There was to be a meeting of the Boy Scouts. The boys, who knew that Ted had already qualified as a tenderfoot in Chicago, wanted to elect him to membership.
“I’m against any Yankee joining,” protested young Graham. “Let’s have a little class to it, not bring in every ordinary shop-boy or farm hand.” He made a pretense of being very English, don’t you know. But, despite his objections, Ted came in. It made him very glad, for he had never forgotten those first principles he had learned and although not active for many months he felt as if he still were a Scout.
The Boy Scouts at Wayland were a source of great pride to the Academy. They had entered tests, tournaments and games with other Scout groups. Their standing was high. Captain Wilson spent much time and took painstaking care that what they did learn was the thing they should learn. He made it clear, too, that the Boy Scout training, while it had nothing to do with the military training which was part of the curriculum of the Academy, was nevertheless, in his opinion, just as important.
A very little matter brought things to a head between Syd and Ted. Ted had made a two-base hit in a baseball game. The center fielder, by quick work, had relayed the ball to second and had made it necessary for Ted to slide into the base. In doing this he had spiked and upset Syd, who was covering second. Under ordinary circumstances, both boys would have laughed at it. Instead, Syd, even as he arose, gave Ted a vicious kick, then sprang at him.
But Ted was ready. Syd was heavier by almost ten pounds. But the one thing in Ted’s favor was the training of the street gamin of the big city. He had the greater endurance and was the quicker of the two. He also had the experience and the cunning acquired from many street fights.
No one interfered. All the boys knew that the test now on would have to come, why not now? Then, too, if the truth must be told, they were not at all averse to seeing a fight, and this proved to be an exciting one.
At first, it looked very much like Syd’s fight, then Ted’s stamina began to tell. Very soon Syd was on the defensive, no longer did he rush, but he became as careful as was Ted. Then there was a cry of warning, the boys closed in on the combatants, picked up their clothes, and all of them started off, the boys keeping Syd and Ted from open view.
“Run, here comes Ogie and Cap.” When they reached their dormitories the boys separated. Ted went to his room and began to doctor up his face. What bothered him most was not the sting of the blows he had received, but the utter uselessness of the enmity of Syd. As he thought over it an idea entered his mind. It was a sudden decision; he would go to Syd Graham’s room and talk things over with him. They need not like each other, but they would come to a clear understanding and then each go his way.
As he opened the door he saw Syd coming down the hall. When he saw Ted he stopped for a moment, then came forward a little more quickly. Reaching Ted he said, “Let’s go to your room for a moment, old man. I want to talk to you.”
They went in, Ted a little uncertain.