sleep, good food, fresh air, and plenty of hard
physical work, should and does make you able to study better. In my
experience, I am glad to say, I have known not one football captain who
did not stand among the first few in his class; and that same experience
has proved to me that, almost without exception, students who go in for
athletics are the best scholars. Healthful exercise and sensible living
go hand in hand with scholarly attainment. I don't mean to say that
every successful student has been an athlete, but I do say that almost
every athlete has been a successful student. And now that we understand
each other in this matter, none of you need feel any surprise if, should
you get into difficulties with the faculty over your studies, I refuse,
as I shall, to intercede in your behalf. I want men to deal with who are
honest, hard-working athletes, and honest, hard-working students. My own
experience and that of other coachers with whom I have talked, proves
that the brilliant football player or crew man who sacrifices class
standing for his athletic work may do for a while, but in the end is a
losing investment."

And on top of that warning Paul had received one afternoon a printed
postal card, filled in here and there with the pen, which was
as follows:

"Erskine College, _November 4, 1901_.

"Mr. Paul Gale.

"Dear Sir: You are requested to call on the Dean, Tuesday, November 5th,
during the regular office hours.

"Yours respectfully,

"Ephraim Levett, _Dean_."

Paul obeyed the mandate with sinking heart. When he left the office it
was with a sensation of intense relief and with a resolve to apply
himself so well to his studies as to keep himself and the Dean
thereafter on the merest bowing acquaintance. And he was, thus far,
living up to his resolution; but as less than a week had gone by,
perhaps his self-gratulation was a trifle early. It may be that Cowan
also was forced to confer with the Dean at about that time, for he too
showed an unusual application to text-books, and as a result he and Paul
saw each other less frequently.

On November 6th, one week after Neil's accident and just two weeks prior
to the Robinson game, Erskine played Arrowden, and defeated her 11-0.
Neil, however, did not witness that contest, for, at the invitation of
and in company with Devoe, he journeyed to Collegetown and watched
Robinson play Artmouth. Devoe had rather a bad knee, and was nursing it
against the game with Y