CHAPTER IV
BIFFEN'S PROGRESS
That day, after morning school, Biffen's held a meeting, and thereat Actonwas proposed captain by Worcester and seconded by Raven; and Biffen'sconfirmed Worcester's qualified opinion of their sense by electing him_nem. con_.
From that day Acton threw his heart and soul into the regeneration ofBiffen's. There did not pass an afternoon but that he turned out forfooter, and coached, encouraged, bullied, stormed, praised each individualmember of the team with the strictest impartiality and Spartan justice.
The smallest fault was dragged out into the light of day, and commented onwith choice fulness, and any clever concerted piece of work got its duereward. Acton would stand no half-hearted play; he wanted the last ounceout of his men. The fellows stared a bit at first at his deadlyearnestness, so unlike Dick's disgusted resignation at their shortcomings;but they found the change refreshing on the whole, for they could stand alot of bullying from a fellow like Acton, who never seemed to make amistake, or to have an off-day, and who could give stones and a beating tothe best man among them. They respected his skill, and buckled to the workin hand. In about a fortnight there was a suggestion of style about themoving of some of the fellows up the field. Worcester backed up Acton withwhole-hearted enthusiasm, and Raven was lost in wonder at the forwardmovement. This backing Acton found rather useful, for Dick and Raven wereas popular as any in St. Amory's.
Some of the fellows were inclined to turn restive after about a fortnight,when the novelty of earnestness in football had worn off, but Acton'sdemands were as inexorable as ever. Matters came to a head (probably, as Iexpect, to the new captain's inward satisfaction) when his girding upsetChalmers--about the best forward of Biffen's regenerated lot. There was tobe a match with some of the Fifth for the Saturday, and Acton had arrangeda preliminary canter the day before to test his attack. Chalmers was thewinger, but on the day he was tremendously selfish, and stuck to the balluntil he was robbed or knocked off it. Now, Acton loathed the "alone I didit" type of forward, and asked Chalmers pretty acidly what his inside manwas for. This riled Chalmers considerably, for he had a large privateopinion about his own play, and he said pretty hotly, "Mind your ownbusiness, Acton."
Acton said very coolly, "I am going to do so. Please remember, Chalmers,this is not a one-horse show."
"Seems distinctly like it, judging by the fellow who's been doing all thetalking for the last age."
"Play the game, and don't be an ass."
"I object to being called an ass," said Chalmers, in a white rage.
"Well, mule, then," said Acton, cheerfully. "Anything to oblige you,Chalmers, bar your waltzing down the touch-line to perdition. You're not aBassett nor a Bell yet, you know."
Chalmers would dearly have liked to have struck Acton, but Worcesterlooked so utterly disgusted at the whole business, that I fancy it wasDick's eye that suggested to Chalmers his getting into his coat andsweater. He did so, and stalked angrily off the field.
Now, Chalmers really liked the game, and did not fancy being crossed outof the eleven, which Acton would almost certainly proceed to do; so thatnight after tea, he went to Worcester's study, and boarded Dick.
"Apologize to Acton," said Dick.
"But he called me an ass!"
"You were one," said Dick, dryly. "Acton's putting in a lot of work overthe slackest house that ever disgraced the old school, and this is howhe's treated. Ass is a mild term."
Chalmers went to Raven.
"Apologize," said Raven.
"He called me a mule," urged Chalmers, despairingly.
"So you were. I quite expected to see the kicking begin, really. Acton'ssweating no end to screw us up to concert-pitch, and flat mutiny is hisreward. Apologize, and help us win the Fifth to-morrow."
So Chalmers moved reluctantly across to Acton's and made his apology.
"Don't mention it," said Acton, cheerfully. "Sorry I upset you, Chalmers,but you elected me captain, and I do want a little success in the houses,and how can we get it if the fellows don't combine? Say no more about it;I was rather afraid you weren't going to come, which is the unadornedtruth."
This last delicate touch, which showed Chalmers that, without the apology,his captain had meant to cut him adrift, _sans_ hesitation, and yetcontained a pretty little compliment to his footer, embarrassed Chalmersmore than a little; but Acton offered his forward tea and muffins, andfive minutes afterwards Chalmers was finding out what a nice fellow Actonreally could be. The next day Chalmers smoothed his ruffled feelings bypiling on three goals against the Fifth, who sneaked off the Acres fivegoals to the bad. This was the first time for ages that Biffen's hadtasted blood, and the news of the victory staggered others besides thevictims. There was quite a flutter among the house captains, and Acton, bythe way, had no more mutinies.
"Without haste, without rest," Biffen's captain started his second projectfor the elevation of his house. He had noticed what none of the otherfellows would condescend to see, that two of the despised niggers ofBiffen's were rather neat on the bars. He spent a quarter of an hour oneevening quietly watching the two in the gym, and he went away thoughtful.Singh Ram and Mehtah thereupon each received a polite note, and "couldthey call about seven in Acton's study?" They came, and Acton talked tothem briefly but to the point. When they sought their quarters again theywere beaming, and "Singed" Ram carried a fat book of German physicalexercises under his arm.
"Am I not coming out strong?" said Acton, laughing to himself, "when I setthe very niggers a-struggling for the greater glory of Biffen's--or is itActon's? Then, there's that exhibition, which we must try to get for thisdouble-superlative house. Raven must beat that Sixth prig Hodgson, thevery bright particular star of Corker's. Would two hours' classics, onalternate nights, meet his case? He shall have 'em, bless him! He shallknow what crops Horace grew on his little farm, and all the other rotwhich gains Perry Exhibitions. Hodgson may strong coffee and wet towel_per noctem_; but, with John Acton as coach, Raven shall upset theapple-cart of Theodore Hodgson. There's Todd in for the Perry, too, Ihear. Hodgson may be worth powder and shot, but I'm hanged if Raven needfear Cotton's jackal! If only half of my plans come off, still that willput Philip Bourne in a tighter corner than he's ever been in before.Therefore--_en avant!_"