The opening day of school found all the First Form back, and cordial were their greetings to Fred.
After the formality of enrolling had been gone through, Bart summoned the boys to lay out the football campaigns for the different Forms.
By virtue of his election as captain of the Second eleven the previous fall, he had inherited the leadership of the School Team.
"If I've aroused any one's ill-will in the past, I want them to remember it was in the past, and, forgetting it, to work with me to wrest the championship from Landon this fall," he said. "By working in harmony, each one doing his best, I think we can win—and if we do, the Baxter 1912 football team will never be forgotten."
So unusual was such good nature in the rich bully, that Buttons, Soda, Bronson and Fred were first amazed and then delighted.
"If he really means what he says, I shall come out and try for full back," exclaimed Clothespin.
That the boy could kick the pigskin had never occurred to his companions, but mindful of his prowess as a pitcher, they refrained from poking fun at him.
"Ever play at the Military Academy?" laughed Shorty.
"Yes, indeed."
"What was your record there—never being thrown when running with the ball?" grinned Soda.