"Humph—yes, I know these House games. I'm sorry, but there's no help for it."
"But I'm only a scrub, sir," said Stover, pleading hard.
"We're going to play you at end," said Cockrell suddenly, seeing he did not understand, "just as soon as we have to take Banks out; and Heaven only knows when that'll be."
Dink was aghast.
"You're not going—you're not going——" he tried to speak, and stopped.
"Yes, we've talked it over and that seems best."
"But—Turkey Reiter—I—I thought you'd move him out."
"No, we don't dare weaken the middle; it's bad enough now."
The captain watched the terror-stricken look in his face and was puzzled.