"But what do you mean?" insisted Tom. "After the way those fellows
treated Jack and Bert--to say nothing of having practically stolen my
motorboat, together with the help of the old hermit and Mr. Skeel--not
to do anything to 'em!"

"That's it, Tom. Let it drop, is my advice."

"But why? I can't see why, Bruce."

"Because it will make a heap of trouble in the school, that's why.
Look here, Tom. You know you and Sam, to say nothing of Nick, haven't
been on good terms from the start; have you?"

"No, but it was Sam's fault. I had no quarrel with him."

"I know that. I'm not saying but what you're in the right. But it's
the effect of the thing I'm looking at. Tom, do you want to see two
factions in the Sophomore class? Two bunches of fellows, one striving
against the other? Do you?"

"No, I don't know as I do. But once we get rid of Sam, Nick will take
himself off, too, and then everything will be fine."

"I'm not so sure of that. You might drive Sam out of Elmwood, but I
doubt it. And look here, Tom. You know there's going to be a big
Freshman class this year."

"So I heard, but what has that got to do with it?"

"Lots. You know, without my telling you, that the Sophs and Freshies