"Oh, cheer up!" urged Phil. "You can't win the championship by feeling that way," but his words did little to dispel the gloom in the heart of the captain. For the next few days there was hard practice. Tom's hand received special attention, and it was hoped that he could last the entire Boxer game. The batting improved very much, and the 'varsity nine was as much on edge as it was possible for it to be. Meanwhile there was anxiety over the outcome of the Fairview-Boxer game. For some time past the Randall players had been reckoning percentages. It must be remembered that the games described in detail in this volume were not the only ones played by the rival colleges in the league. There were many more contests than those set down here, but space will not permit their description. Sufficient to say that, reckoning in some forfeited contests, and computing the standings on the basis of games won and lost, it developed that if Boxer Hall beat Fairview it would make a tie for first place between Boxer and Randall, and all would then depend on the final contest between those two latter teams. Therefore it was with no small jubilation that the news was received, a week later, that Boxer had downed Fairview. "Now for _our_ chance to win!" cried Tom, brightening up a little. "All we have to do is to wallop Boxer, and the loving cup is ours. But Oh, Phil! if we only had Sid!" "That's right. Have you noticed how queer he's been acting of late?" "Oh, it's the same old story. I'm done now. I made my last appeal. By the way, I didn't hear what happened the time he was last caught by Zane. What was the verdict?" "It hasn't been announced yet. Faculty held a meeting but deferred action. It means expulsion, of course. Poor old Sid!" "Well, he brought it on himself." "How do you know?" asked Phil sharply. "Maybe there's something we don't understand." "And we never will," added Tom bitterly. "I consider that Sid has done as much as any one to defeat the team if we lose the last game." "Oh, don't think that. How's your hand?" "Fine! I can last all right. It's the batting I'm worried about. Langridge will do his worst, and we must look for a fierce game. We've got to practice until the gong rings." Tom worked his men to the limit, with Coach Leighton to help him. Matters seemed a little brighter, and in spite of his words Tom had a forlorn hope that, after all, the faculty might relent, and allow Sid to play. But this hope was dashed to the ground the night before the game. Then Sid came into the room, despondency showing on his face and in every motion. He began hauling his things out of the closet and bureau, and packing them in his trunk. "What's up, old man?" asked Phil in great surprise. "I'm leaving." "Leaving?" burst out Tom. "Yes. Expelled. Faculty just had a meeting on my case, and it's all off. I'm done!"