick Jasniff. "Why, such things have been done hundreds of times."
"Well, what do you propose?" asked Gus Plum.
"I'll tell you to-morrow. I've got to think it over."
"I wish I was dead sure Oak Hall would lose," whispered the bully of the school. "We might make some money by the operation."
"So we could!" cried Nat Poole. "All the Rockville boys are betting they will win."
"And we could bet the same way," said Jasniff, with a leer. "Only we'll have to put up our money through some outsider."