"Now," said Cheyenne, "we've got to make this a matter of the school against the fourth form, and it oughtn't to be so hard, either. Now, how're we going to do it? First, what have we got?" "The Dickinson and the Woodhull," said Hickey. "Yes, we can be sure of those, but that's all. Now, those Feds, with Jock Hasbrouck and Tough McCarthy, will swing the Kennedy and the Griswold." "The Davis House will be against us," said Macnooder, with conviction. "They're just aching to get back at the Dickinson." "That's so," said Turkey. "They're still sore because we won the football championship." "The Davis will pull the Rouse House with it," said Hickey gloomily. "They're forty in the Davis and only twelve in the Rouse. The Davis would mangle them if they ever dared go our way." "We've got to counteract that by getting the Green," said Cheyenne. "They're only ten there, but it makes a vote. The fight'll be in the Hamill and the Cleve." "The Cleve is sore on us," said Turkey of the Dickinson, "because we swiped the ice cream last year for their commencement dinner." "I've got an idea," said Crazy Opdyke, trying to be heard. "Shut up, Crazy," said Doc. "You've served your purpose; you're a Decoy Duck and nothing else." "Harmony!" said Cheyenne warningly. "The way to get the Green is to give Butsey White, down there, the nomination from the second form, if he'll swing the house." "And put up Bronc Andrews in the Hamill," added Macnooder. "Where do I come in?" said Crazy Opdyke, who had aspirations. "You subordinate yourself to the success of your party," said Cheyenne. "The devil I do," said Opdyke. "If you think I'm a negro delegate, you've got another thing coming. I may be a Decoy Duck, but either I'm made chairman of a Finance Committee or I lead a bolt right out of this convention." "A Finance Committee?" said Butcher Stevens, mystified. "Sure," said Cheyenne Baxter. "That's most important." "I'll take that myself, then," said Macnooder aggressively. "I'd like to know what claim Crazy's got to a position of trust and responsibility." "Claim or no claim," said Opdyke, pulling his hat over his eyes and tilting back, "either I handle the funds of this here campaign or the Anti-Federalist party begins to split." "Shall a half-plucked rooster from the Cleve House hold up this convention?" said Wash Simmons militantly. "If we're going to be black-jacked by every squid that comes down the road, _I'm_ going to get out." "I have spoken," said Crazy. "So have I." "Gentlemen, gentlemen," protested the Honourable Cheyenne Baxter, "we must have harmony." "Rats!" said Opdyke. "I demand a vote." "I insist upon it," said Wash. The vote was taken and Macnooder was declared chairman of the Finance Committee. Crazy Opdyke arose and made them a profound bow.