Ben moved uneasily, and then answered: "I do not know that you have." "Did you ever know me to say anything behind the back of either friend or foe that I did not dare say to his face?" "No." "Did you ever know me to lie?" "No." "Then you will believe me, I think, when I tell you I did not say you were too fresh and took too many liberties. Some chap has been trying to make you my enemy. I have seen of late that you acted strangely but did not know why. Now I understand it. But I am surprised that you could believe such a thing of me." Halliday was confused. "Well," he falteringly said, "you see it's this way: I knew you hated to throw up your grip on the football team and drop out entirely, and somebody said you were jealous of me because I did such good work against the Indians. You know my run in that game was compared with your famous run in the Princeton game last season. And you have not been just like yourself lately. Sometimes you have not looked at me when we met." "Is that so?" asked Frank, in surprise. "I didn't know it. Must be my mind is on my studies too much. And still I made a dead flunk the day after the Carlisle game. There had been so many reports that the Indians had a new trick that was sure to enable them to win, and, knowing as I did what bulldogs they are to play, I was all nerved up with anxiety. Couldn't seem to keep my mind on my studies for a week before the game, and it grew worse and worse the nearer the time came. After it was over, I found I might as well have taken part in the game." "That's just it!" cried Halliday, quickly. "That's why I dropped around to see you." "Eh? What do you mean?" "Why don't you get back on the team?" "Get back? What are you driving at? You're doing good work. "I don't want to crowd you out." "You wouldn't. They need you as full-back." "You played that position in the game with the Indians." "But I am not to play it again. I am quarter-back now." "Is that right?" cried Frank, in surprise. "Your position has been changed? How did that happen?" "Quigg is out of it for the season. You know he was hurt in the last game. Doctor says he must not play any more this year. I have been shoved into his place in a hurry." "What's that for?" "Forrest did it. A new man is going to be tried at full-back--Rob Marline. Forrest is desperate. He says the team is broken all to pieces, and stands a poor show with either Harvard or Princeton. This will be a dismal season for Old Yale." Frank turned pale and seemed to stagger a bit, as if he had been struck. It was a shock for him to know that Yale was in danger. He had supposed she was all right and everything was running well. "We did not make the showing against the Indians that we should have made, although we beat them," Halliday went on. "But for my lucky run, we might have been beaten." "I didn't know----" began Frank, falteringly. Ben made a fierce gesture.