out on the sidewalk.

"Going to try to make the regular team?"

"Of course I am," declared Dick, smiling. "And so, I hope, are
every one of you fellows."

"I'd like to," agreed Tom Reade.

"Then don't say you'd _like_ to; say you're _going_ to," admonished
Dick. "The fellow who doesn't quite know never gets much of any
place. Just say to yourself that you're going to be one of the
stars on the school team. If you have to fall into the second
team---don't be cast down over it---but make every possible effort
toward getting on the top team. That's the spirit that wins in
athletics," finished Dick, sagely.

"I'm going to make the school team," announced Dave Darrin. "Not
only that, but I'll proclaim it to anyone who'll be kind enough
to listen. The school nine, or 'bust,' for me."

"Good enough!" cheered Dick. "Now, then, fellows, we'll all be
on hand this afternoon, won't we, and on every other afternoon
that we're needed?"

Dick & Co. carried that proposition by a unanimous vote.

"But see here, fellows," urged Dick Prescott, "just try to keep
one idea in mind, please. There's a good deal of objection, every
year, that athletics are allowed to interfere with studies. Now,