Part 51 (1/2)

”Oh, what a shame that Rockville scored!” sighed Vera Rockwell.

”Never mind, the game isn't ended yet,” returned Mary Feversham.

”No,” came from a Rockville cadet, sitting near. ”When it is the score will be about forty to nothing, in our favor.” And this remark caused some cadets to smile, and made both of the girls turn very red.

”Aren't they horrid!” whispered Mary.

”Don't mind them,” answered her friend. ”But, oh, I do so hope Oak Hall wins!” And then both girls waved their Oak Hall banners vigorously, by way of encouragement to the team.

Once more the puck was put into play in the center of the field of ice, and again Rockville sent it flying near to the Oak Hall goal. But this time it came back, and now the fight was on for several minutes near the left side line. There was a little rough play on both sides, and the referee called time.

”I want no more such work,” he said, almost sternly.

”I was. .h.i.t in the side by somebody,” growled Plum.

”I was. .h.i.t in the back,” came from a Rockville player.

”If there is any more such work I'll call the game,” said the referee, and then the whistle blew to start again.

This time Oak Hall worked with vigor, and presently had the rubber disc down close to the Rockville goal. But alas for their hopes! Just as Ben was on the point of striking for the net, a Rockville player stole the puck from him, rapped it to another player, who sent it whirling to Mallory, and in a twinkling it was down at the other end of the field.

”Another goal for Rockville!”

”What did I tell you? Boys, this is a walk-over for our school!” cried Guy Frapley, who was on hand and as anxious as anybody to see Oak Hall defeated.

”Oak Hall may be able to play football, but they don't know how to play ice hockey!” added John Rand, who was with him and equally anxious to see Dave and his friends lose.

The supporters of Oak Hall had little to say. The only lad who felt happy was Nat Poole.

”Here is where Dave Porter and his crowd get what is coming to them,”

thought the money-lender's son. It pleased him greatly to think his school might be beaten. Which shows how really mean-spirited Nat was.

Again the game proceeded, and now the contest waged in earnest. In a mix-up near the center of the field, one of the Rockville players named Devine crashed into Plum, and both went down in a heap, with two other players on top. The puck went sailing toward the Oak Hall goal, and though Dave did his best to stop it, the goal was made an instant later.

”Time! time! Somebody is hurt!”

”That goal ought not to count!”

A babble of voices sounded out, and slowly the players untangled themselves. Then it was learned that Plum had been hurt on the shoulder, and one of the Rockville players had gotten cut in the ankle, and both had to retire. Luke Watson took Plum's place. It was decided that the goal had been made unfairly, after time was called and allowed, and so it was not counted.

But even this did not help Oak Hall in the first half of the contest.

Rockville went at it hammer and tongs again, and soon scored a legitimate third goal, amid a cheering that was tremendous. Then the whistle blew, and the first half of the game became a thing of the past.

”We are up against it and no mistake,” remarked Roger, dolefully, as he and the other players sat down on a bench in the boathouse to rest.

”We are too slow,” answered Dave. ”We simply must put more ginger in our playing.”

”Yes, and we've got to take more chances,” added Sam. ”Might as well do it--we can't lose anything,” he added, bitterly.

When the call sounded to start the second half of the game, the Oak Hall seven came forward with a do-or-die look on their set faces. Rockville, on the other hand, wore a happy smile, as if the victory was already a sure thing.