A quick little catching of breath was audible here and there. What could the Squirms do when the great captain of Foxenby was pleading with them thus? His whole heart was in his voice--his deadly earnestness could not be mistaken. The meanest boy amongst them knew how passionately Forge loved Foxenby, and his pure devotion to its interests was infectious.
"Why, of course, Forge, we'll practise like the very dickens--won't we, you chaps?" said Osbody, turning on them a pair of eyes that shone with new resolution.
"Rather!" they answered, in somewhat tremulous chorus.
"Good biz," commented Forge, as he turned aside into Rooke's House. "It bucks me up no end to hear you say so."
Nominations for the School Captaincy had to be sent in a fortnight before the actual election took place. Great fun had always been extracted from the annual event, particularly in the Junior School. Consequently there was blank consternation, particularly in Holbeck's House, when the school librarian gave it out that only one nomination paper had been sent in.
"There must be some mistake--a ghastly bloomer," said Broome, of Holbeck's House. "Papers mislaid, no doubt. Why, I signed Harwood's nomination paper myself."
"Come, Mr. Librarian, stop rotting," Broome said. "Practical joking in a matter of this kind shows bad taste."
"Have a square look at me, chaps," said the librarian. "Do I look like a jester in cap and bells?"
"More like an ink-bottle with a quill stuck out of it," said Lake.
"Exactly. Then don't accuse me of mucking up my job. Richard Forge alone has been nominated for the Captaincy, and will therefore be elected unopposed."
"What's that?" queried Robin Arkness, always to the fore when anything was afoot. "Dick Forge Captain of Foxenby again? Luke Harwood not nominated? Jolly good job for Harwood, then. He'd have got the slugging of a lifetime if he'd stood."
"Hop it, cheeky, or you'll get my boot-toe," was Lake's threat.
"Jealous!" Robin taunted him. Then off flew the leader of the Merry Men to acquaint his comrades of the glorious tidings that Forge was captain for another year--an occurrence which they celebrated by carrying paper banners round the school-yard and heartily boo-ing any boy of Holbeck's House whom they suspected of being Luke Harwood's partizan.