One of the fingers of his left hand was bandaged, and Outfield West dropped it gingerly.
"Not--not _broke_ ?" he asked wonderingly.

Joel nodded.
"Aren't you _proud_ of it ?" whispered his chum.
"Yes," answered Joel simply and earnestly.
"May I take it, too ?" asked the other youth.

Joel started and looked down into the anxious and entreating face of Bartlett Cloud.

He grasped the hesitating hand that was held up.
"Yes," he answered smilingly.
And the big drum boomed, and the shrill fifes tootled, and the crimson banners waved upon the breeze, and every one cheered himself hoarse, and thus the conquering heroes came back to the college that loved them.
And Joel, a little tearful when no one was looking, and very happy always, was borne on the shoulders of West and Cloud, friend and enemy, at the very head of the procession, honored above all! ***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HALF-BACK*** ******* This file should be named 11041.txt or 11041.zip ******* This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: http://www.gutenberg.net/1/1/0/4/11041 Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed.
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