Part 31 (2/2)

”Tom Rover can take Felton's place,” came the order from the head of the team, and Tom at once threw off the blanket he had been using and got into practice with another new man and some others.

d.i.c.k felt sore, physically and mentally. He had been roughly used by two of the Roxley players, and had made a fumble at a critical moment.

And all during that heartrending first half Dora had not noticed him at all!

The coach did some plain talking to the players while in the dressing-room, and told them of where he thought Roxley might be weak--at the left end.

”Don't ma.s.s unless you absolutely have to,” were his words of caution.

”They have the weight, but I don't think they have the wind. Keep them on the jump. I think that is your only chance.”

When the whistle blew for the second half the Brill eleven came out on the gridiron with a ”do or die” look on their faces.

”Now pile it into 'em!” cried the coach. ”Don't give 'em time to think about it!”

Whether it was this caution, or the very desperateness of the case, it would be hard to say, but true it is that Brill went at their opponents ”hammer and tongs” from the very start. They avoided all wedge work and confined themselves as much as possible to open playing. More than this, they used a little trick d.i.c.k had once played when on the eleven at Putnam Hall. The ball was pa.s.sed from right to left, then to center, and then to left again, and then carried around the end for a gain of twenty-five yards. Then it was picked up again, turned back and to the left once more, and forced around the end for twenty yards more.

”That's the way to do it!” yelled several of the Brill supporters.

”Over with it, while you've got the chance!”

The ball was forced back by sheer weight of Roxley, but only for five yards. Then the Brill quarter-back got it, sent it over to Toms and in a twinkling Tom ”nursed” it to where he wanted it and kicked a goal from the field.

”Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!”

”That's the way to do it!”

”Now, then, for another!”

”By the great Julius Caesar!” cried Sam. ”Isn't that fine?”

”Oh, it was grand!” exclaimed Nellie, and she waved her banner directly at Tom, and he waved his hand in return. Just then Nellie felt as if she could go and hug him.

”It certainly was fine,” said Grace, ”but it's only one goal, and they have such a big score,” she pouted.

”Never mind. We won't be whitewashed, anyway.”

”It's a pity they didn't have Tom in the first half,” said Dora.

Although her heart was strangely sore, she nevertheless felt proud of what Tom had accomplished.

Again the two elevens went at it, and now Roxley tried again to force the center by a rush. But to their surprise Brill s.h.i.+fted to the left--that one weak spot--and got the ball on a fumble by the Roxley half-back. There was more quick action by four of the Brill players, and when the scrimmage came to an end the leather was found just three yards from the Roxley goal line.

And then came that awful struggle, where muscle met muscle in a strain that was truly terrific. Roxley was heavier, but its wind was going fast. Brill held at first, then went ahead--an inch--a foot--a yard.

”Hold 'em! Hold 'em!” was the Roxley cry. But it was not to be. The yard became two, and then the leather went over with a rush.

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