"That'll be the next best thing to having you in the line-up," declared the boy joyfully, and he hurried away to carry to the desponding captain and his coterie the tidings of Fred's agreement to coach Buttons. And Bart needed assistance. There were not enough of his clique to fill all the positions on the eleven, and he had been obliged to draft some of his rival's followers. In consequence, there had been a lack of harmony, which the rich bully did not have the characteristics to stamp out; and to make matters worse, the Lower Formers, having overheard some of the Firsts discussing the prospects of the Second eleven, openly declared Bart did not have the knowledge of the game possessed by Fred. At first, Taffy, Lefty and the others of his intimates had loyally resented the charge, but as the season progressed with little or no improvement in the eleven, in their hearts they were beginning to fear its truth. Accordingly, Taffy's tidings were joyously received, and when the fair-haired boy appeared on the campus that afternoon, he was given an ovation. Such a demonstration was gall and wormwood to the rich bully, but, realizing that if he were to obtain the wish of his heart and lead the Baxter Seconds to their first victory over Landon in five years, he must control himself, he managed to force a smile. "Will you get in the game?" he asked, approaching his rival. "Not to-day; thank you. Just run them through a few signals till I get a line on their faults." Quickly Bart did so, and as a result of the exhibition, Fred called Buttons from the line-up and passed the remainder of the afternoon in giving him personal coaching, the benefit of which was evident in the scrimmage of the next day. Fred's coöperation thus assured, the team improved rapidly. Moreover, to his surprise, the boy found that instead of proving a handicap to his class work, his lessons seemed to be mastered with less effort. The scene of the annual contest between the Form elevens of Baxter and Landon alternated between the two towns, and this year chanced to be the one when the games were played at Landon. As the day approached, Fred was importuned to go. But though it cost him many a pang, he was obliged to decline, finally announcing the truth to Taffy, who came as an emissary from Bart--that he could not afford the expense. "If that's the only reason you're staying at home, I'll lend you the money gladly," returned Taffy. "Much obliged, but under my circumstances it would not be right to borrow money for pleasure," responded Fred, and that he might get away from the temptation, he turned on his heel and walked off. When the result of Taffy's entreaties had been made known to the rest of the team, the boys went into council, the result of which was that they agreed to raise a subscription among themselves sufficient to defray Fred's expenses. But when Buttons sounded him on the proposition, Fred refused to accept it.