"There's another thing you can learn from Lindsay's experience," the football man went on. "It pays to work up. The best athletes in the school have almost always been those who had to make a place for themselves. The fellows who come with reputations and condescend to play usually slump early." He held out his hand. "I must be going; well, good luck to you!" "Thank you a lot," rejoined Owen, eagerly grasping the big, thick fist. "You won't say anything to Poole about this, will you?" "Of course not; you've got to work your own way out." Laughlin was just reaching for the door-knob, when a scurry of feet was heard from across the hall, and the door burst open to admit Simmons, who rushed into the room in a flurry of excitement most unusual in the quiet little student. CHAPTER XIX A MISFIT BATTERY The moment his foot touched the threshold Simmons began to exclaim: "It was perfectly great! I'm awfully glad I went! He's got a peach of a canoe, and what he doesn't know about animals and reptiles and birds--" He stopped suddenly as he caught sight of the massive form of the venerated Laughlin looming behind the door. "Oh, excuse me, I didn't know any one was here." "No one but me," said the visitor, "and though I'm big, I'm not dangerous. Who's got the peach of a canoe?" "Payner," answered Simmons, throwing a questioning look at Owen. "That's the fellow that's been working the plagues on the Pecks, isn't it?" "Yes," replied Simmons, eagerly. "How did you know about it?" "Oh, everybody knows something about it," returned Laughlin, with a grin. "I suppose he was after material. What number has he reached now?" "I think he's getting ready for Number Six," said Simmons, gravely. "He didn't say what it was to be, but he told me all sorts of things he might do. If he does everything he talks about he'll have to put them three at a time to keep within ten. He showed me where he got the newts he put in the clothes-bag, and where he used to catch turtles and water-snakes, and the old stumps where he dug out salamanders. He says that below the falls, on Salt River, you can catch all sorts of things when the tide's out--dip up young eels by the pailful. They'd do to put in the water pitchers." "I shouldn't care for them in mine," observed Laughlin.