Creel shook his head sadly. “No one knows. It’s a sort of—sort of impenetrable mystery. I guess it just isn’t done. Anyway, after you get the dirt piled up outside the planks you hitch a hose to the hydrant and turn the water on and wait for it to freeze.”
“Well, that part sounds easy,” said Toby.
“It may sound easy, but it isn’t,” responded the other boy lugubriously. “Because you have to stand around and watch the bank you’ve made. You see, the dirt’s mostly in chunks and of course the water oozes out under the bottom of the planks and you have to yell for help and shovel more dirt on and puddle it down with your feet. And while you’re choking up one leak about thirty-eleven others start. Oh, it’s a picnic—not!”
“But look here,” objected Toby, puzzled. “If you were sick last time how do you know so much about it?”
Creel gazed sadly across the cage and made no answer for a moment. Then he sighed deeply, and: “They came up to the room and pulled me out,” he answered sadly. “Unfeeling brutes!”
Toby’s laughter was interrupted by Captain Crowell, who called for attention. “There won’t be any practice this afternoon, fellows,” announced Crowell. “And I don’t believe there will be any more until we get the rink ready. We’re going to do that to-morrow afternoon. Every one be on hand as near three as possible so we can get the work done before dark. It doesn’t take long if we all show up. If any of you fellows develop colds between now and then you needn’t report again. We don’t want fellows on the teams who are as delicate as that.” Toby thought Crowell’s gaze dwelt a moment on Sid Creel’s innocent countenance. “A lot of you are new to the game and I want to tell you right now, so there won’t be any kick coming later, that if you put your names down for hockey you’ll have to show up regularly or you’ll be dropped. We mean to turn out the best seven this year that has ever played for Yardley, and if we are to do that you’ll simply have to make up your minds to come out regularly for practice and work as hard as you know how. That means the second team candidates as well as the first. As soon as we get ice the class teams will be made up, and any fellow that shows good hockey with his class team will have a chance to show what he can do on the school squad. You fellows who haven’t put your names down will please do it before you leave. Halliday is manager and he will take them. I guess that’s about all, fellows. Only if you really want to make the teams, show it by doing your best. Listen to what is told you and do your best right from the start. We play our first outside game in a little more than a week, so, you see, there isn’t much time to get together. I hope you’ll all pull hard for a victory over Broadwood this year. We owe her two lickings and we might as well start out this winter and give her the first one. Don’t forget to-morrow afternoon at three sharp, fellows.”
Toby gave his name to Ted Halliday and found Arnold waiting for him at the door of the cage in conversation with Frank Lamson. Frank hailed Toby jovially. “Going to be a hockey star, Toby?” he asked. “Well, we need a few earnest youths like you. Have a good time on your vacation? You and Arn must have been mighty busy, I guess. I called up twice on the ’phone and each time they told me that you were out doing the town. How’s Greenhaven? Say, that must be a dreary hole in winter, isn’t it? Is your sister well?”
“Fine, thanks. Going back, Arn?”
“N—no, I guess I’ll loaf around here awhile. See you at supper, Toby.”