“I didn’t turn you down. I thought seriously of using you against Hilsboro, but you went round telling that I had promised to put you into that game when I had done nothing of the sort. You knew I had done nothing of the sort, but you tried to force me into it by circulating the report that I had. This is true, Arlington, and you cannot deny it.” “Well, maybe that’s right,” confessed Chester. “I did wrong about that, Merriwell. I am willing to acknowledge it to any one.” Instantly Dick’s face cleared. “Now that you have acknowledged it to me you don’t have to say anything more about it,” he nodded. “We’ll let it drop. But I want you to think this matter over before you plunge. You know the kind of a team we have to meet Saturday. Those fellows are professionals. Our chance of beating them is a small one. I don’t want you to go around telling that I said this, but you should understand the facts. If you pitch that game you may lose it. If I put you in, there will be many ready to say I did it because I didn’t dare pitch myself.” “Any one who says such a thing is a chump!” exclaimed Chester. “You don’t have to pay any attention to such talk.” “But you know it will be said.” “Put me in and I will tell everybody the truth-that I begged you to do so. Why should you pitch this game, anyhow? It’s not a school game, and it will be no disgrace to lose it. If I pitch, I am going to do my utmost to win. You know what it will mean to me if I do win. It will put me on my feet here. It will give me a reputation. The actual fact is that by letting me pitch you will be doing a great favor to one who has done you no favors.” “Is that the way you look at it, Arlington? Tell me the truth. Is that the way you look at it?” “I swear that’s the way I look at it.” “Then say nothing and get into the best condition possible for that game.” Chester’s face brightened. “Now, that’s great stuff, Captain Merriwell!” he said. “I won’t forget this of you, and you see if I don’t work like a dog to take that game!” “I hope you take it,” said Dick. CHAPTER II. FARDALE’S BRILLIANT OPENING. The game of the Great Northern being well advertised and the day fair and bright, a large crowd turned out. The Great Northern boys seemed to think the whole thing something of a lark. They looked on the cadets with amusement, fancying they could win the game with ease. At the usual hour the game was called, with the visitors at bat. When Chester Arlington went into the box for Fardale and Dick Merriwell was seen sitting on the bench, there came from the cadets a murmur of surprise and disappointment. “Well, what do you think of that?” exclaimed Hector Marsh, who was seated with his usual companions, Walker, Preston, and Shaw. “Arlington is going to pitch this game.”