"We'd be sure to win, if he did," interposed Tom. "As it is, your fellows have a better chance." "I--I don't care if we do lose!" exclaimed Madge, and she blushed prettily. "That is----" and she paused in some confusion. "Why, Madge Tyler!" exclaimed Ruth. "That's treason!" "I don't care," was the answer, with a toss of the head. "Don't you want your brother to get well?" "Of course, but----" "Well," was all Madge said, and Tom wondered what she meant. But Randall did not lose to Fairview in the second game. It was a hard one, but the Jersey twin did good work at quarter, and Hayden proved a "star" end, making a brilliant run and a touch-down. The score was seventeen to five, a solitary field goal being all that Fairview was able to accomplish. "Well, now we'll have a chance at the championship, when we meet Boxer Hall next," said Phil, who had watched the contest from the grandstand, though he was as nervous as a colt all the while. The 'varsity quarter-back was allowed to begin practice the following week, and was soon playing with his old-time form. In fact, the little rest seemed to have benefited him, and this, added to the fact that encouraging news had been received concerning his mother, made him less apprehensive when he was on the gridiron. There were two more rather unimportant games in prospect before the final contest with Boxer Hall, and all the energies of the Randall eleven were now turned to the deciding contest. "I say, you fellows," remarked Sid one sunny November afternoon, when all three chums were in the room after lectures, "don't you want to take a walk with me? I've got to do some observation work in my biology course, and I'm going to take my camera along and make some pictures." "Where you going?" asked Tom. "Oh, along the river. Then I'll strike across country, and fetch up somewhere. We'll not be gone over three hours, and we'll get back by dark. Come along; it will do you good." "Shall we go with the old gazabo, Phil?" asked Tom. "If he guarantees not to get us lost in the woods, so we'll have to stay out all night," replied the quarter-back. "Oh, I'll get you home safe," declared Sid. "We'll have a nice walk. I'll be ready in a jiffy," and he proceeded to load his camera with films. It was a large one, and he often used it to make pictures which had a bearing on his class work in biology and evolution. The three chums were soon strolling along the banks of the river, Sid on the lookout for late-staying birds or some animal or reptile which he might add to his photographic collection. "You must be fond of this sort of thing, to lug that heavy camera around with you," commented Phil. "I am," said Sid. "It's very interesting to study the habits of birds and animals. You'd ought to have taken that course." "I wish I had, instead of mathematics," put in Tom. "I'm dead sick of them, but I guess I'll have to stick at 'em."