“And you think we have those things?” “Yes, most of you have. You have, for one. So has Ted Ball and Nip Storer and Galvin and Kruger and--” “Gosh, I don’t believe I have, Tommy! Ted, yes; and maybe those others. But me--” Bert shook his head doubtfully. “Anyway, how can you tell by seeing a team in action once whether it’s got initiative, Tommy?” “I can,” answered the other stoutly. “It shows in the way they go about things, the way they handle themselves. You can’t fool me. Say, did I tell you that you were good and that you’d make the team or didn’t I?” “You did,” acknowledged Bert. “Yes, and I said you’d do most of the scoring against Kenly, too, didn’t I?” “Something of the sort. Don’t you wish you hadn’t?” “No. Things generally come out the way I say they’re going to, Bert. You wait until a week from to-morrow and then tell me if I was right or wrong.” “I will, Tommy. And I’ll do this, too. If you prove right I’ll buy you enough peanuts to last you to Christmas!” Tommy chuckled. “Better not get rash, _mon demi-derrière_. I get awfully hungry when cold weather comes. Besides, you might pay that bet first!” “Shut up! Here’s a dime. Go eat yourself to death.” “Better give me another and be on the safe side,” laughed Tommy. “Here they come again. Go on in there, you mutts, and do something!” Tommy’s voice arose to something approaching its wonted penetration and vehemence, and the stand spoke approval and encouragement. “That’s the stuff, Tommy! You tell ’em, boy!” Tommy looked over his shoulder, grinned and shot a peanut at the nearest speaker. “_Fermer votre_ trap, Hink!” he admonished. Possibly Mr. McFadden had talked like a Dutch uncle during intermission. At all events, the Second Team came back strong and played a rather different brand of football during the third and most of the fourth quarter. The stand woke up and cheered encouragement and Tommy offered caustic criticism, and the Alton Scrub marched on to glory. Glory was represented by a single touchdown, minus the point which should have followed, and one field-goal. The touchdown came soon after the resumption of hostilities in the third period and the field-goal closed the ceremonies in the fourth. Between the two events Southport made a determined but fruitless effort to score and hurled passes to all points of the compass. Tommy observed disgustedly that they’d wear out the sod, throwing the ball around on it like that. From which you are to understand that the passes were usually not completed. Chick had gone to the room directly after practice, announcing a virtuous resolve to do some studying that football--and other interests--had interfered with, but when Bert reached Number 21 he found the student sound asleep on the window-seat, an open book astride his chest. CHAPTER XVII BERT IS SENT FOR