l. The first of these was to be with Hixley High
School, located in a town at the other end of the lake. Then would
follow a game of more importance with the Clearwater Country Club, at
their beautiful grounds on the outskirts of Haven Point. And then the
last and most important game of all--that with Columbus Academy,
located about ten miles away. Whether the last named game would be
played at Colby Hall or at the Columbus Academy grounds, was still a
question.

In a few days Jack recovered completely from the spiking he had
received from Slugger Brown, and then he went at his football practice
with greater vigor than ever. He took Slugger's place on the regular
eleven, as already mentioned, and in his first game they beat the scrub
team by a score of 32 to 12.

"Now, that's better!" declared Gif. "You didn't let the scrub walk all
over you."

Fred had been on the scrub team, and, although that eleven had been
defeated, he was in a rather happy frame of mind, for the reason that
out of the twelve points scored he had been directly responsible for
six points.

"I think Fred is going some," remarked Jack to Gif, later on when he
had a chance to speak to the football captain privately.

"You're right, Jack," was the answer. "And I've got my eye on him."

The game with Hixley High was not a very important one, yet it was made
the occasion for quite a gala day by not only the boys of both schools
but likewise the girls attending the high school and also the young
ladies of Clearwater Hall. The Rover boys and some of their chums
invited Ruth and her several friends, including Jennie Mason and Ida
Brierley, to be present, and this invitation was gladly accepted.

"I don't wonder that Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell look so glum
occasionally," remarked Spouter to Jack the day after the invitations
had been given and accepted. "I just had a talk with my cousin May, and
she says Jennie Mason and Ida Brierley are through with those two
cadets. They told Nappy and Slugger they thought they were nothing but
cowards for the way they treated you Rovers on the lake."

"Well, I'm glad they've given up going with that pair," announced Jack.

The last game with Hixley High had been played on the grounds of that
institution, so that the game this year was to take place at Colby
Hall.

"You fellows will have the honor of bringing the girls over from
Clearwater Hall," remarked Jack to his cousins and his chums. "I'll
have to st