“Withdraw, not!” broke out Fred. “He’s not that sort.”
While the conversation was going on somebody touched Jack on the shoulder, and turning he found himself confronted by Paul Halliday.
“Say, see here, Rover! I’d like a word with you,” whispered Halliday somewhat excitedly.
“All right, shoot!” answered the young captain.
“This is a little private matter,” went on Halliday. “You can bring your cousins along if you want to,” he added.
Wondering what Halliday had in his mind, Jack, along with Fred and Andy who happened to be close by, followed him to an out-of-the-way corner of a corridor.
“We want to know if you’re willing to make a deal with us,” said Halliday in a low, nervous tone of voice. “You know Harkness got twenty-four votes. Well, he’s willing to throw those votes to you if you are willing to back him for the new captain of Company C.”
“I can’t do that,” answered Jack quickly. “If I get to be major I’m going to back Fred here for the captaincy.”
“Oh, but, Jack, I could drop out of that!” put in his cousin quickly.
“Not much, Fred! I said I was going to do it, and I’m going to stick to my word. Besides that, I might as well tell you, Halliday, that I don’t believe Harkness is the best fellow for the position.”