"I can see where we'll have some tall old scrambling to make the team," said Dick lugubriously, "with three husky captains of grammar school elevens fighting for a berth." "And none of 'em getting it," predicted Ted Dillingham. "Maybe. But meantime there's nothing to keep us from kicking the ball around," said Garry cheerfully. "Who's with me? That is, if you fellows are all through." "If we're not, we ought to be," laughed Rooster, pushing back his chair after Mrs. Grayson had given the signal, an example followed by the others. "Lead on, Garry. Get that pigskin. What we'll do to it will be a sin and a shame." They ran around to the barn at the back of Garry's home, that had been fitted up as a gymnasium, and there Garry possessed himself of the football that had been given him on his last birthday and which, despite rough usage, was still serviceable. "Make believe it doesn't feel good to get hold of this old football again," he murmured, hugging the ball lovingly in the crook of his arm as he trotted with the other boys to the open field back of the house. "I wish some of the other fellows were here," he added. "We might get in some good practice." As though in answer to his wish, a group of boys who had also played on the Hill Street eleven appeared at that juncture, coming up Maple Street. "There's Sizz Snider and Si Rowe!" yelled Rooster Long. "And Carl Zukor and Sloppy Hume," added Nick. "Hooray! Now we'll have some fun." The other boys came running, and there were some jubilant greetings. "If Bill were here now, it would seem like old times!" exclaimed Ted. Garry nodded assent. "Almost a full eleven here now," he said. "Too bad that we haven't got another team to play against. But we can get some good group practice anyway at punting, kicking, and forward passing. We'll have five on each side, and we'll try to play as hard as though we were in a regular game." They divided up accordingly, with Garry's group in possession of the ball. "Now, fellows, snap into it!" called Garry. "Let's see if you still have some of your old stuff." He called out a signal, received the ball from Carl Zukor, who acted as center, straightened with a swift movement, and threw the ball to Nick Danter at right half. Nick turned and threw the ball to Ted, who legged it down the field at a great rate amid the encouraging shouts of his comrades. He was downed at last by Dick Randolph, who made a rattling tackle. "Good for forty yards, I bet," sang out Rooster. "Easy enough to make a long run when there are not many in front of you," laughed Garry. "Bring it back, Ted, and we'll try another." There had been a fairly heavy rain the night before, and the field was slippery. Also there were small depressions here and there filled with muddy water, into which a runner was apt to fall unless he watched his step.