By virtue of his election as captain of the Second eleven the previous fall, he had inherited the leadership of the School Team. "If I've aroused any one's ill-will in the past, I want them to remember it was in the past, and, forgetting it, to work with me to wrest the championship from Landon this fall," he said. "By working in harmony, each one doing his best, I think we can win--and if we do, the Baxter 1912 football team will never be forgotten." So unusual was such good nature in the rich bully, that Buttons, Soda, Bronson and Fred were first amazed and then delighted. "If he really means what he says, I shall come out and try for full back," exclaimed Clothespin. That the boy could kick the pigskin had never occurred to his companions, but mindful of his prowess as a pitcher, they refrained from poking fun at him. "Ever play at the Military Academy?" laughed Shorty. "Yes, indeed." "What was your record there--never being thrown when running with the ball?" grinned Soda. "Oh, shut up," returned Bronson. "It wasn't my fault my record with the nine was brought out." "If you'll do as well with the eleven as on the diamond, we'll forgive you," declared Buttons. Just then Tompkins joined the group, fairly bubbling with excitement. "What is it, Ned?" asked the group in chorus. "I've got the dandy scheme. You all know 1912 is no ordinary Form, like those that have graduated before us. But that we may carve ourselves firmly into Baxter tradition, let's start the custom of a cane rush on opening night." "Won't do for us--too frivolous," returned Buttons judiciously. "But it'll be a bully good stunt to put up to the Thirds and Seconds. The Seconds are a scrawny bunch, anyway, this year, so the Thirds can give them a good rush." But, as luck would have it, the headmaster had come up as the boy spoke, and he peremptorily refused to allow the rush. "You for a spoil-sport," growled Ned at Buttons, as Mr. Vining left them. "If you hadn't wanted to butt in and change my plan, we could have gone about making arrangements, and wouldn't have been here when the Head came along." To make sure that all manner of hazing or rushing would be avoided, Mr. Vining stated to the students, when they assembled for class and lesson assignments in the afternoon, that suspension faced the first boy discovered trying them. And his ultimatum was effective. Being deprived of this amusement, the Firsts turned their attention to football. CHAPTER XXIV AN ARREST During the summer Bart had met several college men who were members of their 'varsity teams, and from them he received many valuable ideas, among which was the formation of a scrub eleven to play against the school team. Eagerly falling in with the plan, the candidates asked that Fred be placed in charge.