"We'd surely have played your club if it hadn't been gotten up for the express purpose of chucking us out of our jobs," he said, coolly. "You needn't shake your head, Brown." "I was talking to a chap yesterday who used to be one of your hottest supporters," persisted "Crackers." "I asked him if he honestly thought the regulars had a ghost of a show against the 'Hopes.' He smiled a mighty sickly smile. 'Not the slightest, Brown,' he flashed back; 'the Ramblers would probably be wiped off the map.'" "The 'Ramblers'!" repeated Harry Spearman. "That's one of your false alarm cries that have done nearly the whole business." "All your team had to do was to play good ball," returned Brown, dryly. "Then no one could have kicked. But you lost game after game; and when the boys found that you wouldn't play the 'Hopes' because you expected an awful trimming they made up their minds to assert----" Bob rapped on the table with his knuckles. "Brown, we have been telling you all along that the fellows only needed a little time to round into good shape. I'll admit the 'Hopes' are a fine team. But we are striking our real gait now, and don't admit that your team is a bit better." "There's the plank we stand on," put in Roger Steele. "Frankly, if you chaps had caught us unprepared this little disturbance would have been nothing to the one which a few hotheads would now be engineering." "Ice-water is good for hotheads!" came through the keyhole. "Our policy has been dictated by a thorough belief in the team," said Sam Randall, "and, incidentally, we have felt bound to stand up for our rights." "We're to understand, then, that you defy the whole school?" exclaimed Owen Lawrence. He glared at the boys ranged around the table. "Just remember--there's a big crowd in the gym waiting to get your answer." "I wouldn't call it such a harsh word as that," said Sam Randall. "The fellows are temporarily against us; that's all. They'll soon see it themselves." "Crackers" Brown continued to argue, pointing out in his calm way the consequences which might result if the regulars persisted in their course. Owen Lawrence, of combative temperament, threatened and stormed. Earl Roycroft took a middle course, doing his best to act as peacemaker. But, to their combined efforts, Sam Randall, as spokesman of the athletic association, gave a final, and negative answer. "All right--nothing doing here!" growled Brown. "There'll be a lot doing somewhere else, however." "Crackers" Brown, with a curt "So-long!" strode to the door, throwing it open so suddenly that Benny uttered an exclamation of surprise. "Can't you be more polite when a fellow has his eye to the keyhole, Brown?" he complained. "Got thrown down hard, didn't you? I'm going to tell the fellows." A crowd quickly surrounded the three "outlaws," loudly demanding particulars of the meeting.