These patriotic young gentlemen were a good deal disconcerted next morning to find that they had been reckoning without their host. The captain had posted up the fifteen to play next week. The list contained the names of Fullerton, Brinkman, and two others on the Modern side, but omitted those of Clapperton and Dangle. In their wildest dreams the malcontents had never reckoned on the captain taking such a step as this. They knew that they were necessary to the efficiency of any team, and that without them, especially against Rendlesham, it would be almost a farce to go into the field at all. At first they were disposed to laugh and sneer; then to bluster. Then it dawned on them gradually that for once in their lives they had made a mistake. They had not even the credit of refusing to play, but had been ignominiously kicked out. A council of war was held, in which mutual recriminations, assisted by Fullerton's candid reflections on the situation, occupied a considerable share of the time. The result of their deliberations was that Clapperton and Dangle went over in no very amiable frame of mind to the captain. Yorke, as it happened, was having an uneasy conference with his own side at the time. Delighted as the Classics were at the blow which had been struck at the mutineers, the prospect of almost certain defeat next Saturday made them anxious for compromise. "If I were you," said Fisher major, "I'd give them a chance of explaining and apologising." "There can be no apology," said Yorke. "You are quite right in theory," said Denton; "but wouldn't it be rather a crow for them to see that we are licked without them?" "We mustn't be licked," said the captain. "We held our own without them yesterday." "Yes; but we were on our own ground, and had a goal to the good before they struck." "I think old Yorke is quite right," said Ranger. "We may be licked, and if we are they'll crow. On the other hand, if we let them play now they'll crow worse. I think we'd better be beaten by Rendlesham than by traitors." "Shan't you let them play at all this half?" said Fisher. "That depends on themselves," said Yorke. "Hullo! here they come," said Ranger. The two Moderns were a little disconcerted to find themselves confronted with the body of Classic seniors. "Oh, you're engaged," said Clapperton; "we'll come again." "No, we were talking about the team; I suppose that's what you've come about." "Yes," said Clapperton; "we want to know what it means!" "Really I don't see how it could have been put plainer. It means that the fifteen men named are going to play on Saturday." "Look here, Yorke," said Clapperton, "if you think I've come over here to beg you to put Dangle and me into the team, you're mistaken--" "I don't think it. You know it's impossible." "All I can say is, it's sheer spite and nothing else. Dangle was deliberately knocked over by that cad Rollitt--"