But Robin's confidence would have been shaken could he have peered into the saloon and seen the worried look on the captain's face.
It might be true, as Robin declared, that Dick had never been stuck fast before, but on this occasion he did indeed feel that he was up against one of the toughest football problems of his life. For the reserve centre-half was Luke Harwood, and the reserve inside-left was Greenfoot, both members of the little gambling-gang whom Dick himself had warned off the Walsbridge field.
"Well," said Ennis, "Harwood's been aching for a chance all the season, and is not such a wash-out at centre-half. His opportunity's come at last."
"Jiggered if I fancy Greenfoot as a cup-tie forward," said Lyon. "He'll be a new broom, but not such a sweeping one as Broome."
"Where are those two, by the way?" asked Lake. "Can't remember to have seen 'em at the station."
"Come to mention it, neither can I," rejoined Ennis, and most of the other members said the same.
Dick knew it was time to take the bull by the horns, and he did so with characteristic candour.
"Neither Harwood nor Greenfoot can play this afternoon," he said, "for the simple reason that they haven't come."
"Not come!" exclaimed Lyon. "But what in thunder's the good of a trained reserve if it's left playing marbles in the school-yard?"
"Really, Forge, this is a staggerer!" Lake put in. "Surely you should have seen to it that those two came along to-day."