“No, I think not. I’d like to see Casement get a good, thorough trial at right wing, for Deering’s been playing pretty erratically of late, but I’m not prepared to say that Casement is a better man. As to Tucker, I’d advise using him harder, giving him a fairer show, Crowell. If he is really better than Lamson let’s find it out. We want the best man at goal on Saturday and two weeks from Saturday that we can discover. Personally I believe Tucker’s the man, but I may be wrong. Is Lamson a particular friend of yours?” Crowell frowned. “No, he’s not,” he answered shortly. “Oh, I didn’t mean it that way,” said the coach soothingly. “I only wondered if you were hesitating about hurting his feelings. If you are, you might let me attend to the matter. When it comes to building a team they all look alike to me.” Crowell made no answer for a minute. They had reached the gymnasium and had paused in the upstairs hall. Finally the captain looked up frankly, if a trifle embarrassedly, at the coach. “I guess, sir,” he said, “you don’t want to turn out a winning team any more than I do. And I think it will be best if you just――just take charge of everything after this. I suppose I’m sort of dunder-headed about some things. If I choose a fellow for a position I’m likely to let him stay there rather than acknowledge that I’m wrong even to myself, and that’s mighty poor management. I’m sorry if I’ve acted like an idiot all the season, sir――” “You haven’t, Crowell. I didn’t mean to convey the impression that I was dissatisfied. Everything has gone along quite smoothly, my boy. If there have been mistakes we’ve shared them. But I’m not going to pretend that I’m not mighty glad to take full charge, because, quite frankly, I think you’ll play your position a lot better if you don’t have too many――er――too many cares of state on your mind! Suppose that after this we get in the way of meeting after practice, say in your room, or in mine if you don’t mind walking down to the village, and going over things together. That seem feasible to you?” “Yes, sir, I think it would be a mighty good plan,” answered Captain Crowell. “I guess it would have been better for the team if we’d done that long ago, Mr. Loring.” “Possibly. But we won’t worry ourselves with regrets. We’ll look forward, Crowell, and see if we can’t pull that team together so that it will everlastingly wallop Broadwood two weeks from next Saturday! I dare say that what I should have done is had this talk with you a month ago. But never mind that now. I’ll drop around to-morrow evening――I guess we’ve said all that’s to be said for the present――and we’ll plan things for Saturday. Good-night, Crowell.” Mr. Loring held out his hand and Crowell grasped it tightly. “Good-night, sir,” he said, “and thanks. I’m not nearly so afraid of the Broadwood game as I was! You do think we can win it, don’t you, sir?”