"What's that?" queried Robin Arkness, always to the fore when anything was afoot. "Dick Forge Captain of Foxenby again? Luke Harwood not nominated? Jolly good job for Harwood, then. He'd have got the slugging of a lifetime if he'd stood."
"Hop it, cheeky, or you'll get my boot-toe," was Lake's threat.
"Jealous!" Robin taunted him. Then off flew the leader of the Merry Men to acquaint his comrades of the glorious tidings that Forge was captain for another year—an occurrence which they celebrated by carrying paper banners round the school-yard and heartily boo-ing any boy of Holbeck's House whom they suspected of being Luke Harwood's partizan.
"Rather a staggerer, Luke not letting himself be nominated," said Roger to Dick. "He didn't stand an earthly, of course, but still——"
"Think I can explain his shyness on this occasion," Dick answered. Whereupon he confided to his chum what had taken place between him and Luke in the deserted football-field.
"All going to prove how accurate was your opinion of his character, and how far astray was mine," Dick concluded. "But we'll be decent to a fallen enemy, Roger, old boy."
"Of course," Roger agreed. "No kicking a man when he's down. I heard a rumour that he'd decided to leave Foxenby this Easter. Sic transit gloria!"
It was the morning of the replayed cup-tie at Walsbridge, so they had every good reason for dismissing Luke Harwood from their minds. Luke, indeed, did not buy a railway-ticket for Walsbridge, nor were any of his cronies on the platform. Another notable absentee was Fluffy Jim, whose parents had taken him to the Stores that day to fit his awkward limbs, if possible, into clothes that Mr. Wykeham's reward had ensured for him.
"So we start under better conditions to-day," laughed Roger. "No blue-and-white Guy Fawkes this time to kick away your goal."
"If the Octopus lets me get near enough to score one," Dick reminded him.