Our hero's victory took nothing away from the regard in which Dutton was held, while, as for Dick, save a few friends whom he had made among the younger lads, he was not admitted to the comradeship of the older cadets, to which place, of right, he belonged. The fight had not made him popular, as he had hoped it would, after he had won it, though the sporting element in the academy could not but admire his fistic abilities. "I don't seem to be making much progress," remarked Dick to his roommate, one afternoon. "You have more friends than I have." "Oh, I don't think so." "Yes, you have. It would be different, if I was at home, but here, everyone seems to follow Dutton's lead, and turns a cold shoulder to me." "Maybe you'll have more acquaintances next term." "I doubt it. I wish I could get in with the fellows. They'll be making up the football eleven, soon, and I'd like a chance to play." "Do you play?" "I did at home. I was right half-back. But I don't s'pose I'll have any show here." "I tell you what you might do," said Paul, after a pause. "Why don't you give a spread?" "A spread?" "Yes, a feast, you know. You can get permission to have it in one of the rooms, and you can invite a lot of the fellows. Several of the new fellows have done that, and some of them got proposed for membership in the Sacred Pig society." This was one of the exclusive secret organizations of the academy, and Dick, as well as many others, wished to join. But one had to be invited to apply for membership, and only those students on whom the seal of approval was set by the older cadets had this honor. "Do you think that would do any good?" asked Dick. "It might." "Then I'll try. Here's a chance where I can use some of my money. If this plan doesn't work, I have another that I'll spring." "What is it?" "Well, I don't want to say yet. I may want to get you to help me at it, though." "I'll do anything I can." "I know you will, Paul. I wish there were more like you." Dick obtained permission from Colonel Masterly to give a spread in one of the barrack rooms, and he made elaborate preparations for it. A town caterer was given orders to supply a fine supper, and then Dick sent out his invitations. He included all the lads in his class, and every member of the so-called "sporting crowd." "Are you going to invite Dutton?" asked Paul. "Of course. I want him more than all the others. If he would drop his hard feelings we could be friends." "After he tried to get you into trouble about your dog, and the firing of the cannon?" "Do you think he did?" "I'm sure of it, and so are lots of others." "Captain Hayden can't seem to find out anything about it." "No, because all of Dutton's cronies are keeping mum. But I'm sure he did it." "Well, I'll forgive him, if he'll be friends. I got even by whipping him, I guess." "Perhaps, though I don't believe he thinks so."