"You may become a substitute," answered Mr. Dodsworth.
"Not much! If I can't play on the eleven, I know what I'll do—I'll pack my trunk and go home!"
"Do it right away!" shouted a voice from the rear of the room.
"You'll never be missed, Poole," added another.
"All right, I'll leave!" shouted Poole, purple with rage, and then he left the meeting as abruptly as Guy Frapley had done. At the door he shook his fist at the crowd. "You just wait—I'll fix Oak Hall for this!" he added, sourly.
"How foolish!" murmured Luke. "Nat will never make any friends by acting like that."
"Do you think he'll leave Oak Hall?" questioned another boy.
"Perhaps,—if his father will let him."
Following the departure of Nat Poole came the reorganizing of the football eleven. Dave was placed in the position he had occupied the year before, and Phil, Roger, Sam, and Plum followed. Of those who had played against Lemington only five were retained—those who had been on the eleven one and two years previous. All the other players were told they would have to enter the scrub team, for a try-out for the substitute bench.
It filled Dave's heart with pleasure to get back
