He had now been keeping up the pace for more than a week.  It was gradually growing easier, too, the further he went along the unfamiliar road.  People did not sneer quite so much at him as in the beginning.  Some even ventured to give him a half-friendly nod when they chanced to meet.

And so for the first time perhaps since that day when he made up his mind, Nick was unconsciously whistling as he walked along, his thoughts busy with matters connected with his set purpose.

Obeying an impulse Hugh quickened his pace.

“Oh, Nick!  Hold on a minute, will you?” he called out.

On turning his head quickly and seeing who it was, Nick stopped short in his tracks.  He was looking a little confused, yet not displeased, when Hugh reached him.

Hugh thrust out his hand, and, of course, Nick had to accept it, though he did look a little awkward, because this was a new experience with him.  Still, he gave Hugh’s digits a fierce squeeze that might be taken as an index to his feelings toward his one-time hated enemy.

“I’ve been wanting to have a little chat with you for some time, Nick,” the other hastened to say; “but somehow every chance I got something would interfere, and the best I could do was to wave my hand, or give you a nod.  Now this morning, just as I started to skate through the crowd to say something important to you, the coach called me back and said they were ready to start play.  Do you know what it was I meant to ask of you this morning, Nick?”

Nick looked puzzled and curious also.

“I might guess it in a week, Hugh,” he said, grinning; “but not right away.  You see, I ain’t used to having anybody ask things of me.  It’s generally been a scowl, and a suspicious look, as if they thought I mean to play a trick on ’em if they so much as turned their heads on me.  But then that’s just what I used to do often enough; so I oughtn’t to complain.  What did you want with me, Hugh?”

“I was going to ask you to stand by during the entire game, because, in case one of my players was hurt so badly that he’d have to be dropped out, rather than cut both sides down to six, I meant to put you in as substitute, no matter what position had to be filled.”

Nick caught his breath.  His face flushed, and a glow appeared in his eyes.  That expression of confidence shown in Hugh’s words filled his aching heart with new encouragement.  Hugh could see the muscles of his cheeks working, as though he found it difficult to control his emotions.  Then Nick spoke.

“That was mighty kind in you, Hugh, to think of me,” he said, with just a suspicious quiver to his voice.  “I’d sure liked to have played in that game; but do you think it’d have been wise to have picked me for a substitute when there were plenty of other fellows on the ice competent to take the place?”

“Not one able to fill your shoes, Nick, and they know it,” asserted Hugh stoutly.