[CHAPTER X]
THE SLUMP
That settled the Peace Embassy.
When Jack narrated his talk with Farmer Finkler to Dolph and Ted they agreed unanimously that any further efforts at securing the land would be wasted. Perhaps Dolph was a little bit relieved at not having to face the enemy. Certainly Prentiss and Walker were when the news reached them. Steve Walker even cut a caper.
“That’s a load off my mind,” he laughed. “I’ve been dodging you for two weeks, Dolph, for fear you’d grab me and lug me over there to that ogre’s castle.”
“It was a wild dream from the start,” declared Thorp Prentiss. “He’d have turned us down, anyway. Probably set the dog on us!”
“I guess we’ll just have to struggle along with the field we’ve got,” mused Dolph.
“I suppose so,” agreed Prentiss gloomily. “If we only had a track we could have the Tri-Meet next Spring for the asking. Well, this is my last year. I’ve done the best I could and if we get beaten as usual—which we naturally will—it isn’t my fault. Only thing is, though, that in another year or two we won’t have any Track Team at all; fellows will get tired of always being licked.”
“Benny ought to do something,” said Dolph vaguely.