"He certainly leaves no doubt as to where he stands on the question," assented the Professor, "and I think we'll admit, after that, that the game has improved. The most rabid critic of to-day wouldn't go so far as this old Briton. The game as played to-day offers very little danger to life and not much more to limb. Of course, accidents happen now and then, but that's true of every game. The old French proverb says that 'he who risks nothing, has nothing.' The element of risk in football is more than counterbalanced by the character it develops. The whole secret of success in life is to 'never say die.' And I don't know of any game that teaches this as well as football. But I must be going," he concluded, with a glance at his watch; and, turning off to the right with a farewell wave of the hand, he left the boys to finish their interrupted stroll. "The Prof's all right," said Tom emphatically. "They say that he was the bright particular star on his football team," contributed Dick. "And he's starred just as brightly in his profession since then," chimed in Bert. "I guess that 'never say die' motto has stuck by him all the time," mused Tom. "It's a bully motto, too. By the way, have you fellows ever heard the story of the mouse that fell in the milk pail?" They stared at him suspiciously. Long experience with that facetious youth had taught them the folly of biting too quickly, when he put a question. "No catch," protested Tom. "This is on the level." "Well," said Dick, "if a crook like you _can_ be on the level, shoot." "It was this way," continued Tom, cheerfully accepting the reflection on his character. "Two mice fell into a bucket of milk. They swam about for a while and then one of them gave it up and sank. The other one, though, was made of different stuff and wouldn't give up. He kept on kicking until he had churned the milk into butter. Then he climbed on top of it, made a flying leap for the edge of the bucket and got away. You see, he was a kicker from Kickersville and his motto was 'Never say die'." They looked at him reproachfully, but Tom never "batted an eye." "That mouse was a smooth proposition," murmured Dick softly. "A slippery customer," echoed Bert. "But, Tom," he asked, in mock innocence, "is that story true?" "True?" snorted Tom, "you'd butter believe that it's true. Why----" But this crowning outrage on the English language was too much, and he took to his heels, barely escaping a flying tackle as they launched themselves toward him. CHAPTER II RAKED, FORE AND AFT IN the training quarters, "Bull" Hendricks paced to and fro, his forehead creased by deep lines as he wrestled with the problems that beset him.