"Swell chance," piped up Ted Dillingham, and there was a general laugh from his comrades on the scrubs. Mr. Garwin smiled quizzically. "That's the spirit I like to see," he said. "I was just going on to urge the scrubs to take some of the conceit out of the regulars." On the following Saturday the two teams faced each other, each full of determination to show the other up. "Now, fellows," said Garry, as he gathered his scrubs about him just before the game began, "those fellows think we are easy meat. They think they're going to walk all over us, beat us to a frazzle, throw us to the lions. It's up to us to show them that they have another guess coming. How about it? Are you with me?" CHAPTER XII TESTING THEIR METTLE There was a cheer from Garry Grayson's mates as they crowded closer to their leader. "We'll show that team where it gets off," promised Bill Sherwood, as he flexed his muscles. "We'll eat 'em up," declared Ted. Practically all of the Lenox High students were on the field that day, reinforced by a sprinkling of boys from the grammar schools who had come to see how their old-time favorites performed. These latter, together with the freshmen, were about the only ones who were rooting for the scrubs. The upper classmen were partisans of the regulars and looked for nothing less than a sound beating for the scrubs. And they greeted the latter with unflattering comments as they came out on the field. "Lambs coming to the slaughter!" "What the regulars won't do to them!" "Call for the ambulance to carry them home!" Sandy Podder and Lent Stewart were foremost among those who sent these and other contemptuous gibes at the second string team. "Here's where that false alarm, Garry Grayson, gets his," Sandy remarked to Lent. "Now he's playing against a real team. That swelled head of his will be a mighty sight smaller when he gets through." "There won't be anything left of him but a grease spot at the end of the game," predicted Lent. It had been arranged that the periods would be for twelve minutes each instead of the usual fifteen, as the coach did not want to take too much out of the boys at the start of the season. Garry won the toss and elected to kick off. The teams lined up on the scrubs' forty-yard line and Rooster Long sent the ball hurtling down the field for thirty yards. Dittler gobbled the ball and ran it back for five yards before he was downed by Nick. The ball was in the possession of the regulars on their thirty-five yard line. Ralph Wynn passed the ball to Knapp, who plunged through the line for four yards. Another try netted him only one additional yard. Dittler found a hole between tackle and guard that was good for three yards more, and on the fourth down Wynn himself got through for three. The regulars had made their distance and still retained possession of the ball. "What did I tell you!" chuckled Sandy.