When it was all over Frank and Jimmy and Lewis climbed the stairs to No. 18 and found David where they had left him.
"It was like fairy-land," cried David, as Jimmy and Frank came in. "Looking down from here it was like a long fire-snake twisting and turning up and down the walks."
"How about the cheering?" asked Jimmy.
"It sounded wonderful coming up through the branches. I'm so glad I came up after all. I had made up my mind not to go to school because I felt I would be in the way," and he looked down at his twisted and misshapen limbs, and there was a tremor in his voice. "But just the same, I'm glad I came. I can't take part in all the fun, but it will be good to see it from the window."
"Go along with you," said Frank, going over to David and slipping his arm around his shoulder. "In a little while you'll be taking your part just the same as any of us, and you won't have to watch from the window as you say."
"What could I do?" wailed David.
"There are lots of things you can do. Maybe you can write for the Mirror."
"That, we'd have you know, is the sparkling weekly of Queen's," broke in Jimmy.
"Yes," said Frank; "you might stamp your name forever on the history of Queen's athletics by writing a good football song, and who knows but they might erect a monument to your memory, because we're a little shy on good songs."
"I've been thinking of trying myself," said Lewis, "now that I've given football up for more serious things."