Judd and Cateye watched the throngs jostling back and forth across the campus from their window in the dormitory. The football men had been given strict orders not to mingle with the crowd and to retire early. The two chums felt rather awed by the spirit of the occasion and the significance of the morrow. For a long time they sat side by side listening to the college yells and songs drifting up to them from below. Although a veteran football man, Cateye was deeply affected by the display of enthusiasm and college spirit.
"What a wonderful thing it all is," he found himself musing aloud.
"What all is?" inquired Judd.
"Why,—this college spirit."
"Hump!" breathed Judd, lightly, "I thought you was talkin' about some patent medicine."
The careless reply and Judd's former actions caused Cateye to wonder if college spirit really meant anything to the rube. Cateye knew Judd to be intensely loyal to his friends and wished that his chum might show that same sense of loyalty to his college or team.
After a fifteen minute silence Judd began to show signs of restlessness which Cateye wrongly interpreted.
"Nervous?" he asked, softly, throwing an arm about his chum's brawny shoulders.
"Naw!" growled Judd, disgustedly, "Just anxious for fear I won't get a chance to play tomorrow."
The singing and yelling did not cease until after eleven o'clock but two hours before this time Coach Phillips made sure that every football man was snugly stowed away in bed. Judd dropped off to sleep immediately upon retiring, but nothing short of chloroform could have caused Cateye to lose consciousness while the din kept up. His mind was too occupied with the trend of coming events.