"I heard him grunt," observed Frank, with a chuckle, "and really I
felt sorry for him. I think you struck him with both fists
together in the excitement. But it's a shame that Columbia fellows
are fighting among themselves just now, when we ought to be
united, and showing a common front against the enemy."

"Oh, these represent only a tail-end fragment. Don't count them as
much. Outside of possibly a dozen students, I firmly believe the
school _is_ united, and that you posses the confidence of the
whole town. This is our lucky year. I tell you we just _can't_
lose," and Lanky emphasized his words with a smack of one hand in
the palm of the other.

"I feel the same way," said Frank, "but, all the same, I'll be
better satisfied when the game has been played. There's many a
slip, you know. An accident might mar the finest play the gridiron
ever knew. And then the treachery of these fellows always annoys
me. An open foe I can meet boldly, but deliver me from the snake
in the grass that steals up in the rear to upset your calculations."

"Never mind, it'll be all right, Frank; but here we are at your
gate, so good night," and Lanky hurried on.




CHAPTER V

THE SIGNAL PRACTICE