Stover set out for a rush in the direction of the shout, tossed and buffeted in the scramble. At every moment, now, a cry went up as the elections proceeded rapidly. From time to time he found Le Baron, and shouted to him his report. He saw men he knew tearing back and forth, Hunter driven out of his pose of calm for once, little Schley, hysterical almost, running to and fro. At times the slap was given near him, and he caught the sudden realization, a look in the face that was not good to have seen. It was all like a stampede, some panic, a sudden shipwreck, when every second was precious and, once gone, gone forever; where the agony was in the face of the weak-hearted and a few stoically stood smiling at the waiting gulf. The elections began to be exhausted and the writing on the wall to stare some in the face. Then something happened; a cry went up and a little circle formed under one of the trees, while back came the rumor: "Some one's fainted." "Man's gone under." "Who?" "Who is it?" "Franklin." "No, no; Henderson." "You don't say so!" "Fainted dead away. Missed out for Bones." All at once another shout went up--a shout of amazement and incredulity. A great sensation spread everywhere. The Bones list had now reached thirteen; only two more to be given, and Allison of the crew, Dudley, and Harvey, chairman of the _News_, all rated sure men, were left. Who was to be rejected? Stover fought his way to where the three were standing white and silent, surrounded by the gaping crowd. Some one caught his arm. It was Le Baron, beside himself with excitement, saying: "Good God, Dink! you don't suppose they're going to turn down Harvey or Allison?" Almost before the words were uttered something had happened. A slap resounded and the sharp command: "Go to your room!" Then the cry: "Harvey!" "Harvey's tapped!" "Only one place left." "Good heavens!" "Who's to go down?" "It's impossible!" Dudley and Allison, prospective captains, room-mates from school days at Andover, were left, and between them balancing the fates. A hush fell in the crowd, awed at the unusual spectacle of a Yale captain marked for rejection. Then Dudley, smiling, put out his hand and said in a clear voice: "Joe, one of us has got to walk the plank. Here's luck!" Allison's hand went out in a firm grip, smiling a little, too, as he answered: "No, no; you're all right! You're sure." "Here he is." "Last man for Bones." "Here he comes!" The crowd massed at the critical point fell back, opening a lane to where Allison and Dudley waited, throwing back their shoulders a little, to meet the man who came straight to them, pale with the importance of the decision that had been given him. He reached Dudley, passed, and, seizing Allison by the shoulder, almost knocked him down by the force of his slap. Pandemonium broke loose: "It's Allison!" "No!" "Yes." "What, they've left out Dudley?" "Missed out." "Impossible!" "Fact." "Hi, Jack, Dudley's missed out!"