“What’s this I hear about fighting?” said Frank Durrock, as he came up behind them.
Frank was larger and older than the two boys, and a prime favorite with them. He held the post of captain of the school. This carried with it no official power, as that rested wholly with the teachers. But Frank was supposed to have a general oversight, stop any disorder that went too far and in general to act as a sort of big brother to the younger boys.
He was a fine athlete also, and had been captain of the football team on which Bobby and Fred had played the preceding fall and which had won the Thanksgiving game from Belden. His skill in baseball was also marked, and he was expected to play first base on the nine in the spring.
“Oh, Fred was feeling a little sore over a row he had with Hicksley this morning,” explained Bobby.
“That new fellow?” asked Durrock. “I passed him a little while ago and he was talking with Bronson and Jinks. They seemed to be quite chummy together.”
“What did I tell you?” cried Fred to Bobby. “I knew those fellows would get together as sure as shooting.”
“They’re three of a kind,” assented Bobby.
“I don’t know anything about what kind of fellow he is,” remarked Frank, “but somebody was telling me that he was a good baseball player.”
The boys did not think it was worth while to tell what they knew of Hicksley and so kept quiet.
“He’s big and husky and ought to make a good slugger,” continued Frank, “and we can’t have too much batting strength on our nine. So if he can field as well as bat, he may be able to get a place on the team.”