The chaps needed no encouragement. With two men short it was next to impossible to add to their present advantage. But they contrived to stand their ground and save the School goal. And when at last the welcome “No side” was called, the cheers which greeted them proclaimed that the School had won that day one of the biggest victories on its record.
Chapter Twelve.
The Moderns on Strike.
In the festivities with which the glorious victory of the School against Rendlesham was celebrated Yorke took no part.
The captain was very decidedly down in the mouth. This was the end of his endeavour to administer rule with a perfectly even hand, and give no ground for a whisper of anything like unfair play to the opposition! This was what his popularity and authority were valued at! For the first time in her annals, Fellsgarth fellows had mutinied on the field of battle and to their captain’s face.
Had it been Dangle only, it would have mattered less. His feud with Rollitt was notorious, and would account for any ebullition of bad temper. But when Clapperton not only patronised the mutiny but joined in it, things were come to a crisis which it required all Yorke’s courage and coolness to cope with.
It might have solaced him if he could have heard a discussion which was taking place in the rebels’ quarters.
“It served them precious well right,” said Clapperton, trying to justify what, to say the least of it, wanted some excuse. “We’d stood it long enough.”