It was a turning of the tables which the Squirms had not even remotely anticipated, and they followed Grain's lead in heaping reproaches on Osbody's head. But he, too, had a will of his own, combined with a gift of leadership almost equal to that of Robin.
"Chaps," he said, "have I ever failed you as a leader of this band? We have had some pretty rough times—when did I ever show funk?"
They were compelled to admit that he had stood by them through thick and thin.
"Very well, then," said Osbody. "Either I'm to have the pleasure of leading you to victory once in a while, or the whole bag-o'-tricks goes overboard. Football or no football afterwards, we're playing this games' tournament on Friday evening."
Grain's crafty eyes lit up with sudden hope. "Nobody's indispensable," he said, significantly.
Osbody shot a fiery glance at his rival. "Let the fellows choose!" he snapped. "I'll have my way, or go."
If Grain had any serious hopes of stepping into Osbody's shoes at that moment, his disappointment must have been intense. Fully twenty of the Squirms were present, and they crowded round Osbody with assurances of loyalty that did them credit.
"You're right, 'Body," said "Professor" Vinns. "Revenge is sweet, and for once we'll have it."
"So we will," said Niblo. "At chess, draughts, and dominoes we'll make crawling worms of them. They shall taste the dust beneath our feet."
"Just as we shall taste the mud beneath their boots when the football match comes off," sneered Grain, savagely.