It never does occur to some people that the mountain is not climbed till the top is reached. "Really, you know," said Brinkman, "I felt half sorry for those poor beggars; they did look so sick when Dangle was elected." "It's my opinion," said Clapperton, "you'd have been in too, if all our fellows had turned up. I saw four or five of our youngsters come in at the last moment." "Yes--by the way," said Dangle, "that ought to be looked into. It's fishy, to say the least of it, and would have made all the difference to Brinkman's election." "Do you know who the fellows were?" asked Clapperton. "I believe your fag was one of them." "Percy Wheatfield? Catch him being shut out of anything. But I'll ask about it. Fancy poor Yorke's feelings if we were to demand a new election!" "I tell you what," said Dangle, "I don't altogether understand Yorke. He tries to pass off as fair, and just, and all that sort of thing; but one can't be sure he's not playing a game of his own." "We shall easily see that when it comes to choosing the football fifteen against Rendlesham. I mean to send him in a list of fellows on our side. It's only fair we should have half of them our men." "Half fifteen is seven and a half," said Fullerton, a melancholy senior who had not yet spoken; "how will you manage about that?" "Shut up, you ass!" "I only asked," said Fullerton. "It doesn't matter to me, I don't mind going as the half man, if you like. If you send seven names you'll be in a minority in the fifteen, and if you send eight you'll be in a majority. It doesn't matter to me a bit." "Just like Fullerton. Always asking riddles that haven't got an answer," said Dangle. "I wonder how Fisher will manage the treasurership," said Brinkman, who was evidently sore at his defeat. "I shouldn't have thought accounts were much in his line." "He can't have very hard work doing his own," said Clapperton, laughing, "but that's not his fault, poor beggar. Only I think it would be much better to have a fellow for treasurer who wasn't in a chronic state of being hard up." "I suppose you mean," said Fullerton, who had a most awkwardly blunt way of putting things, "he'd have less temptation to steal. I hope Fisher's not a thief." "What an idiot you are, Fullerton!" said Clapperton; "whoever said he was?" "I didn't. I only asked what you thought. It doesn't much matter to me, except that it wouldn't be creditable to the School." "Of course it wouldn't; it's hardly creditable to our side to have a jackass in it," said Clapperton. "Oh, all right--I'll go. I dare say you'll get on as well without me." The others presently followed his example, and Clapperton, left to himself, proceeded to draw up his list. "Dear Yorke," he wrote, "You will probably be making up the fifteen for the Rendlesham match shortly. Please put down me, Brinkman, Dangle, Fullerton, West, Harrowby, and Ramshaw major, to play from our side. This will give your side the odd man.