“Let’s call it off, boys!” cried one Bellport fellow, who had been among the noisiest of the disputants. “I’m sorry we made the trouble at all!” said another, frankly. “We’ve been a lot of silly jacks, that’s what!” cried a third; “and for one I’m in favor of asking the pardon of every Columbia High fellow, right here and now. Hear that, Frank Allen? It was all a mistake, and we’re sorry.” “We hope you’ll forget the unpleasantness, Columbia!” “And let’s be better friends than ever because of it,” called out Cuthbert Lee. “When we felt the disappointment of defeat on the gridiron or the diamond I tell you it took a lot of the sting out of it to hear fair and square Frank Allen and his crowd giving a bully cheer for Bellport. And, fellows, we can’t afford to show such a nasty little spirit as to believe those honest enemies of last summer and fall could get down low enough to even think of cheating. Who’s with me in giving three and a tiger right now for the boys of Columbia High?” Well, they were given, and with a roar. Not a single Bellport boy felt that he could afford to hold back when Cuthbert Lee led the shouting. And in five minutes the change in the aspect of things on that athletic field was magical. Instead of keeping together in a crowd, and badgering the workers, the visitors separated, and each fellow seemed to be the center of a group of Columbia students, both boys and girls, as they watched the continuance of the practice games. Good-natured chaffing had taken the place of jarring remarks intended to cut to the quick. The clouds had rolled away, and a fair sky overhead had succeeded the storm signals. “That was the brightest thing you ever did, Frank,” remarked Cuthbert Lee, as he stood with a number of others, and chatted together concerning the various contests scheduled for the great athletic meet on the following week. “_One_ of them, perhaps,” remarked Minnie, proudly; at which there was a general laugh from the boys and girls, and consequently more or less blushing on the part of the pretty speaker. “I’m glad I had the idea, anyway,” replied Frank; “because it began to look as if there was going to be a riot, sure thing. When boys get warmed up they never mince words; and I heard some pretty strong language used. But it’s ended just as it should, and maybe has drawn the rival schools closer together.” “I guess they let off all their spare steam, anyhow,” remarked Ralph Langworthy, who had been engaged in some of the sprinting trials, and was showing considerable speed in the hundred-yard dash. Evidently the news had reached Columbia, for men were constantly arriving at the athletic field. They seemed anxious on coming, but soon discovered that there must be some sort of mistake about the trouble that had been reported imminent; for Columbia and Bellport had never appeared so friendly as just then, and Chief Hogg was telling humorous stories to the keeper of the grounds.