Then suddenly the blow fell, to be succeeded by others no less paralyzing.
"Have you heard the news?" exclaimed Drake, as he burst in upon Bert and Dick on Monday evening, as they were preparing their lessons for the following day.
"What is it?" they cried in chorus.
"Axtell and Hodge have been conditioned and forbidden to play until they get up with the rest of the class," was the answer.
"No," said Bert incredulously.
"Sure thing," affirmed Drake. "I had it straight from the boys themselves not five minutes ago. They sure are in the doleful dumps."
The three friends looked at each other in a perplexity and anxiety that they made no effort to conceal.
"But it will break up the team," cried Dick. "They're two of our very best men."
"You're right there," gloomed Drake. "There isn't a fiercer tackler than Axtell on the eleven, and Hodge is the heaviest man in the line. We haven't any too much beef at best, and man for man, the 'Greys' average five pounds heavier."
"Just when we were getting into such dandy shape, too," groaned Dick.