The North Grammar boys were dandies, and they appeared to want, everyone to realize the fact.

They formed at the roadside and marched on to the field in step.
"Halt!" commanded Captain Hi Martin.

Then he looked around curiously.
"If the Centrals are here yet, why don't they come out of the crowd and receive us ?" inquired Martin rather pompously.

His insinuation that Dick's fellows might be mixed with the crowd was a slur on the Central boys not possessing uniforms.
"Our fellows are not here yet, but they will be soon, you bet," called back a Central boy.

"It's only twenty minutes past four." "Spread out, men, and practice," directed Hi Martin.
"Yah! yah!" jeered a Central boy.