“Of course,” echoed Henderson. “It makes me mad as fury to think that I was such a fool to get into a scrape like this just now, when it’s so near the drill. I believe we’d have won the prize sure this year, for the fellows are so wild to get it away from Company A, that every man of ’em has worked with a will. I was going to give them extra drills once or twice a week evenings, for this last month, and now with a new captain they won’t stand half as good a chance.”
“I declare that’s too bad, Henderson. Wish now I’d never sent that note in to you.”
“You can’t wish it so much as I do,” said Henderson. “But there is no use crying over spilt milk. Maybe, Company C will win after all. We must try to think of some way to help their chances. But you see, Crawford, it’s enough sight worse for me to go back than for you—since you’ve no rank to lose.”
Crawford drummed on the table and looked thoughtful. After a moment’s silence he said, “It is harder for you than for me, Henderson, and I suppose if you are going back I must keep you company, since I got you into this fix.”
“Shake hands on it,” said Henderson quickly, holding out his hand. “I was awfully afraid you’d refuse, Crawford, and to have gone back without you would have been altogether too much for me.”
“We shall have to be mighty careful for a while at any rate. Bobby will watch us with all the eyes he has,” said Crawford gloomily.
“Bobby!” said Henderson with a sneer. “I reckon we’re sharp enough to hoodwink Bobby, and if with the help of Coyle and Green and the rest of our crowd we don’t make it lively for those precious L. A. O.’s, I miss my guess, that’s all. But now, see here—the governor says that if I don’t stand as well in class as I have done, or if I give Bobby any cause to complain of me hereafter, then that’s the end of it. I can drop out of high school and go where I like, but never a dollar will he give me if I starve.”
“Whew!” whistled Crawford. “He’s in earnest, isn’t he?”
“I should say so. I never would have believed he’d cut up so rough,” growled Henderson.
“My orders are much the same,” said Crawford; “only, as the money belongs to me after all, Chase can’t carry it with quite such a high hand, you know. I hate the idea of it all, though. Think of going back and pegging away like Clark, and Gordon and that lot, and never have any fun,” grumbled Crawford, gloomily.