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diff --git a/old/62411-0.txt b/old/62411-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2a66ded..0000000 --- a/old/62411-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9797 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Merriwell's Glory, by Burt L. Standish - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Dick Merriwell's Glory - Friends and Foes - -Author: Burt L. Standish - -Release Date: June 16, 2020 [EBook #62411] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK MERRIWELL'S GLORY *** - - - - -Produced by KD Weeks, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note: - -This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. -Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. - -Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please -see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding -the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation. - - BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN - - MERRIWELL SERIES - - Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell - - Fascinating Stories of Athletics - -A half million enthusiastic followers of the Merriwell brothers will -attest the unfailing interest and wholesomeness of these adventures of -two lads of high ideals, who play fair with themselves, as well as with -the rest of the world. - -These stories are rich in fun and thrills in all branches of sports and -athletics. They are extremely high in moral tone, and cannot fail to be -of immense benefit to every boy who reads them. - -They have the splendid quality of firing a boy’s ambition to become a -good athlete, in order that he may develop into a strong, vigorous, -right-thinking man. - - _ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_ - - 1—Frank Merriwell’s School Days By Burt L. Standish - 2—Frank Merriwell’s Chums By Burt L. Standish - 3—Frank Merriwell’s Foes By Burt L. Standish - 4—Frank Merriwell’s Trip West By Burt L. Standish - 5—Frank Merriwell Down South By Burt L. Standish - 6—Frank Merriwell’s Bravery By Burt L. Standish - 7—Frank Merriwell’s Hunting Tour By Burt L. Standish - 8—Frank Merriwell in Europe By Burt L. Standish - 9—Frank Merriwell at Yale By Burt L. Standish - 10—Frank Merriwell’s Sports Afield By Burt L. Standish - 11—Frank Merriwell’s Races By Burt L. Standish - 12—Frank Merriwell’s Party By Burt L. Standish - 13—Frank Merriwell’s Bicycle Tour By Burt L. Standish - 14—Frank Merriwell’s Courage By Burt L. Standish - 15—Frank Merriwell’s Daring By Burt L. Standish - 16—Frank Merriwell’s Alarm By Burt L. Standish - 17—Frank Merriwell’s Athletes By Burt L. Standish - 18—Frank Merriwell’s Skill By Burt L. Standish - 19—Frank Merriwell’s Champions By Burt L. Standish - 20—Frank Merriwell’s Return to Yale By Burt L. Standish - 21—Frank Merriwell’s Secret By Burt L. Standish - 22—Frank Merriwell’s Danger By Burt L. Standish - 23—Frank Merriwell’s Loyalty By Burt L. Standish - 24—Frank Merriwell in Camp By Burt L. Standish - 25—Frank Merriwell’s Vacation By Burt L. Standish - 26—Frank Merriwell’s Cruise By Burt L. Standish - 27—Frank Merriwell’s Chase By Burt L. Standish - 28—Frank Merriwell in Maine By Burt L. Standish - 29—Frank Merriwell’s Struggle By Burt L. Standish - 30—Frank Merriwell’s First Job By Burt L. Standish - 31—Frank Merriwell’s Opportunity By Burt L. Standish - 32—Frank Merriwell’s Hard Luck By Burt L. Standish - 33—Frank Merriwell’s Protégé By Burt L. Standish - 34—Frank Merriwell on the Road By Burt L. Standish - 35—Frank Merriwell’s Own Company By Burt L. Standish - 36—Frank Merriwell’s Fame By Burt L. Standish - 37—Frank Merriwell’s College Chums By Burt L. Standish - 38—Frank Merriwell’s Problem By Burt L. Standish - 39—Frank Merriwell’s Fortune By Burt L. Standish - 40—rank Merriwell’s New Comedian By Burt L. Standish - 41—Frank Merriwell’s Prosperity By Burt L. Standish - 42—Frank Merriwell’s Stage Hit By Burt L. Standish - 43—Frank Merriwell’s Great Scheme By Burt L. Standish - 44—Frank Merriwell in England By Burt L. Standish - 45—Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards By Burt L. Standish - 46—Frank Merriwell’s Duel By Burt L. Standish - 47—Frank Merriwell’s Double Shot By Burt L. Standish - 48—Frank Merriwell’s Baseball Victories By Burt L. Standish - 49—Frank Merriwell’s Confidence By Burt L. Standish - 50—Frank Merriwell’s Auto By Burt L. Standish - 51—Frank Merriwell’s Fun By Burt L. Standish - 52—Frank Merriwell’s Generosity By Burt L. Standish - 53—Frank Merriwell’s Tricks By Burt L. Standish - 54—Frank Merriwell’s Temptation By Burt L. Standish - 55—Frank Merriwell on Top By Burt L. Standish - 56—Frank Merriwell’s Luck By Burt L. Standish - 57—Frank Merriwell’s Mascot By Burt L. Standish - 58—Frank Merriwell’s Reward By Burt L. Standish - 59—Frank Merriwell’s Phantom By Burt L. Standish - 60—Frank Merriwell’s Faith By Burt L. Standish - 61—Frank Merriwell’s Victories By Burt L. Standish - 62—Frank Merriwell’s Iron Nerve By Burt L. Standish - 63—Frank Merriwell in Kentucky By Burt L. Standish - 64—Frank Merriwell’s Power By Burt L. Standish - 65—Frank Merriwell’s Shrewdness By Burt L. Standish - 66—Frank Merriwell’s Set Back By Burt L. Standish - 67—Frank Merriwell’s Search By Burt L. Standish - 68—Frank Merriwell’s Club By Burt L. Standish - 69—Frank Merriwell’s Trust By Burt L. Standish - 70—Frank Merriwell’s False Friend By Burt L. Standish - 71—Frank Merriwell’s Strong Arm By Burt L. Standish - 72—Frank Merriwell as Coach By Burt L. Standish - 73—Frank Merriwell’s Brother By Burt L. Standish - 74—Frank Merriwell’s Marvel By Burt L. Standish - 75—Frank Merriwell’s Support By Burt L. Standish - 76—Dick Merriwell At Fardale By Burt L. Standish - 77—Dick Merriwell’s Glory By Burt L. Standish - 78—Dick Merriwell’s Promise By Burt L. Standish - 79—Dick Merriwell’s Rescue By Burt L. Standish - 80—Dick Merriwell’s Narrow Escape By Burt L. Standish - 81—Dick Merriwell’s Racket By Burt L. Standish - 82—Dick Merriwell’s Revenge By Burt L. Standish - 83—Dick Merriwell’s Ruse By Burt L. Standish - 84—Dick Merriwell’s Delivery By Burt L. Standish - 85—Dick Merriwell’s Wonders By Burt L. Standish - 86—Frank Merriwell’s Honor By Burt L. Standish - 87—Dick Merriwell’s Diamond By Burt L. Standish - 88—Frank Merriwell’s Winners By Burt L. Standish - 89—Dick Merriwell’s Dash By Burt L. Standish - 90—Dick Merriwell’s Ability By Burt L. Standish - 91—Dick Merriwell’s Trap By Burt L. Standish - 92—Dick Merriwell’s Defense By Burt L. Standish - 93—Dick Merriwell’s Model By Burt L. Standish - 94—Dick Merriwell’s Mystery By Burt L. Standish - 95—Frank Merriwell’s Backers By Burt L. Standish - 96—Dick Merriwell’s Backstop By Burt L. Standish - 97—Dick Merriwell’s Western Mission By Burt L. Standish - 98—Frank Merriwell’s Rescue By Burt L. Standish - 99—Frank Merriwell’s Encounter By Burt L. Standish - 100—Dick Merriwell’s Marked Money By Burt L. Standish - 101—Frank Merriwell’s Nomads By Burt L. Standish - 102—Dick Merriwell on the Gridiron By Burt L. Standish - 103—Dick Merriwell’s Disguise By Burt L. Standish - 104—Dick Merriwell’s Test By Burt L. Standish - 105—Frank Merriwell’s Trump Card By Burt L. Standish - - Dick Merriwell’s Glory - - OR, - - Friends and Foes - - - - - BY - BURT L. STANDISH - - Author of the famous MERRIWELL STORIES. - -[Illustration] - - STREET & SMITH CORPORATION - PUBLISHERS - 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York - - Copyright, 1901 - By STREET & SMITH - - ------- - - Dick Merriwell’s Glory - - (Printed in the United States of America) - - All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign - languages, including the Scandinavian. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - DICK MERRIWELL’S GLORY. - - --- - - CHAPTER I. - FRIENDS AND FOES. - - -In more ways than one Dick Merriwell had become the wonder of the -Fardale Military School. His astonishing work in the football-game -against White Academy was the talk of Fardale. By running with the ball -the length of the field, he had made both of Fardale’s touch-downs in -the game, and, to crown these thrilling plays, he had kicked two clean -goals. - -Naturally, at the conclusion of the game, the delighted cadets had -rushed onto the field, raised the hero of the day aloft, and carried him -about on their shoulders, cheering until they were hoarse. - -But there were some who took no part in these demonstrations, and they -were the jealous enemies of the remarkable young plebe who had created -such a sensation. Singularly enough, not a few of these enemies were in -Dick’s own class, being such envious chaps as Uric Scudder, Zeb -Fletcher, and Jim Watson. - -However, Dick’s most dangerous enemy was Jabez Lynch, a first-class man, -whose ambition had been to play half-back on the eleven—a position that -had been given to Merriwell. - -On account of a treacherous attempt to injure Dick, Jabez had been -nearly forced to leave school. In Dick’s heart there had been no thought -of mercy toward Jabez, but his brother Frank had been more forbearing, -especially as Jabez might bring a serious complaint against Old Joe -Crowfoot, the Indian, who had threatened him with torture and death -because of his action toward Dick. - -When Dick fully understood that Jabez might retaliate by having Old Joe -arrested, in case he was forced out of Fardale, he agreed to keep still -concerning the treachery of his enemy. But he told Frank that he could -never feel anything but contempt for Lynch, and he did not believe it -possible that such a fellow could reform and become decent. - -In his heart Frank Merriwell doubted if Jabez could change his natural -inclinations; but, at the same time, he was confident that the course -chosen was the proper one, for he did not wish Old Joe to come to harm -through his affection for Dick and his desire to punish the boy’s enemy. - -There was something about the old redskin that Frank admired. Joe knew -little of white men’s laws, and cared less. "An eye for an eye and a -tooth for a tooth" was the law that appealed to him, and in which he -firmly believed. To Joe there seemed nothing particularly wonderful in -the feat of Dick. For years the old Indian had trained the lad to be -fleet of foot, keen of eye, and quick of hand, and it had been his -expectation and belief that Dick would excel in feats and games calling -for these qualities. - -Frank had quickly understood the immense good the training of Old Joe -had done the boy, who might have been weak and sickly but for his free, -open-air life, with the redskin as his chief tutor. - -But Merry saw that there were points Old Joe had neglected, and Dick was -far from perfect physically when Frank took him in hand. In a short time -Frank had wrought an improvement, but he was keeping the work up at -Fardale, seeking to develop his brother into a youth who should be an -absolute physical model. - -Frank believed he could accomplish the work, though he realized that it -could not be brought to a successful conclusion at once. It would take -time and patience to make Dick Merriwell as near perfect as possible; -but time and patience Frank was ready to give. - -At first Old Joe regarded Merry’s work with silent disdain. There was -something of a look of scorn in his beady black eyes when he saw the -magnificent Yale athlete instructing the boy in the use of dumb-bells -and Indian clubs to strengthen and round out certain muscles; but the -beady eyes were keen to detect the slightest improvement, and it finally -happened that the old fellow nodded and pronounced it "heap good." - -It must not be supposed that Frank’s only thought was to make his -brother perfect physically. On the contrary, he had entered Dick at -Fardale because he was satisfied that the course of mental instruction -there would be the very best the lad could obtain. - -Fortunately for Dick, he was much like his famous brother in one -respect. He had a wonderfully active and retentive mind, so that he -could learn almost anything quickly and well when he applied himself -fixedly to the task of doing so. Thus it happened that in this respect, -as well as others, he was a wonder to his classmates, many of whom, -discovering somehow that he had never attended a regular school, had -felt positive he would have a difficult time at Fardale, even if he was -able to get along at all after being admitted. - -Until her death, Dick’s mother had been his tutor, and her instructions -were of the very best. - -It was with untold satisfaction that Frank Merriwell had taken up the -task of developing his brother into perfect manhood; and it was now his -great aim in life to make a complete success in this work, into which he -had entered with all his heart and soul. - -At first the boy had not understood how fortunate he was in having such -a brother and friend, but, little by little, his eyes had been opened, -and at last he was coming to know just what it meant. Dick had been -frivolous to a certain extent, and he had seemed wild and untamable; but -his journey from the Rockies to the Atlantic coast had opened his eyes -and filled him with respect for Frank. He had found that Frank was known -everywhere, and that by the youth of the United States he was regarded -as a model young American. - -This knowledge had brought about something of a change in Dick, in whose -heart was born a desire to emulate his brother and become like him, in -some degree, at least. And the lad’s modesty—which at first he had not -seemed to possess in any degree—had led him to doubt his ability to ever -rise to the heights attained by Frank. - -At one time Old Joe had sought to turn Dick against Frank, being -consumed by the belief that Merriwell meant to carry the boy away where -they would never meet again; but Merry had found a way to conquer the -jealous Indian, and Crowfoot became one of his greatest admirers. Then -it was that the Indian had said to Dick: - -"Do what um broder, Steady Hand, say for um to do. Him know best. Him -got heap big head, all right. Ugh! Him heap mighty young white chief." - -And these words of the old Indian had been, to a great extent, -instrumental in the change that came over the lad. Not that Dick was -able to at once fling off all his wild ways; not that he became -immediately sober and serious. Far from it. He was still a boy, with a -boy’s love of sport and play and pranks. The advent at Fardale had cast -him into a life far different from anything to which he had been -accustomed, and for a time he had seemed reserved and distant, which led -many to think him haughty and overbearing. - -In time they were to learn that he was anything but haughty. In time, -when he came to know them better and they to understand him, they were -to find in Dick Merriwell a frank, honest, companionable, whole-souled, -fun-loving boy, who would make friends and keep them. - -Already Dick had made a few stanch friends. Hugh Douglass, one of his -roommates, an uncouth, farmerish plebe, was one of these. Douglass had -seen beneath the surface, and he was convinced that Dick was all right. - -Brad Buckhart, "the Texan Maverick," as he delighted to call himself, -was another friend Dick had found. At first Buckhart did not take to -young Merriwell, but a change quickly came over him when he found Dick -beset by envious and jealous enemies, and the breezy chap from the Lone -Star State soon evinced a hot desire to fight for Dick on the slightest -provocation. - -And now, since Dick had astonished everybody by his amazing work in the -game against White Academy, scores of fellows were praising him, and -many who had held aloof were willing to know him and become friendly. -But Dick did not like to be patronized, and he found that the men of the -classes above him were inclined to praise him in a manner that was not -wholly unoffensive. Some of them had a way of speaking compliments as if -they were patting a precocious boy on the head and offering him a penny. - -This caused Dick to shun them still more, and thus it came about that he -was thought "stuck up." His enemies knew how to make capital of this, -and they did not lose the opportunity to do so. - -Dick kept about the even tenor of his way, however, studying, drilling, -training, and practising on the football-field. He had tremendous -energy, and the number of things accomplished by him continued to -astound and anger his jealous foes, who soon found a new method of -striking at him. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - A SCHEMING TRIO. - - -"It’s a mean shame!" declared Zeb Fletcher, trying to look at Uric -Scudder with his crooked eye, but seeming to glare at a fatigue-cap -hanging on the wrong hook. - -"That’s right," nodded Scudder, rubbing his weak chin with an air of -indignation. "It’s favoritism, that’s what it is." - -"Of the rankest sort," piped Jim Watson, in his weak, effeminate voice. -"And all because the fellow is Frank Merriwell’s brother." - -"What can we do about it?" questioned Uric. "We ought to do something." - -"We will do something!" declared Fletcher. - -"What will we do?" questioned Scudder and Watson together. - -"Kick!" exclaimed Zeb. - -"I’m afraid that won’t do much good," said Watson. "He has a pull, and -he can do just about as he likes. The rest of us fellows have to attend -drill regularly, while Merriwell is excused from taking anything but -enough to make a showing. Now, I hate drilling as much as any fellow -can, yet I have to take my dose right along, and it’s mighty -disgusting." - -"It is disgusting," agreed Fletcher. "And inspection makes a fellow -sick! Why, think of those stuck-up corporals calling a fellow down for -having a little dust on his old gun, or for not being just as prim and -starchy as they are! It’s too much! They want a chap to be all the time -brushing and cleaning and doing such foolishness." - -"If I’ve got to do it, I’m going to raise a howl at the let-up on -Merriwell," said Scudder. - -"Of course," piped Jim, "they’ll say it was because he’s on the eleven, -and he doesn’t have time enough to practise and drill, too. But we know -how he got onto the eleven, and——" - -"We won’t stand for it!" cried Fletcher, jumping up and striding about -the room. - -"Still," said Scudder, "no one has suggested what we can do." - -This trio were three of young Merriwell’s most persistent and most -obnoxious plebe enemies. Two days after the football-game with White -Academy they had learned that Dick was excused from drill, being -required to appear only at inspection, and it made them very wroth. Then -they gathered in Fletcher’s room to talk it over. - -Both Scudder and Watson were roommates of Merriwell, who, after the rule -of the academy, had been placed in a "cock-loft" room with three -companions. Of these companions, Hugh Douglass was the only one who had -shown an inclination of friendliness toward Dick. - -Watson was a sly fellow, and he had very little to say in the presence -of Merriwell. At times he even pretended to be Dick’s friend; but Dick -was able to read him like an open book, with the result that Watson’s -hypocritical blandishments were taken for exactly what they were worth. - -Scudder was also sneaky, and, on first entering Fardale, he had sought -to gain favor with the yearlings by playing spy for them. As a result, -he had been forced into an encounter with Dick, and had been soundly -thrashed. This made him the persistent and scheming foe of the -successful young plebe. - -It made no difference to Uric that Merriwell had also thrashed Big Bob -Singleton, the champion boxer of the school, and that Singleton had -seemed to think all the more of Dick because of this feat. Uric desired -to "get even." And now he suddenly exclaimed: - -"Wait! I have an idea." - -"What is it?" questioned the others. - -"You all know what an old duffer Professor Gooch is." - -"Sure thing." - -"I hear that he is raising a rumpus because too much athletics have been -introduced in the school." - -"Yes; we’ve heard about that." - -"He is down on football." - -"Yes." - -"Says it’s a brutal game, and should be abolished by the school." - -"Yes." - -"He’s the one for us to get at." - -"How can we do it?" questioned Fletcher eagerly. - -"Get up a petition, a round robin, or something of the sort, protesting -against Merriwell being excused from drill in order to take part in -football practise. What do you think of that?" - -"All right!" piped Watson. "It’s a great idea!" - -"Oh, I have a great head!" said Uric loftily. - -"But can we get enough signers?" questioned Fletcher. "That is to be -considered." - -"We can try hard. I know some fellows who will sign. If we can work old -Gooch up, he may make a big kick against this business." - -"And if Merriwell is compelled to attend drill regularly, it’s certain -he can’t keep up in his classes, for, with drill and football, he won’t -have time for study. By Jove! Scudder, I believe it is possible that you -have struck on a scheme to force Merriwell to drop out of the eleven! -That will be a corker on him." - -"And on his brother, too; for Frank Merriwell wants Dick to make a good -showing at football this fall." - -"Who’ll draw up the document?" - -"Let’s all have a hand in it. Bring out ink and paper and the things -needed, Fletch. Let’s get right down to work." - -So, in a very few moments, these three youthful schemers were hard at -work framing a protest against Dick Merriwell being excused from drill -that he might practise on the football-field. They stated, as well as -they could, that it was not fair to others of the class to favor a -certain one in such a way, taking care, as they thought, to make their -language impressive without being offensive. - -"There!" cried Scudder, when it was finished; "that ought to be a -regular bombshell!" - -"If it doesn’t raise a rumpus, I’m no prophet," chuckled Fletcher. - -"Merriwell will be angry," said Watson faintly. - -"What the dickens do we care!" said Uric. - -"His brother will be sore when he hears of it." - -"His brother is nothing to us. Besides, it will be a good thing to show -Mr. Frank Merriwell that he does not run things here at Fardale." - -"Who signs first?" questioned Jim timidly. - -"Scudder," said Fletcher positively. - -"No," said Uric, "you are the one to sign first, as you do not room with -Merriwell." - -There was some argument over this matter, but Zeb seized the pen at last -and wrote his name with a flourish. Scudder followed, his handwriting -being rather hazy. Then Watson tried to get out of signing until more -names were added to the paper, but Fletcher and Scudder would not -listen, and he was compelled to be third on the list. - -Then came an argument as to who should take the paper and seek more -signers. At last, in exasperation, Fletcher snatched it up, exclaiming: - -"I’ll do it! I know a few fellows who will back us up, anyhow. We ought -to have the whole class; but some fellows will be afraid to put their -names to anything like this. All the same, there are several on the -football-team that played the regular eleven that first game who are -sore because they were not given a trial on the eleven, and we’ll get -them. Oh, there are more ways than one of making things warm for Mr. -Dick Merriwell!" - -The trio broke up in great satisfaction. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - THE TWO PROFESSORS. - - -Professor Barnaby Gooch, thin, wrinkled, crabbed, and bald, rapped -sharply on the door of Professor Zenas Gunn’s private study. As the -knock was not answered at once, Professor Gooch rapped again, sharply, -nervously, and in a manner that denoted irritation. Then he pushed the -door open and walked in. - -Professor Gunn, dignified, old-fashioned, yet kindly in appearance, -stepped from behind a screen and came forward. Before he could speak, -however, Professor Gooch rasped forth: - -"I’ve nearly beaten the skin from my knuckles rapping on your door. Are -you deaf, professor—are you deaf, sir?" - -"I hope not, professor," was the answer. - -"But you didn’t answer me—you didn’t answer. You let me pound away—you -let me hammer." - -"I was engaged when you first rapped, sir," said Professor Gunn somewhat -stiffly. "I was about to answer your knock." - -"Ah-a!" rasped Professor Gooch. "You were about to answer! But you were -in no hurry." - -"You seem to be in a bad humor this morning, Professor Gooch. Is there -anything wrong? Will you have a chair?" - -"No; I won’t have a chair. Yes, there is something wrong. I have come to -speak to you about it, sir." - -"Very well." - -"It’s not very well; it’s very bad," declared Professor Gooch, rapping -on the floor with his cane and glaring at the head professor. "It’s a -disgrace, I say! It’s all wrong! It’s a matter to which we must give our -immediate attention." - -"If there is anything so very bad that requires our attention it shall -have it." - -"Ah-a! I hope so—I hope so! I have seen it coming on for some time. I -have on several occasions expressed myself as opposed to it. Now—now, -sir, something must be done!" - -"As yet I am not aware of what you are speaking. Will you kindly -enlighten me?" - -"I’m speaking of this matter of permitting football and athletics and -such frivolous things to interfere with the regular course of studies -and drill at this academy—that’s what I’m speaking of. And it is high -time somebody spoke up. The tendency of our day to permit such things at -schools and colleges is deplorable—deplorable, sir. I mean it!" - -Professor Gooch shook his cane at his companion, as if threatening him. -When Professor Gunn started to speak, he went on: - -"Wait sir—wait! Hear me! I say it’s deplorable. Do young men go to -school and to college to be trained to break one another’s bones in a -murderous game called football? Is that why parents send their sons to -school? Is that what fathers desire their sons should be taught? You -know it is not; you cannot say it is. In former times such games were -not given prominence here. True, they were played some, but those who -took part in them were not encouraged and shown special favors by the -faculty and officers of this school. Such is not the case now. Baseball, -football, and kindred dangerous sports and games are encouraged here. -You know it is true, Professor Gunn. You will not say it isn’t true!" - -"Still," said the head professor calmly, "I am at a loss to understand -why you are making all this fuss." - -"Fuss!" gasped Professor Gooch, throwing up both hands and waving his -cane dangerously near the other’s head. "Fuss, sir! Is that what you -call it? Well, it’s high time to make a fuss! It’s time to see if -something cannot be done to check this tendency to go football crazy. I -mean to see if something cannot be done. There is altogether too much of -this business at Fardale. Next I shall hear that inducements have been -offered students to come here because they can play baseball or football -unusually well. That is what we’re coming to, sir." - -"Do you think so?" said Professor Gunn, still with perfect calmness. - -"Hey?" exclaimed Professor Gooch. "I know it! I see it approaching! Now, -what do you think of that? What do you think of this craziness for -athletics? Answer me, sir!" - -"Excuse me," said the head professor, "if I sit down. Of course, you may -stand if you prefer. You ask me what I think of athletics. I will answer -you briefly. I think that athletics as practised in our schools and -colleges is doing a great work for the young men of our country." - -"Hey?" again squawked Professor Gooch. "Great work! What kind of work, -may I ask?" - -"Making stronger, healthier, manlier men, and truly that is a good -work." - -"Fudge!" snorted Professor Gooch. - -"Truth," asserted Professor Gunn. - -"Fudge!" again burst from Professor Gooch. "I say fudge, and I mean -fudge! Does it make a stronger and manlier chap of a fellow to put him -into a game of football and break his leg or his collar-bone? Bah! Don’t -talk to me, Professor Gunn! It makes that boy just so much weaker. Yes, -sir!" - -"The youth who is properly trained and prepared for the game of football -rarely meets with a serious accident." - -"Fudge, sir—fudge! What is the good of all this training and preparing -for a game so brutal?" - -"The training and preparing helps build up the physical powers of the -lad, gives him health and strength to fight the battles of life. It -prepares him for success in the world." - -"Tut! tut! tut! What nonsense! It’s education, sir, that prepares the -boy for the battle of life." - -"But what is education without health, Professor Gooch? Give a man a -fine education and a weak body, and he has not the energy or courage to -make the most of his education. I’m an old man, sir, and I can remember -the time when I entertained ideas similar to your own. But I have -studied and sought to advance with the advance of time. I have -endeavored not to become antiquated and a back number. I have seen that -it is the young man with the strong and healthy body who wins in the -battle of life. Of course, he must have education to go with his health -and strength, and, therefore, the two things go hand in hand. I believe, -sir, the time is coming when physical training will be compulsory in -nearly all the schools of our land. I hope the time is not far distant -when it will be compulsory here at Fardale. A boy cannot be a successful -football-player unless he is something of an athlete. Thus football -encourages a certain class of aspirants to train their bodies and to -become athletic, as the only way they can get on the teams. In that way -alone, regardless of any other, it is a good thing." - -Several times Professor Gooch had sought to interrupt the head -professor, but Professor Gunn checked him and persisted in speaking till -he had finished. - -"He! he! he!" laughed Professor Gooch sneeringly. "That’s fine talk, but -it’s nothing but talk. I’d like to know what good it would have done me -to train and become an athlete when I was a boy?" - -"It would have filled out your flat chest, professor, and it would have -given you better arms and shoulders and legs. It would have made you a -handsomer man, and it might have prevented your becoming sour and -crabbed in your old age." - -"Yah!" snarled Professor Gooch. "Are you trying to make sport of me, -sir? If you are, I won’t stand it! I’m opposed to all this athletic -nonsense, and I shall remain so. But, more than anything else, I am -unalterably against favoritism, which is creeping into this school." - -"I do not understand your meaning." - -"I’ll make you understand. I have reliable information that a member of -this school has been excused from drill in order that he might have time -to practise with the football-team. What do you think of that, sir? Now, -I think you’re surprised." - -"He must be a very good football-player, else such a thing could not -happen." - -"What has that to do with it? Drill is a regular part of the course -here, and football is something entirely foreign. I hold that no one -should be excused from drill, much less a scholar who has just entered -here. Such a course is bound to produce dissatisfaction and arouse -protest. In fact, it has done so already—already, sir. I have in my -pocket such a protest. It was that which brought me to you, and I hope -you will do something about it. It is a protest against the excusing of -Richard Merriwell from drill in order that he may practise with the -football-team. There is much feeling over it. You can see what football -has done here, sir—you can see." - -Professor Gooch brought out the protest. - -"Permit me to examine it," said Professor Gunn, adjusting his spectacles -and taking the paper from the hand of the other. "Ah! I see there are -only five names attached out of a very large class." - -"That’s enough—that’s enough! It shows the feeling!" - -"Um-mum!" came from Professor Gunn, as he read the protest. "I fancy I -see something of a personal feeling in this." - -"Well, there seems to be reason for such a feeling. The statement is -made that Richard Merriwell is insolent and overbearing toward his -classmates, that he makes sport of his superiors, that he mocks and -derides the faculty, and that he has sought to bring disgrace upon at -least one cadet by circulating false and malicious reports concerning -him." - -There was a sudden stir behind the screen, a quick step, and a boy, with -flushed cheeks and flashing eyes, appeared. - -"I demand to know," cried Dick Merriwell, "the names of my accusers!" - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - DICK MAKES ANOTHER ENEMY. - - -Professor Gunn had invited Dick to call at his room. The head professor -was very friendly toward Frank, whom he greatly admired, and he had -taken the first opportunity to have a talk with Frank’s brother. - -It happened that Professor Gooch had called while Dick was in the room, -but the screen had prevented him from becoming aware of the presence of -the boy until Dick stepped out. - -Professor Gooch was somewhat staggered by the appearance of the lad, but -he quickly recovered, his wrinkled old face twisting into hard knots. - -"Yah!" he exclaimed. "So you were listening behind there! Yah! -Listening!" - -"I was here when you came," returned Dick. "I did not come here to -listen to anybody, sir." - -"Insolence!" grated the professor. "It’s plain there are good grounds -for the charges." - -"I beg your pardon," said Dick, restraining himself with not a little -difficulty. "I have no intention of being insolent. I simply demand my -right. False charges have been made against me, and I ask to know the -names of those who have made them." - -"What would you do if you knew?" - -"I’d make the chaps who said such things retract, or I’d——" - -"You’d what?" - -"Thrash every one of them!" exclaimed the boy hotly. - -"Ah-ha!" exclaimed Professor Gooch, with satisfaction. "That’s the kind -of spirit football breeds! It makes fighters, Professor Gunn—brutal -fighters!" - -"Unless a man is ready to fight for his rights, he stands little show of -amounting to much in this world," said the head professor. "I don’t -blame the boy for wishing to fight." - -"I’m astonished at you—astonished, sir!" cried Professor Gooch, with a -pretension of being aghast. - -"At the same time," said Professor Gunn, "I do not believe in giving -him, at present, the names on this paper." - -"At least, you show judgment in that," said Professor Gooch, with -sarcasm. - -"Why am I not to know the names of those who have made these lying -charges against me?" demanded Dick. "I have never been overbearing or -insolent toward any one, I have never made sport of my superiors, I have -not mocked or derided the faculty, and I have circulated no false -reports against anybody." - -"In short," said Professor Gunn, "you deny the entire list of charges?" - -"I do." - -"And I believe your denial," said the head professor. - -"It’s simply one against five," said Professor Gooch. "I choose to -believe the five." - -"Have they offered you any proof of the truth of their charges?" asked -Dick. - -"It makes no difference. You have not proven the charges are not true." - -"Until there is some evidence against the boy he is supposed to be -innocent." - -"By you, sir, perhaps; but me——" - -"You have no right to believe me guilty!" flashed Dick, his indignation -breaking all bonds. - -"Don’t talk to me that way!" flared the professor—"don’t dare! I will -not have it! You must keep your place, sir!" - -"You are not my master!" he cried. "You cannot tell me what I shall do!" - -Gooch flourished his cane, with the intention of shaking it at the lad, -but, quick as a flash, Dick snatched it from his hand. - -"Don’t you dare!" he blazed. "Why, if you do——" - -He took a step toward Professor Gooch, who fell back, uttering a little -squawk of alarm. His appearance was so comical that a sudden and -surprising change came over the lad. The look of anger was chased from -his face by one of merriment, and he cried: - -"Oh, dear! Don’t be frightened! Ha! ha! ha! Oh, ha! ha! ha! I won’t hurt -you, sir!" - -"Professor Gunn!" gasped Professor Gooch, "will you stand here and see -me insulted and threatened like this? Isn’t this just cause to have this -boy expelled? I demand that he be brought to book for this conduct! I -demand it, sir! He shall be turned out of this school! I will see that -it is done!" - -Dick tossed the cane at the feet of the excited professor. - -"Turn me out!" he said. "What do I care for your old school? I didn’t -wish to come here, in the first place. I’ll go back to my home—back to -Felicia! Old Joe will go with me, and I’ll be free again. Then I can do -as I like, and I’ll have plenty of friends in the birds and the wild -creatures that know me. There I’ll have no mean and lying enemies who -are trying to hurt me! You may believe the lies about me! I don’t care!" - -He turned as if to leave the room, but suddenly whirled toward Professor -Gunn, whose hand he quickly grasped. - -"You have been kind to me," he said, his voice soft and musical. "I’ll -never forget it, sir—never!" - -Then, before Zenas Gunn could stop him, he had dashed from the room. - -"Why, he’s a perfect young wildcat!" gasped Professor Gooch. "He is not -safe to have round! It will be a good thing for the school if he should -go!" - -Zenas Gunn gave Professor Gooch a look that contained a meaning that was -far from complimentary. - -"What you need, professor," he said, "is something for your liver. I -don’t blame the boy." - -"You—you don’t? Why, he snatched the cane from my hand!" - -"When you shook it at him." - -"But I didn’t mean to strike him." - -"How did he know? I have talked with his brother, and he has asked me to -bear with any peculiarities of the lad, who was raised alone and without -playmates, save one little girl. He is not like other boys. You do not -understand him at all." - -"I don’t want to; the young wildcat! I think it a shame to have such a -boy in the school!" - -"And I think it a shame there are not more like him. He is honest and -open, and he——" - -"But these charges against him, professor?" - -"I take no stock in them. I understand that the boy has made enemies -because he has been successful in doing remarkable things since entering -Fardale. His success has made others envious and jealous. They are -trying to down him. Are you going to help them, professor? Are you going -to become the instrument of these enemies?" - -"Oh, you have a slick way of putting things, Professor Gunn; but you -know the boy insulted me in this very room and before your eyes. You -know it, sir!" - -"He dared stand up manfully and defend himself, for which I confess my -admiration." - -"Your admiration?" - -"Exactly." - -"Yah! His actions were admirable! Oh, yes! The young spitfire! I’d like -to have the handling of him! He’d play no more football for one while! -I’d put him in the guard-house, and he’d live on bread and water for a -week, a month, a year, if necessary! I’d break his spirit! I’d show him -I was his master!" - -"Professor Gooch, you are so angry that you talk childish. When you have -cooled down, you may regard this matter in a different light." - -"No, sir—no! I have placed in your hands the charges against that boy! I -demand that they be investigated!" - -"Very well," said the head professor. "They shall be, and if I find they -are not true, the ones whose names are signed here must suffer for it. -That is all, professor." - -"All right, all right! I’m willing to have it stand that way. But that -boy must apologize to me, whatever the result of the investigation. I -demand it!" - -"Very well." - -"I demand it!" repeated Professor Gooch. "He must apologize! He must say -he is sorry!" - -"Very well. I have other matters that require my attention now, -professor. You will excuse me." - -Zenas Gunn accompanied the visitor to the door, which he held open for -the angry professor to pass out. - -The result of this affair was that Dick Merriwell had made an enemy in -Barnaby Gooch, and one who might cause him serious trouble at Fardale. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - THE PLOT AGAINST MERRIWELL. - - -Again there was a meeting in the room of Zeb Fletcher, but this time -five nervous, frightened boys had gathered there. Of course, Zeb was on -hand, and both Uric Scudder and Jim Watson were present. The others were -Mart Reid and Gus Wade, two fellows who, through the blandishments of -Zeb, had been induced to sign the protest against permitting Dick -Merriwell to be excused from daily drill. Fletcher was trying to -reassure Reid and Wade, but was not succeeding very well. - -"I tell you," said Reid, "old Gunn has announced his intention of -probing the matter to the bottom." - -"I didn’t want to sign the paper, anyway," said Wade. "I thought it -might get us into trouble." - -"Now, how can it get us into trouble?" exclaimed Zeb. - -"Why, old Gunn says we’ve got to prove the charges against Merriwell." - -"And that we’ll be made examples of if we do not," put in Reid. - -"Which means that we’ll be expelled," faltered Wade. - -Jim Watson looked frightened, but said nothing. - -"Oh, nothing of the kind!" declared Zeb, with attempted bravado. "They -can’t expel you for a little thing like that." - -"But they say it’s a mighty serious offense to deliberately try to -damage a fellow’s character here at Fardale." - -"You’re in just as bad a hole as we are," said Reid, "and you are to -blame for the whole thing. You made me believe it was a joke more than -anything else." - -"Me, too," asserted Wade. "It’s a pretty serious joke—for us. My mother -sent me here, and it will be hard on her if I’m expelled." - -Uric Scudder rubbed his weak chin and looked at Watson, who returned the -glance with interest. Then Fletcher turned to them, and his expression -was an appeal for backing. - -"Don’t you worry," he urged. "Old Gunn won’t do anything." - -"It’s no use to say that," said Wade. "He’s doing something now. He’s -begun an investigation on his own hook, and I’ll bet anything we’ll all -be hauled up before him within a week." - -"In which case," said Scudder, attempting to help Fletcher out, "we must -be prepared with a slick little story, to which we can all stick." - -"Not for me!" cried Reid. - -"Nor me!" said Wade. - -"Why, you don’t mean you will welch, do you?" snapped Zeb, in apparent -amazement. - -"I mean that I shall tell the truth," said Mart Reid. "I shall confess -that I was sore because Merriwell made the eleven and I was not given a -trial." - -"You fool!" snarled Zeb, his crooked eye blazing and looking very -wicked. - -"That will be cutting your own throat," averred Scudder. "You can’t do -it!" - -"I shall, all the same," persisted Reid. - -"And I shall do the same thing," said Gus Wade. "I’d give a hundred -dollars this minute, if I had it, if I had never put my name to your old -paper!" - -"I’d give two hundred!" cried Mart. - -Zeb saw that Watson was frightened, as well as Reid and Wade, and, for -the first time, he began to fear that the charges against Merriwell -might result in injury to the ones who had made them. He tried to think -of the proper course to pursue, but he was bewildered and uncertain -until Reid said: - -"Wish I could get my hands on that old paper. I’d soon fix it so it -would not serve as evidence against me." - -A light that was new came to Fletcher’s crooked eye. - -"Look here, fellows!" he said, "don’t you worry about this matter any -more." - -"How are we going to help it?" questioned Wade. - -"Just don’t. It will be all right, I promise you that. I’ve got a scheme -of fixing it." - -"What is the scheme?" - -"That’s all right. Leave it to me. Your Uncle Fletch knows a thing or -two. That paper never will be used as evidence against any of us." - -"Why, it’s in old Gunn’s hands. How can——" - -"Never mind that. Forget it. No matter what you hear, keep your faces -closed, and you’ll be all right. Now, we had better break this meeting -up, and you fellows trust in me, that’s all." - -Neither Reid nor Wade seemed satisfied, but Zeb made them promise to -keep still and wait, after which he hustled them out of his room. - -When they were gone, he turned to Scudder and Watson. - -"Those chaps are squealers," he said, in a disgusted way. - -"But they’ll get us in a bad scrape if we don’t look out," said Uric, -still fumbling at his chin with his fingers. - -"It’s a desperate case," nodded Watson. "I’m sorry myself that we did -it. We can’t back up our charges with proof." - -"We might if those chaps who were here just now had backbone," said Zeb. -"We could fake up a nice little story and stick to it till the cows came -home." - -"But they’ll never do that," from Scudder. - -"I know it, and there is where the difficulty rises." - -"What’s your scheme?" - -"A desperate one." - -"Tell us." - -"Can I trust you? I’ve got to trust you. I wouldn’t think of doing it if -it wasn’t that those chaps will squeal, but I’m going to try -to—sh-h-h!—to get hold of that paper." - -Zeb whispered the final words. - -"How?" whispered both Uric and Jim. - -"I know a way. I have a key to the door of old Gunn’s den. How did I get -it? Made it. He leaves the key in the outside of his door sometimes, you -know. I noticed that. Thought I might want to get into his department -some time, and so one day I slipped it out when I was passing the door, -and took a wax impression of it. I’ve done the thing with other keys -just for sport, and I’ve got the trick down fine. I slipped the key back -into the lock and got away. Then I made a key from the impression. Here -it is." - -The crooked-eyed young rascal held up the key he had made. Scudder -looked at him in admiration. - -"You’re a dandy, Fletch!" he exclaimed. - -"Oh, I have a little way of preparing for emergencies," said Zeb, with a -swagger. "This key is all right, and I’ll bet my life on it. I can open -the door of that room first pop." - -"But what good will that do you?" - -"I know just when old Gunn goes out late in the afternoon for a walk." - -"You’ll go there then?" - -"If I get the chance. I’ll get into his den, and I’ll bet you anything -you like I’ll find that paper. He keeps his important papers on his -desk, and the one I want will be there. I’ll get my hands on it, and -then it will disappear." - -"Pretty desperate!" commented Watson. "If you’re caught——" - -"I won’t be. But I’ve got another idea." - -"What’s that?" - -"We don’t want anybody to think any of us swiped the paper." - -"Of course not." - -"But it would be clever of us to make it seem that a certain fellow did -the job." - -"What fellow? You mean——" - -"Dick Merriwell. We might make it seem as if he got in there somehow and -carried off the complaint against him." - -"How can that be done?" - -"You fellows room with him?" - -"Yes." - -"Get into his clothes and bring me one of his handkerchiefs. All linen -is marked here, so it can be readily identified. Bring that handkerchief -to me." - -"What will you do with it?" - -"Drop it." - -"Where?" - -"Old Gunn’s room. Catch on? Oh, it’s a clever idea! Suspicion will be -thrown on him. I’ve got a long head." - -"I’m afraid——" began Watson. - -"Don’t be afraid of anything," said Zeb. - -"I’ll get the handkerchief," promised Scudder. "Jim needn’t do anything. -I’ll bring you a handkerchief at the first opportunity, Fletch." - -"And I’ll do the rest. Leave it to me. Now, get out and look for that -hankie. Why, I see where we turn this whole business in our favor and -make Merriwell look like thirty cents. There will be something doing -around here before long. Trust to little Zeb." - - * * * * * * * - -That evening, having buttoned his rather shabby old overcoat about him, -and taken his crooked walking-stick, Professor Gunn started out for his -usual walk. - -He strolled along in his accustomed absorbed manner, his head down, -buried deep in thought. But it happened that the professor did not walk -as far as usual. He had that day been pondering over a most puzzling -mathematical problem, and, as he strolled along, carrying his cane -behind his back, the solution suddenly dawned on him. - -"Hum!" he said, stopping short. "Wonder why I didn’t think of that -before?" - -Then he felt in his pocket for paper and a pencil. He found the paper, -but no pencil. Through every pocket he searched, but not a bit of a -pencil could he find. - -"Dash it!" he said. - -Then he went through his pockets again. - -"Dash it!" he said once more, with greater vehemence. "I must put that -down at once, for fear it may slip me." - -So he turned and retraced his steps to the academy. Up to his room went -the professor. - -It had grown dark, and there was no light in his room. Somewhat to his -surprise, his key did not seem to work right in the lock, and then, -turning the knob, he found the door was not locked at all. - -"Carelessness!" he muttered, as he entered the room. - -He started to approach the shelf on which the matches were kept. Then, -of a sudden, a dark form sprang at him and hurled him against the wall -with such violence that he fell to the floor, stunned. The dark figure -rushed from the room and vanished. - -The professor did not rise for several minutes, When he collected his -scattered senses he began to wonder what had happened. His head was -ringing, and he felt very weak. With great difficulty he dragged himself -to his feet. - -His first thought was to raise an alarm. Then he reached for the -matches, found them, and struck one. Glancing about, he saw that his -desk was in disorder, papers being scattered about and the drawers -pulled out. - -Then beside the desk he saw something white. He picked it up. It was a -handkerchief, with the letters "R. M." on one corner. - -"‘R. M.,’" muttered the professor. "Now, whose handkerchief is this? It -was dropped by the intruder here. It is a clue to the fellow. ‘R. M.’ -Can it be——" - -He stopped short, appalled by a thought that came to him. - -"The boy was here yesterday," he murmured. "Did he see something here -that aroused his cupidity? Is it possible he has entered my room in my -absence and——" - -Again he failed to complete the sentence. Putting the handkerchief out -of sight, he closed the door of his room, having lighted a student’s -lamp. Then he began an investigation. - -In time he discovered that the protest and charges against Dick -Merriwell were missing, but nothing else seemed to have been touched. -When he made this discovery Professor Gunn sat down by his desk, and the -look on his face was one of mingled pain and anger. - -"Is it possible," he said, "that I have been mistaken in that boy? Is it -possible he is not what I thought him to be? Has he thought to stop the -investigation of the charges against him by stealing the paper? - -"I am not willing to believe it! There is honesty in his face and in the -way he looks one square in the eyes. His brother is the finest young man -I ever knew. Yet it looks bad for Dick. I’ll say nothing about this now, -but if I find that boy is not what I thought——" - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - DICK’S REMARKABLE PLAY. - - -All unaware of the suspicion that had been aroused against him in the -heart of Professor Gunn, Dick Merriwell went about his daily tasks and -practised regularly on the football-field. At first he had thought of -leaving the academy. He had even started to do so. But his blood cooled, -and he resolved to wait and fight it out with his enemies. - -His surprise was great when the days slipped by and he heard nothing -further of the affair. Several times he was tempted to go to Professor -Gunn and demand to know what was being done, but each time he decided to -wait. - -So the time passed and the day of the football-game with Rivermouth came -round. This time Fardale was to play away from home, Rivermouth being -more than twenty miles away. - -The day was gloomy and threatening when the team boarded the train, and -few of them were in high spirits. - -As it was Saturday and a half-holiday, quite a large number of cadets -accompanied the team. However, Captain Nunn had expected the crowd of -"rooters" would be larger, and he was somewhat displeased because it was -not. - -Frank Merriwell, the coach, was with the team, and he did more than -anybody else to give it spirit and courage. - -Teddy Smart had scraped together enough change to purchase a round-trip -ticket to Rivermouth, and he boarded the smoker of the train, with two -packages of cigarettes and a determination to enjoy "a genuine debauch." - -"What a lovely day!" he chirped, looking out at the cloudy sky. "How -bright the sun is!" - -Then he sang comic songs and smoked cigarettes at the same time, and did -all he could to make things lively, until somebody told him that -Professor Gunn was on the train. - -"Oh, lud!" he exclaimed, flinging his cigarette aside. "I don’t want to -smoke! I haven’t smoked to-day! I never smoke!" - -Rivermouth was a small place, but it was said to have a strong -football-team. On their arrival the Fardale crowd proceeded directly to -the field, which was an open lot about half a mile from the village. - -The Rivermouth team was there. Rogers, the captain, came forward and met -Steve Nunn. - -"Where do we dress?" asked Steve, looking round. - -"Why, we thought you’d come in your suits," said Rogers. "No -dressing-room here. You’ll have to go over to that old barn." - -So over to the barn they had to go, and there they got out of their -regular clothes and into their football togs. While they were changing -their clothes Zeb Fletcher came sauntering through the barn in a -swaggering manner. - -"Hello, Merriwell!" he said. "Give us a cigarette." - -"I do not smoke cigarettes," said Dick quietly, "which you know very -well." - -"Oh, well, you may not," said Zeb. "That is, there are times when you -may not." - -Dick felt like striking the fellow, for he knew Zeb had purposely -insinuated that he sometimes smoked and broke the training-rules. - -"Whatever is that galoot in here for?" growled Brad Buckhart. - -When the boys were ready they left the barn and went forth to the field, -near which a crowd of at least five hundred persons had gathered. In -this crowd Dick was surprised to catch a glimpse of Professor Gunn. Not -till then had he known that the professor had accompanied the eleven on -the train. - -Zenas Gunn was looking at Dick, and somehow it seemed that he was trying -to bore straight through him with his eyes. - -"We’ve got a hard job on our hands to-day, fellows," said Captain Nunn. -"These Rivermouth chaps are much heavier than we are. They are fighters, -too." - -"That’s the kind I like," declared Brad Buckhart. "Wouldn’t give a lame -mule or a locoed steer to butt up against a lot of quitters. The harder -the varmints fight, the more they tickle me." - -Arrangements were soon made for the game to begin, Rivermouth getting -the ball for the kick-off. - -The teams lined up on the field as follows: - - FARDALE. POSITIONS. RIVERMOUTH. - Burrows Right end Rogers - Stanton Right tackle Stover - Douglass Right guard Twain - Buckhart Snapback Price - Gordan Left guard Golding - Blair Left tackle Dana - Kent Left end Ryan - Shannock Quarter-back Mercer - Nunn Right half-back Newton - Merriwell Left half-back Dolby - Singleton Full-back Hurting - -In this arrangement of the Fardale team Buckhart, the plebe, had been -placed at center, while Blair, the former snap-back, was given Brad’s -position in the line. Douglass was put on the field at the very start, -in the place of Eddy. This had been done through the advice of Frank -Merriwell, who saw that the center of Fardale’s line had been too weak -in previous games. - -Of course, both men had been given practise in these positions, and -Buckhart had shown that he was capable of snapping the ball handsomely, -and then blocking any chargers who might try to come through him. - -Blair had been a trifle too light for the center of the line, although -he was a gritty fellow and quick in his work. Frank felt that he would -show up better at tackle than at center. - -The suits of the Rivermouth team were strong and expensive, but they -showed that their owners had played more than one earnest game in them. -They were not spotless and unsoiled, by any means. For once Fardale -looked startlingly clean and prim in contrast to the enemy. - -But this was not all. The Rivermouth team was made up mainly of players -much older than the players on the Fardale eleven, and they were rather -savage in their appearance. It is pretty certain that not a few of the -Fardale players were overawed by the formidable appearance of their -antagonists. - -When the moment for play arrived, Hurting, the heavy full-back of the -Rivermouth team, balanced himself, and looked hard at the ball, lying -like a huge yellow egg on the center of the field. Fardale crouched for -the start as Hurting began advancing on the ball. - -The big fellow gaged his kick handsomely, and he smashed the oval a -terrible thump. - -Far over the heads of the outspread Fardale men sailed the ball, with -the Rivermouth ends coming down like the wind to be on hand when it -dropped. But this early exertion was lost, for Hurting’s heavy kick had -sent the ball fairly over Fardale’s goal-line which made it necessary to -kick off again. - -While this result seemed simply to delay the beginning of the game, it -accomplished something Hurting had desired to bring about, for it -impressed Fardale at the very start with a conviction that her own -full-back, Singleton, was outclassed by the full-back of the enemy. - -When the ball was on the spot once more and all were ready, Hurting -again kicked off. Again the ball sailed through the air till it seemed -that a third trial would be required. - -But Singleton captured it on Fardale’s ten-yard line and punted at once, -as the Rivermouth ends had come through with amazing swiftness, and were -sure to tackle him before he could make a run of any consequence. - -In his haste, Big Bob showed up weaker than usual, for he did not drive -the ball anywhere near to the center of the field. Golding, the -Rivermouth left guard, caught the oval handsomely and started to run -with it. He was downed by Burrows on Fardale’s thirty-yard line. - -Then the two teams lined up for the first scrimmage. Fardale was ready -now to go into the work in earnest, realizing it had a fearful task on -hand that day. - -Rivermouth got into line for the attack in a quick way, that showed -experience, while Fardale was not quite as quick as usual, and there was -a slight mistake in lining up that necessitated a quick change at the -last moment. - -There was a lull, the sound of a voice giving the signals, then an -upheaval, a whirling, sweeping rush, a tackle, and the sound of the -whistle. - -Rivermouth made five yards on the very first try, and the onlookers were -delighted or dejected, according to their sympathies. - -"It’s a snap!" declared a Rivermouth man. "Fardale never could play real -football. This is the first time in four years she has dared play us, -and we’ll show her to-day what football really is." - -It was true that Fardale had declined for four years previously to play -with Rivermouth, but that was because Rivermouth had no real standing as -a school team, being made up of both high-school players and outsiders. -This year, however, Rivermouth had seemed to comply with the -requirements. Eaton had stood by Fardale in barring Rivermouth, but -Eaton agreed to play the barred team this year, and so Fardale was -brought to consent, not wishing to seem afraid. - -But all the time it was known that several of the players on the -Rivermouth team simply attended the high school there in a perfunctory -way in order to get onto the team. They took no regular course of -studies, and made little effort to progress in any superficial course -they pretended to follow. At least one of them, Dolby, the left -half-back, had played on a semi-professional baseball-team and received -money for his playing. His home was in Rivermouth and the baseball -season was over, so he went in for football. - -The first gain of the home team was of a nature to make it seem that -Rivermouth could walk right through the visitors. - -Newton had made the first advance. In the second trial the ball was -given to Dolby, and he went smashing into Buckhart. - -Buckhart was right there this time, and he stood "with his hoofs -planted," as he expressed it. Rivermouth was held without gaining an -inch. - -Thinking this might be the fault of Dolby, the ball was given to Newton -again, and the red-headed half-back of the home team went at Buckhart -with his head down. - -"Whoa, dang ye!" snorted the Texan, as he crouched, got Newton round the -legs, and slammed him to the ground, unmindful of the interferers who -had tried to butt him aside. - -"There!" puffed the "Maverick," with keen satisfaction. "I reckon mebbe -that’ll hold you for a while!" - -Now the Fardale crowd broke into cheers, for this stand of their team -showed that there was no reason to lose courage so soon. - -Rivermouth had learned that Fardale’s center was not as weak as had been -expected. The reports of previous games had led Rivermouth to believe it -would find no difficulty in walking straight through the center of the -visitors. - -As the teams lined up, the Fardale crowd cheered in unison: - -"Ha! ha! ha! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Rigger-boom! Zigger-boom! All -hail—Fardale! Fardale! Fardale!" - -And the Rivermouth rooters retorted with: - -"Riv—mouth! Riv—mouth! Riv—mouth! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! -’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Riv—mouth!" - -There was another sudden swaying and clashing; a running figure, aided -by interferers trying to get round the end, players in red and black -trying to tear their way to the runner, one breaking through and -clutching him, and then—— - -The ball was down, Blair having stopped an effort to go round the left -end. No gain had been made, and the oval went to Fardale on downs. - -How the visitors cheered then! What was the matter with their team? It -was all right! Those Rivermouth fellows hadn’t made such a big thing -after all in trying to walk over Fardale! - -"Good gracious!" gurgled Teddy Smart. "How sorry I am that they didn’t -keep right on rushing through our line! Isn’t it a shame!" - -Now it was Fardale’s turn to try the mettle of the enemy, and the ball -was given to Nunn at the very start. With a mass formation revolving -round him, the captain of the Fardale team went into the left wing of -the home team, gaining only one yard. It was not much, but it was a -gain, and Steve fancied he could do better next time. - -Following the policy of Frank Merriwell, persistently drilled into him, -Nunn again hammered at the left wing of the enemy, seeking a weak spot. -Again a yard was made, but it was the second down, and three yards were -needed. - -Steve gave a signal for a repetition of the play, and Dana was the -objective point in the line when the mass went hurtling at it. This time -Dana was so well backed that not an inch was made. - -There were still three yards to gain, and it must be made on the very -next attempt. - -For a moment Steve hesitated. Then, satisfied that a kick would be -expected, he signaled for a false play. - -Singleton seemed to prepare to kick, and Rivermouth made ready for that -kind of a play. But Nunn’s signal called for Merriwell to run with the -ball, not to pass it to Singleton. - -Then Shannock became nervous, or something happened to him, for he made -a wretched pass to Dick, who was bothered in catching the ball, nearly -losing it. - -By the time Dick had recovered, the Rivermouth players came tearing -through and slammed him to the ground. - -Fardale had lost on downs. - -Both teams had showed themselves strong in defense. - -It was fully expected that Rivermouth would resume bucking Fardale’s -line, and the visitors were quite unprepared for what happened. - -Hurting was proud of his ability to kick a goal from the field, and he -had sought and obtained permission to make a try for such a goal at an -early stage in the game, knowing the natural inference would be that -such a trial would not be made until every artifice to secure a -touch-down had been tried. - -Therefore the greater portion of the Fardale team seemed totally -unprepared when, after the line-up, the ball was sent back to Hurting, -who smashed it hard and fair in a drop-kick for a goal. - -Fardale had charged the moment the ball was snapped. Blair went through -and hurled Captain Rogers of the home team down in the effort to fling -him aside, falling with him. Gordan was stopped by Twain, but he managed -to make a gap in the line. - -Through that gap shot Dick Merriwell, leaping like a panther toward -Hurting. - -Plunk!—the foot of the Rivermouth full-back struck the ball. - -Then something happened that took away the breath of every beholder, for -up into the air in a most magnificent leap shot the lithe figure of Dick -Merriwell, seeming to stand out clear and distinct far above all the -others. The ball struck him fairly on the breast, lodging under his -out-held and bent right arm, and remaining there as he dropped back to -the ground. - -Dick had spoiled what seemed like a probably successful attempt to kick -a goal from the field. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - FARDALE’S TURN. - - -The witnesses of Dick Merriwell’s play gasped for breath. It seemed that -he had leaped fully as high as a man’s head. - -What mattered it if he was downed the moment he touched earth again? -What mattered anything? He had stopped Rivermouth’s attempt to make a -goal from the field. But for him the effort might have succeeded, for it -had been wholly unexpected. He was deserving of all credit. - -This fact caused Zeb Fletcher to chew his tongue, and swear inwardly. -Zeb was not the only one. - -Dick’s bitterest enemy in the school had come along to witness this -game, again hoping something might happen to show Merriwell up as weak -and incapable. - -Jabez Lynch actually groaned aloud, but his groan was drowned by the -burst of cheering from the Fardale crowd. - -Probably Hurting, the Rivermouth full-back, was the angriest fellow on -that field. - -"Did you ever see anything like that?" he snarled to Dolby, as the two -teams lined up, with the ball in Fardale’s possession. - -"Hardly ever," admitted Dolby. "Who is the fellow?" - -"Ask me!" - -"Don’t you know?" - -"No." - -Dolby was not the only person asking the question. Scores were seeking -to know the name of Dick Merriwell. When they learned it there was a -stir. - -So this was Frank Merriwell’s brother? Well, it was pretty plain that he -had some of Frank Merriwell’s ginger. - -"Dick Merriwell! Dick Merriwell!" was the name quickly passing from -mouth to mouth. - -Both Lynch and Fletcher heard these comments, and they turned green with -jealous anger. - -"The fellow’s luck!" said Lynch to himself. - -"This will drive me to drink!" muttered Fletcher. - -Professor Zenas Gunn was watching this game for a purpose. While he -believed in athletics, he had given very little attention to football, -and had never watched an entire game. The outcry against football raised -by Professor Gooch had caused Professor Gunn to decide to witness a -complete game that he might decide to his own satisfaction in regard to -the brutality of the playing. - -Zenas Gunn found himself shouting with the others when Dick Merriwell -made that grand leap into the air, but he quickly checked the outburst. - -"Be still!" he muttered, putting his hand quickly over his mouth. -"You’re acting like a boy, sir! Besides, that is Merriwell, the fellow -who is under suspicion. But I can’t bring myself to believe that boy is -guilty!" - -The Fardale team lined up quickly for the attack, Captain Nunn finding -time to give Dick a pat on the back and say: - -"Great, old man—great! You’re a wonder!" - -From the side-lines Frank Merriwell looked on. He stood like a statue -when his brother made the play that prevented Hurting from kicking a -field goal, his face not seeming to change expression in the least; but -had any one looked deep into his eyes he must have seen there was a glow -of satisfaction and pride. - -Now Fardale began a series of mass-plays that resulted in gains that -took the ball fairly to the center of the field. By that time Rivermouth -was prepared for this style of playing, and the gains stopped. Fardale -was held for three downs and kicked. - -Hurting made a fair catch and bored his heel into the ground on the -spot, which gave him a free kick in return. - -Then the great kicker of the Rivermouth team booted the leather almost -to Fardale’s goal-line, where Singleton got it. - -Big Bob resolved to try at a kick in return, but he must have been -nervous, for he sent the ball out of bounds at Fardale’s forty-five-yard -line. Rogers fell on it and brought it out for a scrimmage. There the -teams lined up again, Fardale having lost the ball and some ground -through this exchange of kicks. - -Now Rivermouth suddenly began a new style of playing, forming tandem -fashion and spearing into Fardale’s line, picking out Stanton for -repeated attacks. The first effort resulted in a gain of full ten yards -before Fardale could break up the play and check the advance. - -"That’s the style!" said Captain Rogers, of the home team. "Now we have -them going, boys! They are easy!" - -Again and again the tandem play was tried, and Stanton was battered and -bruised and bleeding when the ball was held for three downs within -twelve yards of Fardale’s goal. - -The Fardale crowd was cheering, but it seemed that the home team was too -heavy to be resisted. Still, if full four yards were not made on the -next play the ball would go to the visitors. - -"They’re going to make another try to kick a goal!" exclaimed a Fardale -spectator. - -It seemed that he was right. - -Rivermouth apparently prepared to resist Fardale’s rush, while Hurting -fell back as if to kick. There was a hush. Rogers was heard repeating -the numbers. - -A sudden move, and the ball was snapped back. Mercer turned like a flash -and passed it to Newton, instead of to Hurting. - -Newton went leaping across toward Fardale’s right end, and around him -massed the interferers. This mass struck Stanton again, just when the -attack was not expected. - -Around the man with the ball the attacking wedge revolved, and Fardale -seemed unable to tear it to pieces in time to stop the steady advance. - -Just when, at the last moment, it seemed that Fardale had held the -enemy, Newton was shot out of the formation and rammed over Fardale’s -line for a touch-down. - -Then the Rivermouth crowd roared and roared, and went wild with -satisfaction. The ball had been carried over at the corner of the field, -and Rivermouth decided to punt out, as it would be difficult to make a -goal if it were brought out. Fardale lined up at the distance, and -Rogers kicked the ball out. - -Dick Merriwell had been stationed where it was thought he might be able -to spoil this effort; but Hurting caught the ball fairly, which gave -Rivermouth a chance to kick for a goal. - -"He didn’t do it that time, did he?" muttered Fletcher, grinning in -spite of himself. - -Rivermouth prepared carefully for the effort to kick a goal. Captain -Rogers decided to hold the ball, and he stretched himself on the ground -with his left side toward the goal-posts. - -The cheering and excitement had stopped. Everybody seemed watching and -waiting with breathless interest for the result. Hurting was resolved -not to fail. - -With deliberateness he booted the oval, sending it rotating through the -air. - -A great shout rose from the crowd, for the ball was taken by a flaw of -wind and carried to one side of the posts. - -But Rivermouth had scored. - -"It’s no use," said Jabez Lynch, in pretended regret. "They are too -strong for us." - -"Back up! back up!" chirped Teddy Smart, who happened to hear the -observation. "You please me very much with your remark. I like the way -you talk! It’s too bad you were not retained on the team! You would give -the boys lots of courage with that kind of talk!" - -"Don’t get sassy, plebe!" grated Lynch, scowling. "You’re too free with -your tongue!" - -"Really and truly?" smiled Teddy. "Then I’ll bite it right off this very -minute." - -The applauding crowd continued to cheer as the ball was brought to the -center of the field. The first half was drawing to a close, and it -scarcely seemed possible that Fardale had time to do any work of -consequence, even if she were strong enough, which now seemed doubtful. - -Some sportily inclined chaps began to offer even money that Fardale -would not score during the game. - -"Here’s a chance for somebody to make a small fortune," said Smart. "If -I had money, I wouldn’t take that kind of an offer—oh, no!" - -But the betting part of the crowd found no takers. - -Singleton kicked off to Rivermouth’s twenty-yard line. Hurting again -demonstrated his superior ability at this kind of work by driving the -ball back to Fardale’s forty-yard line. - -Then something happened that gave Rivermouth a shock. - -Merriwell caught the ball, heeled the ground, and smashed it into the -territory of the home team. It was a grand punt of fifty yards, and -Hurting was compelled to take the ball on the run, which resulted in a -fumble. - -Kent and Burrows had followed down under the ball with great speed, and -the latter blocked Hurting, while Kent dropped on the oval. - -By this piece of work Fardale got the ball on Rivermouth’s fifteen-yard -line, and the visiting crowd went wild with joy. - -"I’m afraid it won’t do us any good," said Jabez Lynch. - -"I see you are afraid!" exclaimed Teddy Smart. "You are shaking with -terror!" - -Jabez scowled and remained silent. - -The teams lined up. Off at one side, just as Captain Nunn began to give -the signal, Dick Merriwell carelessly knelt upon one knee and started to -tie the lacing of his shoe. It seemed a foolish piece of business, for, -to all appearances, he was utterly unprepared to take part in the -scrimmage to follow. - -"Now, look at that fellow Merriwell!" said Jabez Lynch, loudly enough to -call attention of those about him. "That shows just how much he knows -about this game! He’s had luck, but he’s green as unripe cucumbers. He -isn’t ready to——" - -Jabez stopped short, with a gasp of astonishment. He had not been the -only one who regarded Dick Merriwell as unprepared. The Rivermouth crowd -had fancied Dick would not be in the coming clash. - -What was the astonishment of everybody but the Fardale players to see -Shannock deftly whirl and send the ball flying through the air toward -Merriwell! - -It was a long pass to the side, and looked like a very bad break. But up -from his crouching position shot Dick in time to receive the pass -handsomely, and like a wild colt he dashed forward, having the oval -hugged to his heart. - -Rivermouth was taken off her guard. She had fancied the attack would -come from the other side. Before she could recover, aided by very -successful interference, Dick Merriwell went round the right end and -planted the ball back of the goal-line. - -Then Fardale woke up. It was a touch-down! How they did cheer! - -And Teddy Smart yelled in the ear of Jabez Lynch: - -"Isn’t it too bad that fellow Merriwell is so green! I’m ashamed of him, -aren’t you? I think he ought to be fired right off the team for doing -anything like that, don’t you?" - -Jabez walked away without speaking. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - MERRIWELL’S RUNNING TACKLE. - - -The ball was brought out, and, laughing his satisfaction, Captain Nunn -gave the honor of a try for goal to the dashing, dark-eyed chap who had -made the touch-down. - -The cheering of the visitors was stilled as young Merriwell paused -before making the kick. For an instant Dick turned, and it was seen that -he looked toward the spot where his brother was standing. Frank smiled, -and the approval in that smile filled Dick’s heart with a glow. - -"He’s proud of me!" thought the boy. "At last he’s proud of me!" - -That was all the happiness he asked. - -He went at the ball, and sent it over the cross-bar with a most graceful -kick, and Fardale was a point ahead of her powerful antagonist. - -Two minutes of play remained in that half, and Rivermouth kicked off -without delay. - -It was the object of Steve Nunn to kill time during those two minutes. -Fancying he saw a good opening for a run with the ball, which came -directly to him, he caught it and started. But Captain Rogers had -avoided every interferer, and Nunn did not make eight yards before -Rogers pounced upon him and slammed him to the ground. - -Steve went down with such violence that he was somewhat stunned, and the -ball escaped from his grasp. - -Ryan was there. He made a jump for it, together with Douglass, but the -Rivermouth man was the swifter, and he fell on the ball. - -Not a second was lost in lining up. The whistle would blow in a very -short time, ending the half. - -Apparently Rivermouth was prepared for a furious onslaught. - -"Hold ’em—hold ’em, boys!" urged Captain Nunn. "It won’t be a minute! -They can’t score again this half!" - -The moment the ball was snapped Fardale tried to break through and reach -it; but Rivermouth blocked these efforts most successfully for a few -moments. - -During those few moments, instead of charging, Hurting again made a -drop-kick for goal. This time Dick Merriwell was unable to get through -and block the ball, nor did any one else interfere until Hurting had -made a clean kick. - -Then the Rivermouth half-back was slammed to the ground, but it was too -late. - -Over the cross-bar sailed the ball, the whistle sounded, and the home -team was in the lead by a score of 10 to 6. - -Steve Nunn was a very sore fellow. - -"I’m to blame for that fluke!" he muttered, in deep disgust, as the team -retired to the bar to rest a few moments and be rubbed down. “Somebody -ought to kick me!” - -Zeb Fletcher came round while the players were being rubbed down, water -having been brought to the barn in buckets. - -"Great work!" he said, pretending to be pleased. "I didn’t think we had -a chance once." - -"Sheer off!" roared Brad Buckhart, his hand going to his hip, as if to -pull a shooting-iron. "That kind of praise makes me want to do some -target-practise." - -Fletcher got away from Buckhart in a hurry, confiding to a friend that -the fellow from Texas was a great bluffer. - -Frank Merriwell personally superintended the work of rubbing down the -men, giving directions and talking with the players. It was noticed that -he said no word to Dick Merriwell; he simply grasped the hand of his -brother. - -Frank’s words to the team were sufficient to give them new courage. He -spoke in whispers to Captain Nunn, who listened gravely, nodding his -head. - -"Fellows, we’re going to win this game," said Steve, when Frank had -passed on to some one else. - -He was full of confidence, and this spirit was felt by the others. It -was plain enough that Merry did much good by his manner of speaking to -the players and encouraging them. He criticized, to be sure, but his -criticisms were not harsh and sneering, after the manner of some -coaches, for he knew there was no surer way of getting a young team -rattled and discouraged than by snarling at them and using harsh -language in making criticisms. He had seen such things done, and now he -would have guarded against it had his inclination been to make such -criticisms. - -Thus it came about that Fardale returned to the field in good spirits, -every man ready to do his level best in the last half. - -Fardale kicked off, Singleton again being the man. Big Bob made a very -handsome drive to within twelve yards of Rivermouth’s goal; but Hurting -promptly punted ten yards into the territory of the visitors. - -Merriwell was under the ball, caught it, and jumped away like a flash, -avoiding the rush of Rogers. Nearly twenty yards Dick ran with the ball -before being tackled and brought to earth by Dana. - -This was brilliant work for the Fardale half-back, and his admirers -cheered loudly. - -With great courage Fardale lined up for the attack. - -Up to this point Rivermouth had played an unusually clean game for them, -but now there came a change. In the very first charge, Stanton, who had -received severe usage in the first half, was slugged in the mêlée and -knocked out. When the ball was down Fardale’s right tackle was -discovered stretched on the ground, though the referee had not seen the -foul that laid him low. - -Frank Merriwell’s sharp eyes had seen it, and he was indignant. He made -a demand that Twain be put out of the game, but this was ignored. - -Stanton did not recover quickly, and so Hovey was substituted and the -game went on. Fardale seemed angry at what had happened and slammed into -the home team hard enough to advance the ball to the forty-yard line. - -But there they stuck. Try as hard as they might, not another yard could -be made, and the oval went to Rivermouth on downs. - -At once Rivermouth began a series of mass-plays that seemed to stagger -and daze the visitors. The first gain was four yards. Then six yards -were made. Then four more yards. - -And then, with a revolving wedge, the home team literally hurled aside -and trampled on the Fardale line, carrying the ball across into the -territory of the visitors and within one foot of the fifty-yard line. - -In this scrimmage Gordan went down with a twisted knee, and he could not -bear his weight on that leg when he was helped to his feet. - -Another Fardale man had been knocked out, and he was almost carried from -the field, fighting to break away and get back into line. He was plainly -heard begging his assistants to let him go, asserting that he would be -all right in a minute. - -"Wonder if they’ll substitute another plebe?" said Jabez Lynch, with a -sneer. - -Sure enough, that was just what happened. Toby Kane, who had played -right end with the original plebe team organized by Dick Merriwell, was -put into the line as left guard, and Fardale was ready to resume the -defense. - -"Now, wouldn’t that kill you to death?" exclaimed Lynch, in deep -disgust. "There are twenty other men who are better." - -But somehow it seemed that this change had stiffened Fardale’s defense, -for two efforts to advance the ball resulted in no gain. - -"They’re going to kick!" exclaimed many. - -It did seem that this was the intention of the home team; but, at the -last moment, Captain Rogers fell back out of the line. The ball was -snapped and passed to Rogers. At the same time a compact mass of -interference struck Kane like a thunderbolt. - -Out of this mass Rogers was flung, and away he went like the wind, two -men running with him. Buckhart tried to reach the runner, but he was -skilfully blocked. Blair made an effort to get in to Rogers and bring -him down, but again clever interference prevented success of the -attempt. - -Rogers was past Merriwell before Dick could stop him, and then, with a -clear field, he went flying toward Fardale’s line. - -"A touch-down! a touch-down!" roared the Rivermouth crowd. - -"They’ll never catch that fellow!" cried a man. "There isn’t a man in -the county who can run with him!" - -Indeed, Rogers was a wonderfully swift runner, and now he was covering -ground at a great rate. He laughed inwardly at the thought of the ease -with which he would secure a touch-down. Then behind him he heard the -thud-thud of flying feet, and he gathered himself for a supreme effort. - -The witnesses had been astounded to see a slender youth start after -Rogers with great speed, and swiftly gain on the runner. - -"It’s Merriwell!" was the cry, for by this time nearly every person on -the field had learned the name of the youth who had done such splendid -work for Fardale in the first half. - -"He can’t run down Rogers!" roared a man. - -"He’s doing it!" ejaculated another, in amazement. "Run, Rogers—run!" - -Rogers did run, but he could not get away from those thudding footfalls, -which came nearer and nearer. - -With set teeth and flashing eyes, Dick Merriwell ran down the flying lad -with the ball. Drawing close, Dick prepared for the most difficult sort -of a tackle. Of a sudden he seemed to shoot his body headlong through -the air. His hands fell on Rogers’ hips, slipped to the knees, clung -like hooks of iron, and down came the astonished runner on Fardale’s -twenty-yard line. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - IN THE LAST DITCH. - - -The visiting witnesses shrieked till they were hoarse as crows and their -faces were almost black. - -"Merriwell!" they howled. "What’s the matter with Merriwell?" - -"He’s all right!" came the answer. - -"’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Merriwell! Merriwell! Merriwell!" - -Rivermouth watchers seemed too amazed to say anything for a time. -Finally they began to tell one another that Rogers had not done his -level best. - -"He felt too sure," they said. "He might have made a touch-down if he’d -let himself out." - -The ball was still in the possession of the home team, and the assault -on Fardale’s line was resumed. - -Rivermouth was fierce now, and they resorted to play that was decidedly -yellow. Their first gain was full five yards, but they slugged two of -the Fardale players in their plunge. Again the referee declared he had -not seen the foul, but the home team was warned on the appeal of Captain -Nunn. - -The next onslaught was upon Blair, who was not strong enough to -withstand it. Again there was rough work, and by this time the fighting -blood of the Fardale team seemed aroused. - -Being on Fardale’s ten-yard line the home team was confident, and it was -discovered with astonishment that two more attempts had not netted a -gain worth considering. Then the ball was given to Ryan, who tried to -circle the end. Douglass brought him down after he had been blocked by -others, and the ball went to Fardale. - -The visitors breathed easier, for their goal had been threatened. The -danger was still great, and it was thought best to punt. - -Singleton was not given sufficient time, the line being unable to resist -Rivermouth’s charge, and his kick was therefore somewhat weak. However, -Kent was on hand when Newton captured the ball, and Newton was promptly -grassed thirty-eight yards from Fardale’s goal. - -Again Rivermouth resumed her battering-ram style of playing, walking -into the visitors with a fierceness that seemed irresistible, and -steadily the ball advanced toward Fardale’s goal. In vain Fardale tried -to stand up before these attacks. Her line seemed to melt and crumble, -and gain after gain was made. - -It must be confessed that Frank Merriwell was far from easy when he saw -this. Captain Nunn appealed to his men when the ball was down less than -eleven yards from the goal. - -"We must stop it right here!" he said. - -But they didn’t. Rivermouth’s next assault gave her full five yards. - -"It’s all up with Fardale!" said Zeb Fletcher. "Those chaps are playing -horse with us now." - -And no one had the heart to contradict him. - -With their hearts in their mouths, the Fardale witnesses watched, -expecting the next attack of the enemy would mean a touch-down. But -Fardale stiffened up enough to stop the foe within two yards of the -line. - -Then a lucky thing happened—lucky for Fardale. Rivermouth fumbled the -next pass, and Brad Buckhart dropped like a load of pig iron upon it, -having come through the line in one irresistible surge. - -"Whoa-up!" grated the Texan Maverick. "I reckon this here business is -getting somewhat monotonous! It’s our turn to do a little hustling, and -we’re going to hustle!" - -Fardale had kicked before when her goal was threatened, and it was -thought she would at once kick again. She aided in this belief by a show -of preparing to kick. But the ball went back to Nunn, who sought to -redeem his record by slipping through the center and making full seven -yards. This was encouraging, and it angered Rivermouth. Merriwell was -given his opportunity right away, and he beat Nunn’s gain by at least -half a yard. - -By this time Dick was spotted by the Rivermouth players as dangerous, -and word had been passed round to make it hot for him whenever possible. -In the next effort Dick found himself held firm for some seconds, and -then those behind lifted him and he hurdled Rivermouth’s line for three -yards. - -These efforts had carried the ball twenty yards from Fardale’s line. But -another attempt to hurdle resulted in utter failure. - -Then Kent fell back, as if to take the ball and try for an end play. -This was an effort to deceive the home team, which resulted in nothing -at all, as, when the ball was passed to Nunn, Steve was held and dragged -down without a gain. - -In this emergency it was decided best to kick, and Big Bob drove the -oval to the center of the field. The man who caught it was able to run -it back almost ten yards before being downed. - -But Fardale had carried and driven the ball away from the danger-line, -and the watchers from the military academy were breathing easier. Still -the fighting seemed to be almost entirely in Fardale’s territory, and -this, with the fact that Rivermouth held the lead, made it seem dark for -the visitors. - -Rivermouth went into Fardale in the same savage way, but this time, not -having been called to account for previous offenses, they were careless -in their playing, using their hands to fling the visitors aside, and one -fellow struck Dick Merriwell a stinging blow. - -Instantly the whistle sounded, and the referee, awakened at last, gave -the ball to Fardale on a foul. - -Once more Fardale had one of her lively spasms, and she made full ten -yards on her very first charge. With the ball close to the center of the -field, the cadets succeeded in once more pushing it over into the -territory of the enemy. - -Now Fardale’s colors fluttered in the wind, and cheer followed cheer. -But, as on previous occasions when placed on the defensive, Rivermouth -refused to let Fardale gain more than four yards in the required number -of efforts, and the visitors lost the ball on downs. - -Rogers dropped back from the line, the ball was snapped, a hole was torn -right through Fardale’s center, and the captain of the home team once -more sprinted for the cadets’ goal. - -As on the previous occasion, Dick Merriwell was passed, and Rogers -seemed to have a clear field when one of the interferers blocked the -attempt of Bob Singleton to make a tackle. - -"He’ll never catch me this time!" breathed Rogers, as he gathered -himself and ran as fast as it was possible for him to cover ground. - -Never in all his life had he tried harder than at that moment; but, to -his untold amazement, he again heard those thudding feet behind him. - -Was it possible Merriwell was in close pursuit? Perhaps it might be one -of his own team. - -Rogers was unable to resist the desire to turn his head and see. He did -so, and his heart leaped into his throat, for bearing down upon him was -the same Fardale lad who had tackled him and spoiled the success of his -previous run. - -Then it seemed to dawn on Rogers that behind him was a lad who could -outrun him in any kind of a race. However, he kept on, expecting to feel -at any moment those gripping hands. - -He was not disappointed. Something touched him, clutched his legs, and -down he went with a shock that drove the breath from his body—a shock -that must have injured him seriously had he not been a trained athlete -in excellent condition. - -For a second time in that half Dick Merriwell had made a masterly and -wonderful running-tackle. For a second time the witnesses roared forth -his name. - -Of course, Dick’s enemies were disgusted, and none was more disgusted -than Zeb Fletcher. - -"I can’t stand this!" muttered Zeb to himself. "Even if Fardale loses, -that duffer has covered himself all over with glory this day. I’ve got -to have a smoke to steady my nerves. Guess I’ll sneak off to the old -barn and smoke there." - -So this envious fellow, with his heart full of jealous hatred, actually -left the field and slipped away toward the old barn, into which he -disappeared. - -But, although Merriwell had stopped Rogers’ run, Rivermouth could not be -held there. Resuming her battering-ram style of playing, she hammered -into Fardale’s line for repeated gains, carrying the ball nearer and -nearer to the goal of the visitors. - -Not till the ball was down within one yard of Fardale’s line did the -cadets check the advance. - -In these savage onslaughts Rivermouth had stretched Fardale players on -the field repeatedly. Twice Douglass had seemed knocked out, but both -times he revived and insisted on staying in the fight. Buckhart was -bleeding and dirty, but still as stubborn as a mule. One of Kent’s eyes -was nearly closed, and that bothered him not a little. Burrows limped, -telling that he had been hurt, and, taken altogether, Fardale seemed -nearly used up. - -Still, into these fellows Frank Merriwell had somehow instilled the -dogged spirit of Yale—a spirit that fights hardest in the last ditch, -when the battle seems most hopeless. - -This was exactly what happened now. With the ball only one yard from -Fardale’s line, the cadets braced up and refused to let Rivermouth make -another inch. - -Frank Merriwell’s heart swelled with pride as he saw those dirty, -battered, bloody boys stand there like the eternal hills and hurl -Rivermouth back repeatedly. He was proud of them then, and he would -remain proud of them, even though they lost the game. They had made a -most heroic fight and were deserving of all credit, whatever the result. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - VICTORY AND RETRIBUTION. - - -And there Fardale held the enemy until it secured the ball on downs, -which was something quite unexpected by Rivermouth. - -But what could Fardale do? The question was soon answered. Captain Nunn -realized it would be a very bad thing to permit Rivermouth to secure the -ball again in that immediate neighborhood, and he resolved to see what -Dick Merriwell could do in the line of punting. So the ball was snapped -back and passed to Dick. - -In that most exciting moment the boy seemed cool as a cake of ice. With -those Rivermouth fellows tearing their way through to tackle and slam -him to the ground, Dick turned the ball till it was just right, dropped -it correctly, and kicked it at precisely the proper second. He did not -see the result of the kick, for three wolves of the Rivermouth pack came -through and slammed him down. He saw stars, though. - -The spectators uttered a cry of admiration, for never before had such a -beautiful punt been made on that field. Through the air the ball sailed -until it was caught by a Rivermouth player one yard from the center of -the field. - -Kent had made a fast run down beneath the ball, and he was on hand to -bring to earth the right half-back of the home team before the latter -had advanced more than six yards. - -Exasperated by the success of Fardale, Rivermouth attempted to resume -their heavy mass-plays; but now there was a change. The first effort -secured no ground. The second made a gain of five yards; but right there -Rivermouth stuck. - -A double pass was tried, but Fardale discovered the trick and spoiled -its effectiveness. Still the home team was confident and refused to -kick, whereupon the ball went to Fardale on downs twelve yards from the -center of the field. - -By this time Captain Nunn realized that something out of the ordinary -must happen to save the day. Rivermouth had a lead of four points, and -she had kept Fardale fighting on the wrong side of the field fully -nine-tenths of the time during this half. - -In his heart, Jabez Lynch had one satisfaction, for he felt that Fardale -had no show of winning. Like Zeb Fletcher, however, he was angry because -Merriwell had found so many opportunities to make brilliant plays. -Unlike Fletcher, he did not leave the field. - -Having secured the ball, Fardale smashed into Rivermouth with such -sudden energy that a clean gain of seven yards was made. Still the ball -remained in Fardale territory. - -But now came a clever piece of passing and a fake assault on the center -of Rivermouth’s line. Apparently Nunn had the ball, but he passed it -behind him to Merriwell, who slipped like a flash round the home team’s -right end and was off. The trick was discovered quickly, and after Dick -started the whole pack. - -Newton had been playing back of the line, and he bothered Dick, who -dodged first one way and then the other in the attempt to get past. Then -Dick made a daring dash, saw Nelson leap outstretched, felt his touch, -but sped on. - -Only one man remained between Dick and the Rivermouth goal. That was -Hurting, who had been playing back in case Fardale attempted a surprise -kick. - -Hurting cut in on Dick, forcing him toward the center of the field. But -it was seen that Merriwell stood a fair show of getting past the -full-back. This Dick accomplished and Fardale rose to roar, when -something happened. - -Dick never knew what his foot struck, but he slipped and went down like -a flash. Up he sprang, but, before he could get under way again, Hurting -had reached him and he was flung full length, eighteen yards from the -desired goal. Those who knew how near the end of the game was drawing -said Fardale had lost her last chance. - -When Dick arose he found he had turned his ankle, which pained him -sharply; but he set his teeth and said not a word. - -The home team was desperate when it lined up so near its own goal, and -the attacks of the cadets were utterly lacking in strength to make a -gain. Captain Nunn believed the only chance was to get through for a -touch-down, and his persistence resulted in the loss of the ball after -the limit in efforts had been reached. - -Rivermouth started right in to bear Fardale back. The first rush gained -more than five yards. Then the ball went round the end for five more. - -And then happened another lucky thing for Fardale. On her thirty-yard -line Rivermouth fumbled, and Kane came through and got the ball. - -"It’s all right, fellows," said Captain Rogers. "There is only about one -minute more of play, and they can’t score." - -Rogers had been tipped to the time. His words were heard by the keen -ears of Dick Merriwell, who instantly appealed to Nunn for the privilege -of trying to kick a goal. - -"It can’t be done from this angle," said Steve. - -"It’s our only chance," declared Dick. "If you won’t let me try it, for -Heaven’s sake let somebody else!" - -Steve gave in. - -"Get ready," he said. - -Rivermouth divined at once what Fardale meant to do, and she laughed -aloud. - -"Not once in a hundred times!" she said. - -Two lines of tired, dirty, dogged fellows crouched with their noses -together. Then the ball was snapped and passed to Dick. - -Just long enough the line held the rushers. The boy again was cool as -possible, and again he kicked barely in time to get the ball off before -he was slammed down. - -"It’s a miss!" yelled many. - -But Dick had taken the wind into account, and the breeze caught the huge -yellow egg, veered it surely and swiftly, so that the ball passed over -the bar. - -The goal was made, and less than thirty seconds later the whistle blew. -Fardale had won in the last minute of the game by this goal from the -field, the score being 11 to 10. - -The diagram on the opposite page shows how the plays of the second half -were made: - - x x x x x x x xKICK OFF. - — — — — — PUNTS - ————————— RUNS - 1. ROGERS’ GREAT RUN - 2. MERRIWELL’S RUNNING TACKLE - 3. ROGERS’ SECOND RUN THROUGH CENTER. - 4. MERRIWELL’S SECOND GREAT TACKLE - 5. FARDALE’S DESPERATE STAND. - 6. MERRIWELL’S SPLENDID PUNT - 7. MERRIWELL’S RUN ROUND RIVERMOUTH’S RIGHT END. - 8. MERRIWELL KICKS GOAL FROM FIELD. - -In the midst of the cheering came a sudden cry: - -"Fire! fire! Gideon’s barn is afire!" - -Smoke was seen issuing from one of the broken, upper windows of the old -barn. - -"Our clothes are in there, boys!" shouted Steve Nunn, as he started on a -run for the barn. Others followed him, and one ran faster, soon -overtaking and passing Steve. It was Dick Merriwell. - -As Dick approached the barn, a screaming, smoking figure came rushing -from the door, waving its arms in the air and shrieking for help. It was -Zeb Fletcher, who had retired to the haymow of the old barn to have a -smoke and fallen asleep while puffing at a cigarette. He awoke to find -himself and the haymow in flames. - -Dick Merriwell ran to the fellow, caught him, flung him down, and rolled -him over and over, beating the fire with his bare hands, at the same -time shouting to Nunn: - -"Bring a blanket from the barn! Quick! The poor fellow is burning to -death!" - -Steve rushed into the burning barn and came out with a blanket, and -together they smothered the fire that was eating Fletcher’s clothes. But -Zeb had been burned severely, and he groaned and moaned and prayed in a -pitiful manner. - -"I’m dying!" he screamed, in agony. "Oh, dear! It’s punishment! it’s -punishment!" - -He looked at Dick in horror, and in the eyes of the boy he hated he saw -nothing but sympathy and pity. - -"Don’t!" he moaned; "don’t look at me that way! Hate me! You would if -you knew! I tried to hurt you every way! I tried to——" - -"Never mind that now," said Dick, kneeling beside the unfortunate -wretch. "You haven’t hurt me. They’re bringing a doctor. You’ll be all -right when he has cared for you." - -"I’m going to die!" persisted Zeb. "I know it! Oh. the pain! I can’t -bear it! I tried to make you out a thief, and—your handkerchief——" - -"Do you mean this one?" asked Professor Gunn, who had arrived on the -scene, taking from his pocket the handkerchief he had found in his room, -having on one corner the letters, "R. M." - -"Yes!" gasped Zeb. "That’s it. I——" - -"Here’s the doctor," said Dick Merriwell gently. "For Heaven’s sake, -doctor, do something for the poor fellow. It’s awful to have him in such -pain!" - -The doctor made a hasty examination of Fletcher’s burns, soon applying -something to soothe the pain. - -"We must remove him to the village at once," he said. "Wrap him in that -blanket so the air will not strike his wounds. I’ll attend to him as -soon as we can get him to my house." - -"Are his burns dangerous, doctor?" asked Dick Merriwell, speaking so -that Zeb could not hear. - -"Not necessarily so," was the answer, "though he’ll carry the marks for -life if he recovers." - -"Poor fellow!" said Dick, once more. "I’m sorry for him!" - -Then it was that Professor Gunn put an arm across Dick’s shoulders and -gave the boy a genuine embrace of affection. - -"I want you to forgive me!" he said earnestly. - -"You?" gasped Dick. "What for?" - -"For being an old fool!" said the professor. "I’ll explain later." - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - A BOY’S REVENGE. - - -"Can you see them?" - -"Sure thing." - -"Are they practising?" - -"Yes." - -"Frank Merriwell there?" - -"Yes; he is coaching." - -Jabez Lynch was standing beneath the tree which Uric Scudder had -climbed, and he was the one who asked the questions. Uric had managed to -draw himself up to a somewhat perilous position near the end of a -bending branch, where he clung as he gazed away beyond the narrow fringe -of woods. - -In a clearing beyond that fringe of woods the Fardale team was hard at -work in secret practise. Having no fenced field, from which unwelcome -spectators could be excluded, it became necessary for the eleven to -retire to this spot when it was decided to get in practise, for Frank -Merriwell did not care to have witnesses outside the regular players and -a few chosen and trusted substitutes. - -Although Fardale had defeated Rivermouth, the most loyal and -enthusiastic cadet was obliged to confess that the result was brought -about principally through the splendid and amazing work of Dick -Merriwell. Rivermouth had seemed far too strong for Fardale, and honest -ones acknowledged that the cadets would not have scored once had -Merriwell been out of the game. - -This filled Dick’s enemies with bitterness and envy, but they dared say -very little openly against the remarkable boy from the West. But both -friends and foes united in saying it was unfortunate when a team showed -up so weak that it could be seriously, perhaps fatally, crippled by the -loss of a single man. - -While he was proud of his brother, Frank Merriwell quickly decided that -there must be less individual playing and more team-work. Fardale must -be put in such condition that the loss of a star player would not surely -defeat her. - -Up to this time Frank had been content to drill Fardale in the simple -lines of the game; but the team had made such progress in learning these -things that he now determined to resort to more difficult plays. - -Aware that Dick’s success had aroused a spirit of jealousy at home, and -knowing there might be traitors in camp, Frank decided on some secret -practise. Never before had Fardale started off so brilliantly in -football, and Merry was determined that the school should make a great -record that season, if possible. - -So the eleven and the choice substitutes were taken out for practise in -this field, a long distance from the academy, where it was believed -there existed little danger from spies or traitors. - -The players had gone off quietly, in order to avoid attention; but Uric -Scudder was on the watch, and his suspicious soul awakened. Before long -he had communicated his suspicions to Jabez Lynch, who found an -opportunity to slip away with Scudder and strike across lots in the -direction it was supposed the football team had gone. - -Just what he hoped to accomplish, the chief rascal did not himself know, -but he wished to be fully informed concerning the plans and progress of -the eleven. - -"Can you tell me what they are doing?" asked Lynch, with some eagerness. -"Can you make out their plays from there?" - -"Yes, I can see them plainly," answered the fellow in the tree. "I take -it that Merriwell is drilling them in some new formation." - -"I must see that!" exclaimed Jabez, starting to pull off his coat. "I’m -coming up." - -"This limb won’t hold us both," said Uric. - -"Then you had better come down. If Merriwell is putting the team up to -some new stunts, I’m going to find out what’s doing." - -At this moment, however, came a sound that caused Jabez to pause. Not -far away somebody whistled sharply in the woods. - -"What’s that?" exclaimed Scudder, startled. "Somebody’s coming." - -"Keep still!" advised Lynch, in a guarded tone, although he looked -somewhat alarmed and quickly drew on his coat. - -The whistle sounded nearer, and then a dog barked. Jabez Lynch stopped -for nothing, but scudded softly away, disappearing into the bushes. - -"Hold on!" cried Uric, in alarm at thus being deserted. "Wait for me! -Don’t run off like that! Hold on!" - -His cries seemed to bring some one hurrying toward the spot, and he -began descending the tree in great haste, making not a little noise in -doing so. - -Then a huge dog came bounding into view, setting up a savage barking. At -that moment Scudder lost his hold, clutched wildly at a branch, turned, -and fell crashing through the limbs toward the ground, a yell of terror -escaping his lips. - -It seemed that Scudder was in danger of landing on the ground with -sufficient violence to break his bones, and the fear that clutched his -heart when he felt himself falling was something he did not soon forget. - -Fortunately for him, the sharp prong of a strong limb pierced his -trousers, and his downward flight was arrested with such suddenness that -he nearly lost his breath. There he hung, not more than twelve feet from -the ground, perfectly helpless. - -His first feeling was one of intense relief and thankfulness. His hands -and face smarted from the stinging blows of the smaller branches, -received as he crashed through the tree, but he minded that not at all, -for had he not been saved from more serious injury by the abrupt -checking of his flight? - -Then, directly beneath him, the dog began to leap and bark, showing a -shining lot of very savage-looking teeth. - -Of a sudden Uric began to fear his trousers would not prove strong -enough to sustain him, and that he would fall into the waiting jaws of -the animal below. He tried to squirm about and get hold of the limb, but -found this was a difficult or impossible thing to do. He heard a boyish -voice crying: - -"Tige—here, Tige!" - -The dog barked still more fiercely, if possible. - -"Hey, you Tige!" called the voice. "What are you doing there?" - -"Help!" cried Uric. "Come quick and call your old dog off! Help! Help!" - -"Hello!" shouted the boy, as he crashed nearer. "Tige’s got something -treed." - -Then into view came a ragged, freckled, snub-nosed chap of fourteen, -carrying an old-fashioned muzzle-loading shotgun. The youngster stopped -and stared at Uric in amazement, holding the gun as if ready to shoot. - -"Jiminy!" he ejaculated. - -"What ails you?" snapped Uric angrily. "Take your dog away, will you?" - -"Oh, golly!" cried the boy. "What you doin’ up there—hung yourself out -to dry?" - -"You saucy monkey!" shouted Scudder. "Don’t you dare talk to me that -way! Oh, my trousers are tearing—oh! oh!" - -"Oh! oh!" whooped the boy, in delight and derision. "You’ll be off in a -minute!" - -"Please take that dog away!" begged Scudder. "He’ll pounce on me the -minute I drop! He’ll bite me!" - -"If he does," said the youngster with the gun. "It’ll p’isen him, and -then you’ll have to pay damages." - -"You young wretch! Don’t you see I’m in danger? Why don’t you do -something to help me? Do you want to see me killed? Do you want to see -me chewed up by that beast?" - -"Perhaps I do," carelessly answered the boy, without a sign of sympathy. - -"Why, you heartless young brute! You ought to be——" - -"Now, don’t you go to callin’ too many names!" exclaimed the lad. "If -you do, you’ll wish you hadn’t. I’ve seen you before, an’ I ain’t forgot -about it, either. I made up my mind I’d remember you, and I have. I -guess you know what happened the last time we saw each other?" - -"I don’t remember anything about it. Can’t you climb up here and help me -somehow? I’ll pay you for it. I’ll——" - -"Oh, yes!" cried the boy, in great sarcasm. "I know you—I know how -you’ll pay me! The same way you paid me for the apples I brought you out -of our orchard two weeks ago. I ain’t forgot that; have you? You said -you’d give me five cents to bring you a hatful of apples, and I brought -them. Then you kicked me, and when I follered you and asked for my five -cents you throwed my hat in the brook and pushed me in after it. Oh, I’m -the same feller you done them things to, and I kinder think it’s my turn -to do a few things to you, mister." - -Uric remembered all these things with some alarm, and he quickly said: - -"Oh, I was just fooling with you, kid. Can’t you stand a joke?" - -"Sure thing," chuckled the boy. "I’m the greatest feller to stand a joke -you ever saw. And this is the kind of a joke I like to stand." - -Scudder was furious. - -"If I can get my hands on you again," he thought, "I’ll break your -back!" - -Aloud he said: - -"Can’t you get a ladder somewhere and help me down? I’ll give you ten -cents if you do." - -"Will ye, honest?" exclaimed the boy, with pretended eagerness. - -"Honest." - -"All of ten cents?" - -"Yes." - -"To keep you from droppin’ and breakin’ your neck?" - -"Yes, to keep me from——" - -"It ain’t worth it," grinned the boy; "but I guess I’ll do it. Just you -hang on there till I come back. Old Eb Jones lives over here on the road -a piece, and there’s a ladder right by his barn. I’ll be back in a -hurry, an’ I’ll leave Tige right here to watch you. Hey, Tige, keep your -eye on him, boy." - -"Bow-wow!" barked Tige, glaring at Uric in a vicious way, as if longing -to rend him with his keen teeth. - -"Oh, take your dog away!" cried the unfortunate boy in the tree. "Don’t -leave him here!" - -"Oh, he’s all right!" declared the boy. "He can’t reach you." - -"But what if my trousers give? Take him away, I say! Please don’t leave -him here!" - -But the boy ran off, laughing, having left his old gun leaning against a -crotched sapling. - -"The young brat!" snarled Uric. "Wait till I get down! I won’t do a -thing to him—not a thing! Oh, I’ll make him sick! If I can get my hands -on his old gun I’ll shoot his dog, too!" - -Then the dog growled fiercely, as if understanding Uric’s words. - -"You mongrel!" grated Scudder. "If I can——" - -He twisted about in another attempt to get hold of the limb, but again -his efforts caused his trousers to give a little, with an ominous sound, -and he quickly desisted from the trial. - -"The boy’ll bring a ladder pretty quick," he said. "I can’t stand it -hanging here much longer! My head is beginning to feel dreadfully bad." - -The dog sat down beneath the tree, licking its jaws and turning its eyes -upward toward the dangling figure. - -It was a long and tedious wait for the return of the boy, but at last -Uric heard him coming through the bushes. - -"Hurry up!" cried Scudder. - -"Be there in a minute," was the answer. - -"Did you bring the ladder?" - -"No; but I brought something else." - -The lad came into view, carrying his old hat in both hands, and the hat -was full of eggs. - -Scudder’s head seemed to swim. Through a haze he saw that hatful of -eggs, and he was dazed and bewildered. - -"What have you got?" he gasped. - -"Fruit!" chuckled the boy. "Found ’em over at Jones’ barn. I gave you a -hatful of fruit once before and didn’t get anything for it, and now I’m -going to give you another hatful. Oh, golly! Tige, ain’t we goin’ to -have some fun!" - -A feeling of despair seized upon Uric Scudder. - -"Don’t you dare!" he gasped. - -The boy carefully placed the hat on the ground. - -"The most of this fruit is dead ripe," he grinned. "It’s been layin’ in -an old nest under the barn till it ripened off fust-rate. Now this, for -instance"—selecting one of the eggs—"is the real thing. Jest open your -mouth and let me see how nigh I can come to it." - -"If you throw that at me——" began Uric. - -Whiz!—Spat! - -The aim of the kid was excellent, and the egg struck the dangling boy on -his breast, spattering in a slimy, yellow mass over the cadet’s shirt. - -Oh, the smell that assailed Uric’s nostrils! It made him sick and faint! - -"Stop it!" he hoarsely yelled. - -The boy selected another egg. - -"This one," he said, "is a better specimen than t’other. Bet I can hit -you right in the left eye with it." - -Whiz!—Spat! - -Uric managed to move his head, so that the egg struck him where he wore -his hat on ordinary occasions, filling his hair. - -"He, he!" laughed the boy. - -"Bow-wow!" barked Tige, prancing about beneath the tree. - -"Ain’t it fun!" whooped the urchin. "Oh, dear me! I don’t believe I ever -had so much fun!" - -"I’ll kill you!" screamed Uric, kicking wildly, regardless of the danger -of falling. - -"Oh, I’m just foolin’ with you," said the freckled youngster. "Can’t you -stand a joke?" - -"If you throw another——" - -Whiz!—Spat! - -The third egg struck Uric on the forehead and spattered into his eyes. -The dangling target yelled again, but his cries were choked, for the -fourth egg hit him fairly in the mouth. - -"He! he! he!" shrieked the boy. "This is more’n five cents’ worth of -fun! Kicked me for a joke, didn’t ye? Pushed me into the brook for a -joke, hey? Well, take that! and that! and that!" - -The eggs flew thick and fast now, and hardly one missed the unfortunate -wretch in the tree. The dog barked and the boy laughed, while Uric could -scarcely groan. - -Of a sudden, the dog pricked up its ears, faced off toward the north, -and barked. - -"Somebody comin’, Tige?" said the boy quickly. "Well, we’re pretty near -done with this job. Here go the last two eggs. Can’t miss with them." - -Spat! spat!—both eggs landed. - -"Good-by," said the boy, catching up his gun. "Next time you kick a -feller take somebody of your size. Hope you’ve had lots of fun. I have." - -With these words he hurried away into the woods, the dog following, -leaving the wretched boy in the tree to get down as best he could. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - THE HUMILIATION OF SCUDDER. - - -The Fardale football-team, returning to the academy after a period of -sharp practise, were surprised to hear feeble cries for help. Upon -investigation they found Uric Scudder still hanging from the limb of the -tree, as he had been left by the revengeful youngster. - -"What it is?" grunted Big Bob Singleton, placing his hands on his hips -and staring in astonishment at the egg-bespattered chap. - -"Whoop!" cried Brad Buckhart. "From the smell I should say it’s -something that has died." - -Although not on the team, Teddy Smart had been permitted to witness the -practise. - -"My! my! what a delightful odor!" he chirped. "Talk about your attar of -roses! This has any old attar skinned to death!" - -"For Heaven’s sake help me!" whined Uric. "I’m almost dead!" - -"Blowed if I didn’t think you’d been dead a long time!" said Buckhart. -"Whatever has happened to you, anyhow?" - -"I’ll tell you after you take me down," promised Scudder. "Oh, somebody -shall pay for this!" - -Like a shadow a strange figure came out of the woods near at hand. It -was an Indian, whose footfalls seemed to make absolutely no sound. - -"Joe!" exclaimed Dick Merriwell, instantly recognizing Old Joe Crowfoot. - -"Ugh!" grunted the redskin, a strange twinkle in his small black eyes. - -"Perhaps he knows something about this," said Steve Nunn, captain of the -eleven, with a motion toward Scudder. - -"Joe know," nodded the old fellow. "Joe him been near in woods. Him -know." - -"Then how did it happen?" asked Frank Merriwell himself. - -"Him come with odder one to watch football," explained Joe. "When um git -here, him climb tree to see. Odder one him stay on ground. They hear -somebody. Odder one he run. This one try to git down heap quick. Him -fall; git ketched. See?" - -"So he was playing the spy on us?" exclaimed Dick Merriwell, his eyes -beginning to flash. - -"Heap so," said the Indian. "Joe him watch um play spy. When odder one -run boy come with gun an’ dog. This one him fall, git ketched so. He ask -boy to help. Boy him say, ‘Ha! ha!’" - -"The boy felt bad," chuckled Teddy Smart. "He shed tears." - -"Some time this one him kick boy, knock him in water. Boy him say ’bout -that. This one him say it joke. This one him tell boy give ten cent to -help um down." - -"Ah! such boundless generosity!" burst from Teddy. "Such open-hearted -munificence." - -"Boy he say him go git ladder," Joe went on. "Him go off, leave dog here -to watch. He come back with hat full of egg. Ugh! Then him git square -for kick." - -"Cruel boy!" sobbed Teddy. "Oh, how I hate that boy!" - -"Boy he throw heap straight," said the old Indian. "Spy he kick an’ -yell! Boy him laugh. Say it joke." - -"Oh, what a bad, bad boy!" sighed Smart, with such a comical look of -grief that nearly every one burst into laughter. "After this generous -chap had kicked him, once on a time, he was heartless enough to return -the kindness by pelting him with rotten eggs. That boy should be -severely punished." - -"Oh, for the love of goodness, help me down!" begged Scudder weakly. -"I’m nearly dead." - -"I don’t wonder," guffawed Brad Buckhart. "And you offered to give that -boy ten cents to help you down?" - -"And he gave you more than ten scents, and let you stay," said Ted -Smart. "What a horrid boy!" - -Of a sudden, Dick Merriwell burst into a peal of laughter, struck by the -comical side of the affair. - -"Oh, ha! ha! ha! ha!" he shouted. "I can’t help laughing! Ha! ha! ha! -ha! What a sight he is!" - -"I am surprised at you!" said Ted Smart severely. "Such levity is most -reprehensible! Stop it this minute! Go ’way back and sit down!" - -But Dick’s laughter was so infectious that all the others present, -excepting Old Joe, Smart, and Scudder were compelled to join him. In -that moment not a few of them who had regarded him as silent and lacking -in humor suddenly understood that bottled in this peculiar lad was a -streak of merriment that might, burst forth on provocation and prove -decidedly catching. - -"Stop it! stop it!" cried Smart, holding in with difficulty. "I’m -ashamed of you! You make me want to shed tears. Oh, dear! I know I’m -going to cry in a minute!" - -Then, unable to restrain himself longer, he joined in the outburst. - -"Laugh at me!" screamed Scudder, beginning to kick. "Oh, you’ll all be -sorry some time! Oh, you’ll——" - -There came a tearing sound, and then the unlucky youth suddenly dropped, -his trousers having given way beneath the continued strain. Fortunately, -he fell sprawling and was not much hurt. He sat up, wiping the sticky, -yellow mass from his eyes, and shaking his clenched fist at the ring of -hilarious lads. - -"Laugh!" he snarled furiously. "I hate you all—I hate you! I hate you!" - -His aspect was so ludicrous that the merriment of the party was -augmented. - -"Somebody ought to shoot it and put it out of its misery," said -Buckhart. - -"That’s what you get, Scudder, for playing the spy, and it serves you -right," said Steve Nunn. "Perhaps this will teach you a lesson. You were -trying to watch our private practise for no good reason. I haven’t a -doubt that you would give away our plays if you could. You’re so mean -that you’d like to see Fardale beaten, just because you happen to -dislike somebody on the team, and that prevents anybody from having -sympathy with you now." - -"Oh, how can you talk to him so!" exclaimed Teddy Smart. - -"Hereafter," grunted Bob Singleton, "we’ll have to call him the Scented -Plebe." - -"Eggscellent!" said Smart. "But I think it too harsh. Hen Fruit would be -an eggstry fine name for him. I think no one can take eggsceptions to -that." - -"I suggest Eggs as terse and applicable," put in Dick Merriwell, "and I -hereby christen him Eggs." - -"That’s perfectly rotten!" from Smart. - -"Let me take him," urged Old Joe. - -"Take him," said Buckhart. "I don’t think anybody else wants him." - -"Ugh!" grunted the Indian. "Joe take care of him. He play no more spy." - -Scudder shook with fear. - -"Don’t let that old devil touch me!" he whined, crawling toward Dick -Merriwell. "He’ll mind you. Don’t let him touch me!" - -Dick drew aside in disgust. - -"Back up!" rumbled Singleton. - -"Keep away from me!" commanded Dick. "You brought it on yourself." - -"Don’t let that Indian touch me!" entreated Scudder. - -"He won’t touch you. He won’t dirty his hands on you." - -"But we all ought to take a kick at the onery galoot," said the Texan -Maverick. "If I had a gun I’d enjoy shooting it full of holes." - -"You’re all a set of brutes!" burst from Uric, in sudden anger. "I won’t -forget this!" - -"I hope not," said Nunn. "It will be a good thing for you to remember. -Come on, fellows; let’s leave him." - -"But the Indian!" gasped Scudder. "He will——" - -"He oughter take your scalp," declared Brad, as he started away. - -Then the others turned to leave Uric, who uttered a cry of fear, sprang -up, and ran wildly into the woods. Old Joe made a move to follow, but -Dick touched his arm, saying: - -"Let him go." - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - TREACHEROUS URIC. - - -Of course, all Fardale Academy soon knew what had happened to Uric -Scudder, the story being repeated and told in various forms, and it -seemed that the entire academy fell to laughing over it. It appeared to -be the universal opinion that the fellow had met his just deserts, and -no one seemed to express sympathy. - -Thus it came about that the nickname of "Eggs" was applied to Uric from -all sides. Dick Merriwell’s appellation stuck. - -Scudder was filled with mortification and fury. Whenever he appeared on -the grounds where the boys were gathered to chat during intermission he -was gravely addressed as "Eggs." If he objected to that, perhaps he was -called "Chickens," or "Cluck-cluck," or something equally as irritating. -As he hurried past one group a boy commenced to cackle like a hen, while -another crowed in imitation of a rooster. - -"Merriwell is to blame for it!" he panted, after repeated experiences of -the sort. "And I have to room with him!" - -With his heart filled with fury and his face flushed with shame, Uric -hurried to his room. A sentry in the corridor, pacing slowly up and -down, clucked like a setting hen. - -Scudder fairly tore into his room. There sat Dick Merriwell, studying, -by the window. Without a word, Uric caught up a chair and swung it over -his head in a fury of passion uncontrolled, intending to strike Dick -unawares. - -The chair was caught and twisted from his grasp. At the same time he -received a blow under the ear that sent him against the wall with a -bang. - -"Don’t try that kind of a game here!" exclaimed the harsh voice of Hugh -Douglass, whom Uric had not observed, but who had been dusting the room, -it being his week as room orderly. - -Douglass was not a handsome chap, and he looked uglier than ever just -now, as he glared at Scudder. - -Dick Merriwell had turned like a flash and was looking on. - -"What’s the matter, Douglass?" he asked. - -"This fellow was going to hit you with a chair," answered Hugh. "He just -came in and caught up a chair quick as a flash, but I don’t think he saw -me." - -"Why should he hit me?" said Dick. - -"You know why!" panted Scudder. "You are to blame for it all! You’ve -done everything you could to humiliate me since coming here! Now, you -have all the fellows calling me Eggs! You are the one, Merriwell!" - -A flash of scorn came to Dick’s dark eyes. - -"That is the way you reason, Scudder. You do not pause to consider that -you brought it on yourself. I know a few things about you that I have -never told. I know that within a week after entering this academy you -were playing the sneak and the traitor to your class. You were carrying -tales to the yearlings." - -"It’s a lie!" - -"If you were worth it, I’d make you swallow that! You know it is true. I -know it! I know you met Singleton and several others of the yearlings in -the Wolf’s Den within a week after entering school, and there plotted to -do me up. The result of that plot was a little fight in Chadwick’s -pasture one night, and you had to meet me first. If, at the time, I had -known as much as I do now, I’d have used you rougher than I did." - -Scudder could not deny the accusation, and he inwardly confessed that -Merriwell seemed to have a way of finding out every move made and every -word spoken against him. - -"That old sneak of an Indian told you!" he snapped. "Somebody ought to -shoot him!" - -Dick smiled grimly. - -"He’s a bad chap to fool with, Scudder, as you and your sort have -already discovered. Better let him alone. In fact, in the future, you -had better mind your own business and let me alone. You will be better -off, for I shall get mad pretty soon, and when I get mad I may hurt you. -Let him alone, Douglass. He won’t do anything. I doubt if he would have -had courage enough to strike me with the chair when I wasn’t looking." - -And Dick Merriwell coolly sat down and resumed study. - -"Better take heed," said Douglass. "Because if he doesn’t soak you by -and by, I shall. You ought to be fired out of Fardale." - -"That’s what you’re all working for!" flung back Uric. "But you won’t -succeed in getting me out." - -"You’ll succeed in getting yourself out if you keep on," declared Hugh, -resuming his work of putting the room in order. - -All this simply served to make Scudder more malicious than ever. While -he feared Dick Merriwell, he continued to seek to devise some means of -hurting the popular young plebe, for Dick was becoming popular. - -It was Dick’s work on the football-field that was fast making him -popular, something Scudder well understood. If Merriwell could keep at -it as he had begun, he would make such a record at football as few of -his years ever accomplish. - -So Uric desired to injure Dick somehow in the way of football. Fardale -was to play Hudsonville at Fardale the following Saturday, and on Friday -morning Jack Glennon, of the Hudsonville team, received the following -letter: - - "MR. JACK GLENNON. - - "DEAR SIR: If you will meet me in Fardale at half-past nine o’clock - Saturday morning, I will tell you how to defeat the Fardale Academy - team. I have particular reasons for wishing Fardale to lose, and I - believe you are the one who can fix it so that Hudsonville will surely - win if you follow my tip. By Saturday I expect to know all about the - new plays Fardale is learning in secret practise. You can reach - Fardale on the nine A. M. train, and I will be at the post-office at - half-past nine. I know you by sight, and will speak to you. I will not - sign my name to this, as it might fall into hands for which it is not - intended. Be sure to meet me in Fardale as directed." - -Now, Glennon was the big center-rush of the Hudsonville team, and his -record was none too clean. His playing the previous season had caused -vigorous protests from many of the teams encountered by Hudsonville, and -Scudder had picked him out as a fellow who would do pretty nearly -anything to win a game, hence the letter. - -Glennon quickly decided to meet the writer in Fardale and find out what -it all meant. Therefore, he reached the academy town ahead of the -Hudsonville team on Saturday, and hung about the post-office. But -nine-thirty came and passed, and Glennon began to think the whole -business was a hoax. - -"I’ve been fooled!" he muttered, in disgust. "Bet a dollar some of the -Fardale gang are around laughing at me this minute." - -A boy in uniform passed him and walked to the delivery-window, at the -same time looking sharply around. Glennon was going out when the -uniformed lad touched his arm, saying in a low tone: - -"I wrote that letter. Follow me." - -It was Uric Scudder. - -When they were outside Glennon started to walk along beside Uric, but in -a low tone the latter quickly said: - -"Better not let people see us together. Lots of these townies take in -the matches. Somebody might have something to say. Just chase me up till -it’s safe for us to chin. I’ll give you the tip." - -Scudder walked away in a careless manner, and Glennon followed at a -little distance. In this manner they left the main street of the village -and proceeded toward The Harbor, which was the poorer part of the town. -Scudder knew there was little danger that any one from the academy would -see them there. Coming to an old lumber-yard, he stopped and waited for -the follower to come up. - -Glennon sauntered up, a grin on his face. - -"What is this deal, anyhow?" he demanded. "What kind of a game are you -putting up on me?" - -"No game at all," said Uric quickly. "Come round here behind this pile -of lumber." - -"Now, if you’re up to tricks——" began the chap from Hudsonville. - -"Forget it. Come on. Somebody might happen along the road." - -Prepared for anything, Glennon followed. When they were behind the -lumber-pile Uric said: - -"We can sit down here and talk it over. Haven’t much time, for I must -get back to the academy in short order." - -They sat down, and the traitor produced cigarettes, which he offered to -the other, who refused them, with a curl of his thick lips. - -"I’m in training," said Glennon. - -"Oh, what’s the odds!" from Uric. "All this business about training is -mostly rot. Lots of fellows in training smoke on the sly." - -"The more fools they!" declared the Hudsonville chap. - -"It isn’t your conscience that keeps you from smoking?" - -"No; it’s my sense. A man who smokes cigarettes right along has no -business trying to play football. Now, what did you mean by the letter -you sent me, if you sent it?" - -"I sent it, all right, and I meant just what I said." - -"You promised to tell me how we could defeat Fardale in the game this -afternoon." - -"Yes." - -"Well, I confess that you aroused my curiosity, and I got a notion to -hear what you had to tell. But I can’t see why you should wish to give -anything away, for you’re a Fardale man." - -"And a chap I hate worse than poison is on that team," said Uric, -rubbing his narrow chin with his fingers. "I am ready to do anything to -down him." - -"Oh, that’s it. Well, Fardale has been pretty lucky this year. She never -started off so strong before. In fact, we’ve reckoned Fardale as easy -meat in the past; but I’m willing to acknowledge that she worried us a -little by downing Rivermouth. If it hadn’t been for that, no attention -would have been paid to your letter. We beat Rivermouth to open the -season, but it was by a fluke. If it hadn’t been for that fluke, they -would have held us for a tie game. They’ve got a fierce old team this -season, and everybody our way expected they would wipe up the earth with -you chaps. When you beat them we had fits. Now, if you can give us a tip -that will make it easy for us to walk over Fardale, I shall be much -obliged. Does that pay the bill, or are you looking for dough?" - -"I want no dough. All I want is for you to rub it into Fardale hard. The -fellow I hate was the fellow who beat Rivermouth, and he’ll beat you -to-day if you don’t take my tip. His brother is coaching the team, -and——" - -"So that’s it!" exclaimed Glennon. "You’re talking about Dick -Merriwell?" - -"You’ve heard of him?" - -"I guess yes! We knew there was something doing when we heard Frank -Merriwell was coaching Fardale. Then came the stories of the doings of -this Dick Merriwell. He must be a holy terror." - -Scudder turned almost green. - -"Now, wouldn’t it kill you to death to have a fellow like him get a -reputation!" he snarled. "He’d never made the team this year if Frank -Merriwell hadn’t been coach." - -"But he can play the game, can’t he?" - -"He has devilish luck—or something," said Scudder. "I never saw anything -like it. He gets all the chances." - -"You said something about new plays Fardale has been learning in secret -practise. Now, if you can tell me what those plays are, it will make us -wise, and we’ll be ready for them." - -"I’m sorry," confessed Uric; "but I haven’t been able to find out much -about them. I thought I’d get onto them, all right, but I’ve had hard -luck." - -"Then you don’t know what they are?" asked Glennon, in disappointment. - -"No." - -"Well, what are you going to tell me?" growled the displeased -Hudsonville chap. "What’s all the guff you gave me in the letter?" - -"I’m going to tell you how to win the game," said Uric positively, "even -though I can’t tell you the plays, as I hoped to do." - -"Go ahead." - -"There’s just one way to do it." - -"That is?" - -"Play Merriwell to a finish early in the game. They say you’re pretty -good at putting men out of the game when they prove too troublesome." - -"Well, I have done such a thing," admitted Glennon, with a grin that was -far from pleasant. - -"Do it again! Put your whole team onto the trick. Aim right at Merriwell -from the start. Break his legs, collar-bone, neck, any old thing; but be -sure to put him out of the game for good. I’d be happy if you could fix -him so that he’d never play football again." - -"You must hate him some!" - -"Why shouldn’t I? But you don’t know my reasons. You may think me a -pretty mean fellow to turn against my own team this way," said Uric -sadly, "but that is because you know nothing of my reasons. I never -harmed this chap Merriwell, but he has done everything in his power to -disgrace me and drive me out of the school. He has abused me, lied about -me, and everything else from the very start. Oh, he’s the meanest chap -on two legs! They say that Frank Merriwell is a pretty decent fellow, -but it’s certain his brother is not much like him. Of course, Frank -Merriwell stands up for his brother, because he is his brother. But Dick -Merriwell will do anything mean or low to hurt a chap he hates. I’m not -going to tell you all he has done to me, because——" - -"No need of it," cut in the other. "I didn’t come here to hear about -your personal troubles. But is this tip the only pointer you can give -me?" - -"It’s enough—if you follow it. Do up Dick Merriwell, and you’ll surely -win the game. Fail to do him up, and he’ll find a way to beat you, even -if you have a lead up to pretty near the last of it. Mark what I say; -he’ll find a way to beat you, and he will be the one to do the trick. -Just promise me that you’ll put him out in short order, and I’ll have -some courage to see the game. If you won’t promise that, I’ll hardly -care to watch it, for I know what he’ll do." - -"Well, don’t you worry," said Glennon, in a significant way. "We’ll be -pretty sure to put anybody who is dangerous out of business. If you -really want to see Fardale beaten as bad as you pretend, just be sure to -watch the game this afternoon. That’s all I have to say." - -"All right," nodded Scudder, with satisfaction, rising to his feet. -"I’ll be on hand. And I’ll look for you to knock Merriwell out inside of -ten minutes after the game begins. Of course, you know how to do the -trick without being disqualified." - -"Leave that to me," said Glennon, also rising. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - A HOT CHASE. - - -"Oh, wait a minute!" exclaimed Scudder, struck by a sudden, thought as -he was turning away. "That letter." - -"What letter?" - -"The one I wrote you." - -"What about it?" - -"Better let me have it." - -"What for?" - -"Well, you know it might happen to fall into the hands of somebody who -would make trouble." - -"No danger of that." - -"All the same, I’ll feel better if you pass it over. You can’t have any -use for it now." - -"Why, of course not; but I hope you don’t think I’d throw you down by -giving it up?" - -"Certainly not," said Uric, as he rubbed his chin and assumed a smiling -air; "but it’s best to be safe." - -"I don’t believe I have it here," said Glennon, feeling in his pockets -and bringing out some letters and papers. "If I have, you are welcome to -it. I’ve got a lot of trash here that don’t amount to anything." - -He commenced running the letters and papers over, tossing some of them -aside in a careless manner. - -"Of course," said Scudder, "I didn’t sign my name to the letter, and I -did disguise my handwriting; still, I’d rather see the thing burned, and -then I’ll feel safe, for my word is as good as anybody’s." - -"Well, here it is," said Glennon, handing the letter over. - -Uric drew a breath of relief as he seized it. - -"We’ll soon fix that," he said, producing a match. "I’ll burn the thing -right here." - -As he struck the match and prepared to apply the flame to the letter the -head of a ragged, freckled-faced lad of fourteen rose and peered down -over the edge of the lumber-pile. The boy was lying flat on his stomach -on top of the timber, where he had listened to all that passed between -Scudder and the fellow from Hudsonville. - -The eyes of the boy glistened and seemed to be measuring the distance -from the pile of lumber to the spot where the worthy pair were standing. -With a look of longing he gazed at that letter, while his fingers worked -nervously. - -"Confound it!" exclaimed Scudder, as a gust of wind blew out the match. - -He struck another, and just then a rough-looking man appeared in the -yard, saw the two young boys, and instantly cried: - -"Here, there! what are you fellows doing? You have no business smoking -or lighting matches in this yard. Get out of here, or I’ll have you both -arrested!" - -While the attention of Scudder and Glennon was turned toward the man, -the boy rose softly, slipped over the edge of the pile of lumber, -dropped like a cat to the ground, and darted forward. - -In a twinkling he had snatched the letter from Scudder’s hand and was -off as fast as he could run. Uric uttered an exclamation of astonishment -and dismay. - -"Here! here!" he shouted. "Stop, you young rascal!" - -"Stop me!" invited the boy. - -"I’ll stop you!" snarled Uric, as he started after the lad. "Come on, -Glennon! I’ll give you five dollars to help me catch that brat!" - -It may be this offer tempted Glennon, or perhaps the fellow thought it -best to get out of the yard before the man could get hold of him; -anyhow, he started with Scudder in hot pursuit of the running boy, who -was making off as fast as his legs could carry him. - -"I know that young whelp!" grated Uric, remembering his experience with -the boy and the dog in the woods. "I owe him a score, and I’ll willingly -give five dollars to settle it." - -The boy looked back at them and whooped gaily, kicking up his heels. He -waved the letter over his head, tauntingly yelling: - -"Don’t you wish you had it?" - -"I’ll get it!" panted Scudder. "Run, Glennon—run! I’ll surely give you -five dollars if you catch him!" - -"Then he’s my meat!" said the Hudsonville chap, as he sprinted after the -boy, who had reached the road and was making off toward The Harbor. - -Glennon was a swift runner, and he soon led Scudder, whose wind had been -impaired by cigarette-smoking. - -The boy quickly realized that it would not be an easy thing to get away -from one of his pursuers, and he set his teeth and ran as if his life -depended on the effort. Over the crest of the rise they went, and -started down the road toward The Harbor, a huddled collection of old -buildings and decaying wharves. - -At one time this had been the main part of Fardale village, but with the -advent of the steam railroad there had come a change, and the -respectable portion of the town had "moved over the hill." - -Straight for the old wharves ran the lad with the letter, Glennon -seeming to gain on him each moment. A few rough people about the old -huts looked on in languid interest. An old woman, with her apron thrown -back over her shoulder and her hands on her hips, stood by a rickety -gate and laughed. - -Straight to the nearest wharf Glennon and Scudder pursued the boy. An -old vessel lay at the pier, and the lad leaped onto her deck. Glennon -followed, and Scudder was not far behind. - -"Now we’ve got you!" cried Glennon triumphantly. - -"In your mind!" flung back the boy, as he dodged round the cabin of the -vessel. - -The Hudsonville chap pursued him round, the boy laughing tauntingly. - -"Head him off the other way!" cried Glennon to Scudder. - -"All right," said Uric. "Let me get my hands on him! Won’t I make him -sick!" - -But the lively lad darted away from the cabin, avoiding both of his -followers. - -"You fellers are too slow!" he grinned, as he thumbed his nose at them -from the forward deck. - -"I’ll show you how slow I am if we ever catch you!" grated Uric. - -As they charged for him, the boy suddenly ran up the shrouds like a -monkey. The shrouds were rotten, however, and threatened to break -beneath his weight. - -"Come on!" invited the freckled youngster. "Come on up!" - -"Come down!" snarled Scudder. - -"Come up and bring me down!" - -"I’ll bring you down without coming up!" declared Uric savagely, as his -hand went round to his hip pocket. He drew a revolver. - -"If you don’t come down," he said, pointing the weapon at the boy, "I’ll -shoot you!" - -The boy was frightened now, but he went yet higher on the shrouds. - -"Stop!" cried Scudder. "I’m not fooling! By the blazes! if you don’t -come down, I’ll begin shooting!" - -"Better come down, kid." said Glennon. "He can’t fail to hit you there -if he fires." - -But the boy had mounted to the cross-trees, where he suddenly caught a -dangling rope. Before the two fellows below were aware of his -intentions, the lad had wound a leg round that rope, and down he came -like a streak alongside the mast. - -Glennon jumped for him, but the boy struck the deck and dodged the -outstretched hand of the Hudsonville youth. Then he again ran the length -of the vessel, dodged round the cabin, and escaped over the side to the -old wharf. - -But Scudder was hot after the fugitive now, and it seemed that the -youngster must be captured in a few seconds. - -"Ain’t got me yet!" panted the boy, as he darted round a corner of the -old wharf-building. - -Scudder uttered an exclamation of anger at this, but followed the lad -closely. - -Between two of the buildings the lad disappeared. Uric plunged in there, -and a cry of satisfaction broke from his lips, for he had the lad -penned, there being a huge opening in the rotten flooring between the -buildings. - -"Now, I’ve got you!" grated Scudder, in triumph. "And I’ll give you just -what you deserve!" - -He jumped for the boy, who was standing on the edge of the opening. The -desperate lad had not given up, however, and he suddenly crouched and -leaped to spring across the opening. - -Uric saw the boy’s feet slip on the wet and rotten planking, saw the -little fellow fail to land on the farther side of the opening, saw him -strike heavily against the timbers, and then go whirling downward. - -The whirling body of the boy struck in the water beneath the old wharf. - -"Where is he?" asked Glennon, behind Scudder. - -"Down there!" answered Uric, pointing through the opening. - -"Then he——" - -"Tried to jump across." - -"Failed?" - -"Yes; slipped." - -"Fell in the drink, eh?" - -"Struck on the edge over there. Dropped back limp as a rag. Never made a -sound." - -"Stunned?" - -"I think so." - -"Great Scott! Perhaps he’ll drown!" - -Glennon was on his knees peering down through the opening. - -"See him?" questioned Scudder. - -"No." - -Uric knelt and looked down; Beneath the old wharf it was dark and slimy, -with the running tide swashing against the green spiles. The sound of -the water sent a chill over Scudder. - -"Hey, boy!" called Glennon. "Where are you?" - -His voice echoed hollow and ghostly beneath the wharf. There was no -answer. - -"This is bad!" said the Hudsonville chap, showing alarm. "I’m afraid -he’s gone!" - -"I’m afraid so myself," confessed Uric, a sensation of horror coming -upon him. "But we’re not to blame." - -"We may be blamed, just the same." - -"Why?" - -"Because we were chasing him. Hey, boy! boy! Answer, and we’ll help you -out." - -They listened. Swish-swash sounded the water, creeping about the slimy -timbers. - -"He should have come to the surface," said Glennon. "If he hadn’t been -stunned, he would have risen at once. It’s likely he was able to swim. -Most boys of his age are." - -"If he didn’t come up——" - -"That settles it!" - -"What can we do?" - -"Nothing." - -On their knees beside that opening they looked at each other. Scudder’s -weak face was very pale, and his trembling fingers fumbled at his chin. - -"It’s a bad piece of business," he said huskily. - -"Decidedly so," admitted Glennon. - -"We’re likely to be blamed for it." - -"Likely." - -"But we’re not to blame. That boy was a thief! He had stolen a letter -from me." - -"You made a bad break when you pulled that revolver on him," said -Glennon. "If anybody saw that——" - -Scudder gasped. - -"They might think we murdered him," he whispered, his fears increasing. - -"They might," admitted Glennon. - -"Of course we can swear that we didn’t." - -"But I don’t fancy this kind of a scrape!" growled the chap from -Hudsonville. "You got me into it!" - -He scowled at Uric. - -"Don’t make that sort of an excuse!" exclaimed Scudder. "If you hadn’t -wanted to, you didn’t have to meet me. I hope you’re no squealer." - -"I was a fool to meet you, anyhow!" said the other. "What has it -amounted to? All you told me was of no consequence. We’d found out for -ourselves that Merriwell was dangerous, and then we could have put him -out of the game without your advice. You’re a pretty cheap kind of a -chap, to go back on your own team to ‘do’ a fellow you hate." - -"Now, don’t begin calling names! That kind of business won’t go down -with me!" - -"It’ll have to go down!" sneered Glennon, rising to his feet. "What are -you going to do about it? You must know you’re a cheap fellow. Of -course, if you had anything to tell me about the secret practise of your -team, I was ready to hear it; but that didn’t make me think anything of -you. All the while I regarded you as a poor tool, and that’s just what -you are. If that boy doesn’t turn up all right, I’ll tell everything -concerning the affair." - -"You’ll blow on me?" - -"I’ll tell the truth, as the best way out of a bad scrape, that’s all." - -Uric caught hold of his companion’s arm. - -"But don’t blow till you have to!" he entreated. "Perhaps the boy is all -right. Perhaps he jumped in there to dodge us. I believe he did. I am -pretty sure of it now. That is just what he did, and he’s hiding down -there, or he swam off. Ha! ha! We’re foolish to get all worked up over -it. The young rascal! He played a slick trick on us." - -Glennon looked at Uric suspiciously, but the latter continued the bluff. - -"If I had time," he said, "I’d stay right here and watch for him; but -I’ve got to get back to the academy, or I’ll have trouble. Come on; we -might as well give it up. The boy has fooled us." - -He urged Glennon away, and so they departed. - -Beneath the dark old wharf the water whispered and gurgled around the -rotting, barnacle-covered spiles. The sound of retreating footsteps died -out overhead. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - DICK’S STRANGE ILLNESS. - - -Dick Merriwell was ill. He had awakened with a throbbing headache and -burning flesh. During the remainder of the night there had been little -sleep for him, though he tried not to disturb Douglass. - -In the morning Dick had risen, uttering no word of complaint, although -he was weak and it required a mighty effort for him to get up at all. - -The keen eyes of Douglass had discovered that something was wrong, and -he asked Dick if he felt sick. Dick had answered that he was feeling -somewhat "off," but reckoned he would be all right after a bit. - -And so he took his morning shower, believing that would set him right. -He was unable to eat any breakfast, but still he would not give up and -admit himself ill. - -Prank Merriwell had appointed a time that forenoon to go through certain -signal-practise with the team, wishing to make sure the players -thoroughly understood the signals calling for the new formations he had -planned. - -It was precisely ten o’clock when the eleven went onto the field, -finding their coach waiting for them Frank’s keen eyes scanned the men, -to see if they appeared in condition. He smiled a bit as he noted their -clear eyes and healthy complexions—smiled till his eyes rested on Dick. -Then that smile disappeared, and a moment later he was speaking to his -brother. - -"You’re sick, Dick," he said positively. - -"Oh, I’m feeling a little rocky, that’s all," was the assertion of the -boy. "That will be all right." - -Frank grasped his hand, finding it hot and throbbing. - -"You’re sick," he repeated. "You are feverish. Your face is flushed and -your eyes are red. I’m afraid you need a doctor, boy." - -"Pooh!" scoffed Dick. "I won’t have any old doctor! I won’t be dosed -with powders and pills! Don’t you worry about me, Frank, for I’ll come -round all right." - -"I’m sure you’re in no condition to play this afternoon," declared -Merry, in a low tone. - -"Oh!" exclaimed the boy almost fiercely. "I will play! Don’t tell me I -can’t play, Frank—please don’t. I’m going to play in that game. I -wouldn’t miss taking part in it for a thousand dollars!" - -Frank was compelled to smile, even though the smile was a grave one. - -"You must be reasonable," he said. "If you are not in condition to play, -it will hurt the game and hurt you to put you in. Your boundless energy -has enabled you to do surprising things in past games, but that will -fail you if you’re ill." - -"Oh, my energy’s all right," insisted the lad doggedly, adding, in true -boyish fashion: "I’ll prove it. See!" - -Brad Buckhart was standing thirty feet away, with his hands on his hips, -his back toward them, surveying the field. Straight at the Texan Dick -Merriwell dashed, to the surprise of Frank, who was not quick enough to -restrain him. Frank’s first thought was that Dick meant to tackle the -unsuspecting Western youth and fling him down. Instead of doing so, -however, Dick leaped like a panther into the air, and sailed fairly over -Buckhart’s head. - -A shout of surprise went up from all who witnessed this feat, while -Buckhart stared, and exclaimed: - -"Well, durn my hoofs! Talk about your wild horses! Whatever sort of -springs have you got concealed in those legs of yours, Merriwell?" - -Dick laughed, his face flushed more than ever, and turned back to Frank, -demanding: - -"Now, what do you think? Are you going to keep me out of the game -because I lack energy?" - -Frank shook his head, but his eyes could not entirely conceal his -admiration for his brother’s feat. - -"That’s no real proof," he said. "You’re all right to do that now, but -you know it takes endurance to hold out through a game of football." - -"If you keep me out of the game," came almost passionately from the lips -of the boy, "I’ll never forgive you as long as I live! If I couldn’t -play football, I wouldn’t stay in this old school another day!" - -In his anxiety and excitement, Dick was saying things he did not really -mean, which Merry well understood. - -"We’ll talk it over later," said Merry. "Now, we’ll go through the drill -I want the team to take this forenoon." - -That drill consisted of making quick formations for mass-plays and -interference, and in trying certain new plays which demanded prompt and -concerted action in order to be effective. - -No effort was made to teach any one anything further in the way of -tackling, punting, kicking, or running with the ball. This was no time -for that sort of practise. Indeed, Merriwell would not have called the -team out at all on this forenoon had he felt confident that all were -thoroughly familiar with the new plays he had planned. - -A ball was used, and the passes and formations made on the signals. When -anything went wrong, Frank kept them repeating the attempt till they got -it right. - -Dick filled his regular position as half-back, and seemed trying to -prove to his brother that he was all right. But before the practise was -over something happened. Several times Dick had fumbled the ball, adding -to Merry’s anxiety, for, as a rule, the boy was rather clever in -handling any kind of a pass. The ball was sent back to Dick, and, with -it clasped under his arm, he started to spring forward to go through the -center. He did not take two steps when he suddenly staggered, dropped -the ball, and fell to the ground. - -In a moment Brad Buckhart was kneeling beside him and had lifted his -head. Dick’s eyes were closed, and now his face was white and almost -ghastly. - -"Bust my broncos!" blurted Brad. "Something wrong with him! He went down -like a cow with a rope round her horns. Bring water quick, somebody!" - -Water was brought, and Dick’s temples were wet, while a little was -forced between his lips. Frank was at work over him when the boy drew a -deep breath and muttered: - -"I’m not sick! Going to play! Will play! Tell you I will play!" - -Frank was pale, for he was troubled by a suspicion that filled him with -untold anger. - -Was it possible Dick had been drugged in some manner by some dastardly -enemy at the academy? - -There was a department in the academy known as "The Hospital," and -thither Dick Merriwell was carried. He revived while they were taking -him there, finding the arm of his brother about him. - -"What’s the matter?" he asked bewilderedly. "Something black came before -my eyes, and then the ground seemed to come up and strike me." - -"We’ll find out what the matter is, if possible," said Frank grimly. -"Perhaps a doctor can tell us what ails you." - -Then once more Dick was seized by the fear that he would not be -permitted to take part in the football-game that day, and he struggled -weakly to be put down. - -"I can walk," he said. "I’m all right, Frank! Anybody’d think me a baby, -to see you fellows carrying me this way." - -"Whoa-up!" came from Buckhart, who was one of the party bearing Dick. -"Don’t you go to bucking, my boy. Your brother is running this here -drive, and he’s the boss of the whole outfit. I allow you’ll have to do -as he says." - -In the hospital Frank whispered a few words in the ear of the doctor. - -"There is something queer about this business, doctor," he said. "I wish -you would see if my brother has been poisoned, or drugged. I have -reasons to fear that he has. If he has been drugged, don’t say a word of -it to anybody but me—at present." - -The doctor nodded. - -So it came about that, on his return to the academy, Uric Scudder found -the cadets gathered in groups, earnestly talking of what had happened. -Scudder heard them expressing opinions concerning the result of the game -if Merriwell did not participate, and he stared. Then he heard a fellow -say that it was pretty certain Dick would not be able to play, and that -gave him a shock. Straightway he began to ask questions, and soon -learned what had happened. - -"I suppose you’re glad of it, Eggs?" said Ned Stanton. - -Uric’s face flushed as he heard this opprobrious name, and he snarled: - -"I sha’n’t cry!" - -Then he whirled and hurried away, hearing behind him the imitated -clucking of a hen, the crowing of a rooster, and a general cackling from -a dozen different ones in the group. - -"Pards," said Brad Buckhart, who was one of the gathering, "I’ve got a -notion in this old noodle of mine that there has been some kind of -crooked business. I stayed with Merriwell as long as they would let me, -and I heard the doctor whisper something to his brother after he had -made an examination. I don’t reckon I’d better state just what I heard, -for I didn’t hear it very clear, and I might be mistaken; but it -wouldn’t surprise this old Maverick if some sneaking rattler had soaked -his fangs into Merriwell on the sly. And if it turns out that way, -hanging will be too good for the varmint! We all know Merriwell’s got a -bunch of coyotelike enemies hereabouts, though some of them have been -singing mighty soft lately." - -His words aroused some excitement, and not a little indignation, it -being the generally expressed sentiment that somebody deserved the -severest sort of punishment in case Merriwell had met with foul play. - -And now it quickly became evident that Merriwell had been generally -regarded as of prime importance on the eleven, for on all sides were -heard expressions of fear concerning the outcome of the game with -Hudsonville if Dick did not play. - -Not a few positively declared that Fardale didn’t have one chance in ten -of winning with Merriwell off the team. Some asserted that too much -importance was given to the feats of Merriwell in the past, asserting -that another capable fellow in his position, having the same -opportunities, might have accomplished fully as much. But this was not -the general feeling, and when the report came from the hospital that -Dick could not play that afternoon, a cloud of gloom seemed to settle -over the academy. - -Ted Smart went round telling how happy he was, and begging somebody to -kick him just to make him feel still happier. - -"Oh, we’ll wipe up the earth with Hudsonville!" he said. "We’ll have a -regular walkover now that we’ve been strengthened by the loss of -Merriwell! He was a poor man on the team! He never could play the game! -Oh, luddy-dah! what a gay old day this is going to be for Fardale!" - -There was one fellow who kept out of sight as much as possible, yet who -was anxious to know what effect the sudden illness of Merriwell had on -the cadets. Meeting Jim Watson in an upper corridor of the barracks, -Lynch stopped and questioned him. Watson was pleased to have a -first-class man like Lynch speak to him, and he readily told everything -he knew. But when it was all over, and Lynch had gone on his way, Watson -fell to wondering over some of the questions the fellow had asked. It -was plain to him that Lynch was keenly interested in Merriwell’s -condition, yet did not wish to have it generally known that he was so -greatly concerned. - -"I wonder why?" speculated "Foxy" Watson. "They say there’s something -queer about Merriwell’s illness. I told Lynch of that, and he seemed -rather nervous. I wonder why?" - -And he continued to wonder if it were possible that Lynch was in any way -connected with the sudden manner in which Dick Merriwell had fallen ill. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - DICK’S AMAZING HURDLE. - - - FARDALE. POSITIONS. HUDSONVILLE. - - Burrows Right end Fisher - Stanton Right tackle Tilton - Douglass Right guard Clove - Buckhart Center Glennon - Gordan Left guard Dinsmore - Blair Left tackle McBride - Kane Left end Swett - Shannock Quarter-back Haggerty - Nunn Right half-back Church - Kent Left half-back Aiken - Singleton Full-back King - -Above is the line-up of the two teams that faced each other on Fardale -field that Saturday afternoon. - -Although it was said that, under the treatment of the doctor, Dick -Merriwell had improved rapidly, yet his friends claimed that he was -unable to play, and might not leave the hospital for a day or two. - -The absence of Dick from the team made some changes necessary, and, on -the advice of Frank Merriwell, Substitute Kane was placed at right end, -while Don Kent was put in Dick’s position as left half-back. - -Uric Scudder noted with regret the absence of Merriwell, for it had been -his desire that the fellow he hated should be knocked out by the -slugger, Glennon. - -"All my trouble for nothing," he thought bitterly. "Wish I had never -written that letter. Oh, that wretched letter! It may get me in no end -of trouble." - -He was troubled and worried, for he could not keep his thoughts from the -rotten wharf, beneath which the unlucky boy had disappeared, and before -his mental vision seemed to rise the slimy spilings, with the rushing -tide gurgling about them. In fancy he saw a gruesome form floating -beneath the old wharf, knocking against the spiles and whirled with the -eddies of the restless water. He shivered and grew cold whenever he -thought of this. - -Hudsonville was swaggering and confident, and the captain of the team -expressed regret that Merriwell was not on hand to take his drubbing -with the rest of the Fardale aggregation. - -The game began by Fardale kicking off, but the strong westerly wind -carried the ball out of bounds, and it was brought back, for Big Bob to -have another try. On the second trial Singleton booted the leather -savagely, sending it to the ten-yard line of the enemy, where it was -captured by Aiken, who rushed it back fifteen yards before being downed. - -Beginning operations in earnest on their twenty-five-yard line, -Hudsonville walked into Fardale in a manner that seemed to appal the -cadets at first, and not till they were within eight yards of the center -of the field were they held and forced to kick. - -King drove the ball to Fardale’s thirty-five-yard line, but Kent ran it -back ten yards, and there Fardale lined up to see what she could do -against the enemy. Then Shannock was heard giving the signal: - -"5—Y—21—17—100—11." - -The ball was snapped, and Shannock passed it swiftly to Kent. Don leaped -forward like a flash, the others closing round him, and he went bang -into Hudsonville’s center. - -Only two yards were made, although the other backs had given Kent as -much impetus as possible, and had tried to ram him through for a good -gain. - -Two yards were something, however, and the home team lined up -courageously for the next assault. - -"2—32—6—31—X—43—100," came the signal from the quarter. - -And then the ball went to Captain Nunn, who repeated Kent’s plunge into -center, only to be held rigidly without making a foot. - -Glennon laughed in Nunn’s face. - -"It won’t work twice," he said. - -Fardale had found the enemy’s center hard to break. The home team did -not hesitate, however, and next came the signal for Kent to try a run -round the end. - -It happened that Hudsonville was looking for just this kind of a play, -and, although Don did his best, he was simply forced out of bounds -without a gain. - -Then Fardale was compelled to bring the ball in for a kick, in order to -avoid the loss of the oval on downs as the probable result of another -rush. - -Singleton did not cover himself with glory this time, for he drove the -ball only to Hudsonville’s forty-yard line, and Tilton got back to -within five yards of the center of the field before being turfed. - -Then the onlooking Fardale enthusiasts saw Hudsonville again batter -through the home team and quickly carry the ball over the center, -putting the cadets on the defensive in their own territory. - -"What’s the good of all Merriwell’s secret practise?" said Jabez Lynch, -who was watching from the lower tier of seats. "Our fellows are playing -the same old simple game. I haven’t seen anything new thus far." - -"Perhaps we’ll see something later," said Tod Hubbard, who was at -Jabez’s side. - -"Let us hope so," sneered Lynch. "I want Fardale to win to-day, for Dick -Merriwell will think he’s the whole team if we lose when he’s off." - -Hudsonville kept Fardale going till the ball was lost on a fumble twenty -yards from the home team’s goal. Once more Fardale attempted to advance -by a mass-formation attack on the enemy’s center, but secured no ground. - -Then came the first new play of the day. At the signal the whole right -end of the Fardale team seemed to melt and vanish, but the line went -across like a flash, and reenforced the left wing, Douglass backing -Blair, Stanton behind Gordan, and Burrows supporting Buckhart. Close -behind this mass was Kent, with the ball, guarded by Nunn and Shannock -on one side and Kane and Singleton on the other. - -Before Hudsonville could mass to resist this attack, Fardale had swung -her right end backward and round for a gain of full twelve yards. - -How the watchers cheered! This was what they desired, and they were -delighted. - -A repetition of this play, with the left end backing the right, netted -seven yards more, and Fardale’s colors were waving joyously. - -"There is some of the work Merriwell has been drilling them on," said -Tod Hubbard. "It’s proving good, too." - -"But it’s dead simple," said Lynch, with curling lip. "Anybody could -have devised that kind of a play, and it will prove bad for Fardale -before we are through with this game. Wait till Hudsonville gets onto it -for fair, and then see what those chaps do to the line-over trick." - -It was some time, however, before Hudsonville seemed prepared to meet -the new line-over formation, but the visitors finally found a method of -breaking up the interference and getting to the man with the ball, so -that the effectiveness of the play was ended. By this time, however, the -first half was nearly finished, and neither team had scored. - -Fardale was doing better than had been anticipated, although she seemed -unable to threaten the enemy’s goal. - -Realizing that the first half was drawing to a close, Hudsonville -hammered into Fardale in a deadly manner. Douglass had been doing great -work in defense, and he was spotted by Glennon. At the end of a furious -scrimmage Hugh was found stretched senseless on the ground. Glennon had -been able to get in his work at putting a dangerous man out of the game. - -Somehow, it seemed that Fardale became alarmed, for Hudsonville carried -the ball to within twenty yards of the home team’s goal. There, however, -the spirit of the cadets revived again, and the advance was checked. - -After it was seen that another down that did not net three yards would -give the ball to the home team, the visitors decided to try to kick a -goal from the field. Fardale saw what was to be attempted, and every -effort was made to break through the line and spoil the kick. King, -however, was given plenty of time, and he drove the ball over the bar in -handsome shape. - -Hudsonville had scored, and the wisdom of this kick for goal from the -field was shown when the whistle blew shortly after, ending the half, -with the tally standing 5 to 0, in favor of the visitors. - -"Too bad!" said Jabez Lynch. "Unless we can do better in the last half -the cry will go up that we have lost the game because Merriwell was not -playing." - -"It’s strange," said Tod Hubbard, "that they didn’t give you a show when -Merriwell was taken sick." - -"Strange!" sneered Jabez. "Nothing strange about it! It simply shows the -nasty feeling against me." - -"Didn’t you expect they would give you a show?" - -"Well, if I hadn’t expected it, I’d never——" Right there Jabez checked -himself suddenly, and the expression on his face seemed to indicate that -he feared he had said too much. - -"You’d never what?" asked Hubbard. - -"Never mind," growled Lynch, getting up. "I’m going to move round and -stretch my legs during the intermission." - -"Now, I wonder what he started to say," thought Hubbard, as Lynch walked -away. "He’d never done what? What did he do that made him fancy he might -get a chance in this game?" - -The question remained unanswered, but Tod continued to ponder over it. - -The work of the Fardale team in the first half had been anything but -satisfactory to Frank Merriwell, and he was fearful that the second half -might prove even more disastrous. However, he did his best to encourage -and liven the men while they were being rubbed down during intermission. - -"That’s all right, pard," said Brad Buckhart, in his breezy way; "but -there’s no use denying that this here team is weakened mightily by the -loss of that boy Dick. Why, he’s a holy terror on ten wheels, he is! If -he could get into the round-up now, we’d have those galoots milling -before the next half was quarter played. You hear me shout!" - -Captain Nunn came to Frank. - -"We need Dick," he said. "I can see a big difference in the team without -him." - -"He wanted to play, badly enough." said Merry. "He was begging the -doctor to let him come out not an hour before the game began." - -"Is he going to be sick long?" - -"I think not." - -"It’s queer he was taken so suddenly. What did the doctor say was the -matter with him?" - -A grim look came to the face of Frank Merriwell. - -"Poison!" he said. - -"What?" gasped Steve. "You don’t mean—— Why, how was he poisoned?" - -"That is the mystery, but there are plenty of ways to drop something -into a glass of water in the mess-hall." - -"Great Scott!" exploded Nunn. "You don’t suppose anybody did that?" - -"I don’t know; but the doctor has plainly said that he must have taken -some sort of a drug, and I know he never took it of his own accord." - -"Well, somebody ought to be lynched!" Steve declared. "That’s the worst -I ever heard about!" - -"Say nothing," warned Frank; "we may find out some time who did it." - -The time for the second half to begin came round, and once more the two -teams spread out on the field for the kick-off. This time it was -Hudsonville’s turn to open the game, and King led off with a handsome -long drive into the home team’s territory. - -Singleton returned the kick, doing almost as well, the difference being -not more than three yards. Back came the ball from King, and Kent -believed he saw a splendid chance to make a good run and cover himself -with glory. The ball struck in his hands, but he was too eager to get a -start, and he muffed it. - -Fisher came down like a swooping hawk, caught up the ball, and was -brought to earth with it nine yards from Fardale’s goal. - -Kent’s face was white and his heart was full of shame over his bad piece -of work. He fancied he could hear the spectators saying that Merriwell -would never have done anything like that, had he been playing the -position. - -Hudsonville was bristling with confidence, feeling sure Fardale would be -easy in this half, but this very confidence made the visitors altogether -too sure of carrying things their way. And they little realized what a -desperate stand the cadets could make in the last ditch. - -Fardale gave the enemy only a single yard in the first onset. The second -resulted in no gain, but the third made another yard. However, that left -three yards to gain on the next attempt in order to retain the ball. - -Still overflowing with confidence, the visitors tried a double pass for -a round-the-end play, and right there they lost the ball to the home -team on downs. - -Again the dogged spirit of resistance instilled into the Fardale team by -Frank Merriwell had enabled the cadets to prevent the enemy from making -a touch-down when the goal seemed within reach. But Hudsonville was -determined to keep the fighting close to Fardale’s goal, and the -line-across play now proved utterly worthless in enabling the cadets to -advance. - -"You’re pretty good," said Haggerty; "but we’re better." - -"Maybe so, partner," retorted Brad Buckhart; "but we haven’t reached the -end of this here drive. Can’t always count on your steers till you have -them in the corral." - -"Well, we’ve got this lot pretty nearly into the corral," laughed -Haggerty. - -Shannock gave the signal, and, with the line holding hard, Don Kent shot -across and round Hudsonville’s right end. He had made ten yards when -Tilton brought him down. - -The ball escaped Kent as he fell, and that accident, which seemed -unfortunate for the moment, proved lucky, for Nunn had come through with -Don, and he scooped up the ball on the jump, getting off with it. - -Steve ran nearly to the center of the field before he was brought down, -and the Fardale witnesses were given another chance to cheer, while -Hudsonville snarled at its own luck. - -"Well, darn my hoofs!" laughed Brad Buckhart, as the two lines formed -again. "This bunch seems to be headed in the other direction all of a -sudden." - -"Luck!" declared Haggerty. "You may thank your stars." - -Fardale’s courage was good, but she could not shove the ball over the -center line, try as she might. The battle raged fiercely, but -Hudsonville managed to keep it in Fardale’s territory, and it was -apparent all along that something might happen almost any time to give -the visitors another tally. - -The minutes passed, and to the watchers it became more and more apparent -that the cadets were "up against the real thing." - -"Oh, for Dick Merriwell!" sighed more than one of the watchers. - -Fardale was doing her best, but the game was lost unless she could do -better. - -With the ball in her possession, the home team attempted a center-back -play, in which they had been coached by Merriwell; but they did not -carry it through skilfully, and the result was a loss of two yards. - -This caused Merriwell’s enemies to sneer again at his secret practise -and original plays. But Frank, who was watching everything closely, knew -the lack of success came through the failure of the team to perform the -play rapidly and without hesitation. It would require still further -practise to make Fardale efficient in the new formation. - -Now and then Frank looked at his watch. At last he called Teddy Smart to -his side and whispered something in his ear. - -"Will I?" exclaimed Smart, his face brightening. "Not for the world! Oh, -no!" - -"Wait," said Merry, catching hold of him, and again he whispered in -Ted’s ear. - -Then Smart was seen to turn and run from the field as if his life -depended on reaching a certain point in a very few seconds. - -The game went on, Fardale doing her best when driven to extremities, but -failing to come out strong in aggressive play. The Fardale crowd -continued to cheer, but it was generally admitted that the cadets could -win only on a fluke. The fluke, however, did not come, and Fardale began -to fag and show signs of exhaustion before the continued sledge-hammer -onslaughts of the enemy. - -Finally the home team showed signs of giving out entirely. Substitutes -were sent out to fill the places of both Kane and Blair; but that did -not brace the team up sufficiently to enable it to hold Hudsonville. -With things going their way, the visitors smashed a path down the field -till they were within five yards of Fardale’s line, and they must have -made a touch-down but for a bungling pass by Glennon. - -Buckhart came through like a frightened mustang and slammed himself down -on the ball. - -Less than five minutes would end the game. Although Fardale had gained -possession of the ball, her case seemed utterly hopeless. The only good -of kicking was to get the ball away from the danger-point, but that -would simply give it back to Hudsonville, something that meant absolute -and certain defeat. - -So Fardale lined up for a final despairing effort, and Kent was sent to -try to circle the left end of the enemy. Don did his level best, but was -brought down without making a foot. - -The line-across was tried on the right wing of the visitors, and -Hudsonville showed she was onto that style of playing by ripping wide -the formation and downing Nunn without an advance being secured. - -A revolving formation struck Hudsonville’s center, only to find that -part of the line like a wall of granite. - -The spectators groaned, for the only thing left, as it seemed, was to -kick, and that meant defeat. - -Just when the friends of Fardale were looking for the worst to happen, -across the field there came a yell that was so strange and wild and -shrill that it brought nearly everybody standing. - -The cry came from the lips of Old Joe Crowfoot, who, wrapped in his red -blanket, had appeared. At the old redskin’s side walked a youth wearing -a bathrobe. His face was pale and firm, and there was a light of -eagerness in his dark eyes. - -A great shout went up from the crowd. - -"Dick Merriwell!" roared two hundred voices. "Dick Merriwell!" - -Jabez Lynch was with Tod Hubbard once more, and he exclaimed: - -"Well, now, I wonder what they are going to do? Is it possible they’re -going to run a sick man in there at the last moment? Ha! ha! ha! Well, -of all the fool tricks I ever heard about! What do they imagine he can -do? Now they will show him up!" - -"He’s not going in," said Hubbard. "He’s shown himself just to have -people yell for him." - -Then they saw Dick Merriwell suddenly fling aside his bathrobe and run -onto the field. And the sight of him caused, exclamations of wonder to -break from the lips of nearly every one, for, instead of wearing the -accustomed football uniform, Dick was dressed in a light running-suit, -his legs and arms bare, and on his feet were running shoes, having, -however, rubber cleats on the bottoms. - -Everybody was standing now, and the excitement was intense. Scores were -asking questions which no one seemed able to answer. - -As Merriwell came out, Bob Singleton walked off the field, which made it -plain that Dick would take big Bob’s place as full-back. Getting into -position, Dick began to swing his right leg in a very suggestive manner. - -"He’s going to kick, that’s all," was the general opinion. - -This caused the excitement to subside somewhat, for a kick meant that -Fardale had given up the last hope of winning, and was simply trying to -keep Hudsonville from securing further points. - -Everything was ready, and the two lines faced each other, Captain Nunn -having a last word with one or two of his men. - -No signal was given, but, of a sudden, the ball was snapped, and -Shannock passed it cleanly and handsomely to Merriwell. - -The Hudsonville tigers charged and tried to break through, but now -Fardale stood firm, not yielding an inch, and the two lines crushed -together, rigid and motionless for a moment. - -In that moment the most amazing thing ever seen on Fardale field -happened. - -With a whirlwindlike dash, Dick Merriwell ran straight toward the line, -the ball hugged under his arm. Then up into the air he shot like a bird, -and, with the grace of a fawn, he passed directly over the heads of his -friends and antagonists in the line! - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - GLORY FOR THE VICTOR. - - -Those who saw the feat could scarcely believe they were not dreaming. - -Dick landed on his feet, recovered quickly, and was off like a flash. -The spectators yelled like maniacs. There was no such thing as concert -cheering now; it was simply the wild whooping of hundreds of witnesses -gone mad with amazement, admiration, and joy. - -Students climbed on one another’s shoulders and waved hats, hands, -handkerchiefs, and flags, shrieking till their eyes nearly popped from -their heads. - -Never before in the history of football at Fardale had such a scene been -witnessed. Lifted in one thrilling moment from the depths of despair to -the heights of hope, with possible, nay, probable, victory in sight, the -Fardale spectators were shrieking lunatics then. - -With the speed of the wind, Dick Merriwell flew along the field, headed -for the Hudsonville line. Hudsonville players broke away and started -after him. Then came the whole pack trailing out in his wake. - -But as well might a lot of mongrels have sought to overtake a greyhound. -The crowd saw he could not be stopped, and it shrieked and shrieked. - -The hearts of Dick’s enemies were filled with such dismay that, had the -triumphant lad known their sufferings, he must have felt himself fully -avenged for all injuries he had suffered at their hands. - -Jabez Lynch turned sick and faint, while his white lips moved, but made -no sound. Uric Scudder cursed, his words being drowned in the uproar. - -So Dick Merriwell ran the length of the field with the ball, and planted -it squarely behind the Hudsonville goal-posts. - -It seemed that the crowd would never stop its yelling, but, at last, the -cadets on the seats gained sufficient self-possession to start a regular -cheer. - -"Ha! ha! ha! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Rigger-boom! Zigger-boom! All -hail—Merriwell! Merriwell! Merriwell!" - -The dismay and disgust of Hudsonville knew no bounds, for, in the last -few minutes of play, she had been tied by a touch-down. If a goal were -made from that, she was beaten. - -The ball was brought out when Steve Nunn had hugged Dick Merriwell -before everybody, and Steve held it for the kick. - -Dick was the one to kick, and he was careful, taking into consideration -the wind. His kick was perfect, and the ball sailed over the bar in -handsome style. - -Then, although Hudsonville was given the ball to kick off, all knew -Fardale had won by such a thrilling and sensational finish that the -story would be handed down as something to wonder over in the traditions -of football at the academy. - -When the whistle blew, with the ball on Fardale’s forty-yard line, the -cadets poured onto the field and surrounded the players, who had lifted -Dick Merriwell aloft. - -But Old Joe Crowfoot was with the first, and he flung the bathrobe over -Dick’s shoulders. Then, again, waving one hand in the air, the old -redskin gave a yell that was the battle-cry of victory of his tribe. His -black eyes were gleaming with pride and joy. - -"Injun Heart!" he cried, pointing at Dick. "Him heap mighty young chief! -Him great white boy warrior!" - -"That’s what he is, Joseph!" roared Brad Buckhart. "He’s a holy terror, -and no mistake! He can have my ranch and my last hoof and horn!" - -"Say, I don’t want to play on the team any more!" cried Bob Singleton. -"He can have my place right along!" - -Then they cheered, marching about the field with Dick on their -shoulders. - -The boy’s face had been pale, but now it was flushed, and he begged to -be put down. They did not seem to hear him. - -"Dick Merriwell!" they roared. "Dick Merriwell! Dick Merriwell! ’Rah! -’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Dick Merriwell!" - -Frank Merriwell stood looking on, smiling a little, a flush in his -checks and pride in his heart. Surely this was a brother worth having, -and he had a right to be proud. Frank felt somebody catch hold of him, -and saw Teddy Smart at his side. - -"Oh, dear! dear! dear!" moaned Smart. "How sorry I am! Oh, my goodness! -how bad I feel! Wasn’t it just perfectly too bad to do it! I know I -shall cry my eyes out—I know I shall! Aren’t you ashamed of having a -brother like that? You ought to be ashamed, and I don’t blame you. He’s -a disgrace to you and to Fardale!" - -"Smart," said Merry, "you did well to get him here in time. I was afraid -you wouldn’t succeed." - -"Shouldn’t if it hadn’t been for that old Indian." confessed Ted. -"Doctor refused to let him come. I found Old Joe outside the door, and -told him. You should have seen Old Joe rip things up! It was perfectly -tame the way he walked into that hospital! No guard could stop him. No -doctor had any business trying it. He told Dick you wanted him, and Dick -was ready in short order. I’m afraid they’ll want to give Old Joe a -reward of merit for his doings. You’ll have to make it easy for Joe." - -"I’ll see to that," laughed Frank. - -Uric Scudder found Jack Glennon ready to leave the field. - -"Didn’t I tell you!" said Scudder. "I knew what he could do!" - -"Get out!" growled Glennon savagely. "What did all your telling amount -to? He didn’t come into the game in time to give anybody a show at him. -If you’d really tipped me to anything worth anything, it might have been -different. Go ’way back and sit down!" - -Glennon turned from the traitor in disgust. - -At this moment Scudder uttered a cry, caught Glennon by the arm, and -pointed toward a ragged boy who was trying to force his way into the -shouting crowd that surrounded Dick Merriwell. - -"Look!" he hissed. - -"What is it?" demanded the other. - -"The boy!" - -"What boy?" - -"The one we chased! There he is!" - -"Good!" said Glennon, in relief. "I was afraid he had been drowned." - -"He’s trying to get to Merriwell." - -"Let him try." - -"I know what he wants to do! He means to tell Merriwell about our -meeting!" - -"Let him tell. It won’t hurt me." - -"It will me!" - -"You’ll have to look out for yourself." - -"Bet he has that letter! He’s going to give it to Merriwell." - -"I don’t care." - -"It will be used against me! Let’s stop him! Let’s try to fix it with -him!" - -"Go on!" sneered Glennon. "Fix it yourself—if you can. Get away from me, -and stay away." - -Then he again turned his back on Scudder. - -Uric ran toward the boy, who did not see him coming. He grasped the -youngster by the shoulder, pulling him aside, and saying: - -"Look here a minute, sonny; I want to say something to you." - -The boy saw him, made a face at him, and retorted: - -"I don’t want to talk with you! Keep your dirty hands off me! You’re -going to git it in the neck for fair, all right, all right." - -"Come here, boy!" grated Uric. "If you know when you’re well off, you’ll -do as I say." - -But the boy was not at all impressed, and he tried to break from -Scudder’s grasp. In the excitement this struggle was not observed at -once, although the boy shrilly shouted: - -"Leggo! leggo! Get away from me!" - -Scudder tried to put a hand over the boy’s mouth, while he said in his -ear: - -"I’ll give you five dollars for that letter." - -"Leggo!" squawked the boy. - -"Ten dollars!" offered Uric. - -"Break away!" - -Then, with sharp nails, the lad scratched Uric’s hand till the blood -ran. Uttering a snarl of rage, Scudder lifted his fist to strike the -belligerent youngster. - -From his position on the shoulders of his admiring friends, Dick -Merriwell had witnessed some of the struggle, and now he came right over -the shoulders of the closely packed mass of yelling cadets who had been -gathered about him. In a moment he had seized Uric by the collar, -tearing the boy from his grasp. - -"What are you doing?" he demanded, his eyes flashing. "Were you going to -hit this boy, you coward?" - -Scudder shrank back before those flashing, indignant eyes. - -"That’s just what he was going to do," cried the boy, "and all because I -was trying to get to you to tell ye how he wrote to a feller on the -other team and offered to put the feller wise how to beat Fardale." - -"What’s that?" exclaimed Dick. - -"It’s a lie!" said Uric hoarsely, his face pale and a frightened look in -his eyes. "Don’t believe the little whelp!" - -The crowd had gathered about them now, and Scudder saw he was hemmed in -on all sides. There seemed no way of escape in case he wished to take to -his heels. - -"It’s the truth!" insisted the boy earnestly. "I had the letter, too. -Snatched it right out of his hand this forenoon, when he met the other -feller. He was going to burn it. I ran with it, and they chased me all -the way to The Harbor. Then I fell through a piece in one of the wharfs -and lost the letter in the drink. This feller had pulled a pistol on me, -and I guess he would ’a’ tried a shot at me if he’d seen me under the -wharf, so I just kept still till they went away." - -An angry murmur rose on all sides. Uric heard it and turned paler than -ever. He looked round, and saw that he was watched by hundreds of -scornful, indignant eyes. - -But the letter—the boy said it was lost! Where was the proof against -him? All at once Scudder braced up. - -"This kid has a grudge against me," he said, "and he’s trying to soak -me. The whole story is a lie from start to finish." - -"It’s the truth!" again asserted the boy. "He wrote and told the other -fellow how Fardale was practising secretly, and that he thought he’d be -able to find out all about the plays in a short time." - -"That was what he was doing the day he climbed the tree and got pelted -with eggs," said somebody. - -The boy grinned. - -"Yes," he said, "he was spying then, and I done the pelting when he got -caught and hung by the seat of his trousers. I had a grudge to settle, -for he kicked me one day and chucked me into the drink." - -"You see what kind of a fellow he is," said Uric. "He says he has a -grudge against me." - -"Oh, I guess I came pretty near getting even that day!" grinned the -youngster. "I did soak you good and hard." - -"He certainly was good to him!" said Teddy Smart, who had forced his way -toward the center of the crowd. "How now, Hen Fruit? You seem to be -enjoying yourself. You look very happy." - -"He’s a bad egg," said somebody. - -"This is a serious charge against you, Scudder," said Dick Merriwell. -"If the boy tells the truth, you ought to be tarred and feathered." - -"Oh, that would be horrid!" exclaimed Smart. "I wouldn’t think of taking -part in the obsequies. I’d hide my face with shame till it was all -over." - -"You have no right to do anything of the sort!" choked Scudder, in great -fear. "Will you take the word of this kid against mine? He can’t prove a -thing he says." - -"Do you know the fellow he met on the other team, boy?" asked Dick. - -"Sure thing." - -"Then we’ll take this chap to him and see what he has to say." - -Scudder’s heart sank, for, remembering Glennon’s contempt and words, he -feared the Hudsonville center might expose him. But it would not do for -him to show hesitation, and Uric knew that, so he cried: - -"That’s right; take me to him! Let’s see who speaks the truth. I’m ready -to go." - -The Hudsonville team had gathered in the dressing-room to get out of the -dirty suits, take baths, and put on their street clothes. To these rooms -Scudder was marched, with the boy in advance and the angry cadets -following behind in a dense body. - -"The jig is up!" thought Uric. "Glennon will croak on me!" - -In that case, he knew what to expect, and he was shaking in his boots. - -Glennon had made great haste, and was nearly dressed when Scudder was -marched in. It had been his intention to get away from the vicinity of -the academy as soon as possible. - -"That’s the feller!" cried the boy, pointing at Glennon. - -"This boy," said Dick Merriwell, "has made a charge of treachery against -this fellow here. The boy says this chap wrote to you and offered to -tell you how to beat Fardale to-day, and that you met him in the village -this forenoon. If the charge is true, it is right for us to know it -here, and I ask you fairly to answer if it is so." - -Glennon’s eyes met those of Scudder, and he saw there the light of fear -that caused his lip to curl a bit. Then, with a scornful gesture, he -said: - -"Nothing in it—nothing at all. Never saw the fellow before in my life." - -Scudder was saved. - -One mystery, however, remained unsolved. The doctor had said that Dick -Merriwell had been drugged. How the trick was done, and why it was done, -remained a puzzle to some who knew of it. - -But Frank Merriwell believed in his heart that he knew the full -explanation. In some manner the drug had been given to Dick at the -table, in water, or in his food. - -Frank suspected Lynch, but Jabez kept his mouth closed, and deported -himself in a manner outwardly beyond censure. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - THE LISTENER. - - -"It’s dangerous," said Scudder. - -"Nonsense!" derided Lynch. - -"It is," persisted Uric, fumbling with his weak chin. "I know." - -Jabez shrugged his shoulders, drawing his heavy coat about him, for the -day was cold, though the sun was shining. The keen wind set the fallen -leaves rustling. The fields were brown, and the woods looked bleak and -uninviting. - -The two cadets were seated in a little hollow, sheltered from -observation by evergreen bushes on the side toward the highway. - -"How do you know so much?" questioned Lynch. "You don’t mean——" - -"I’ve tried it." - -"Then the boy’s accusation was true, and you did have a meeting with -Glennon, of the Hudsonville team? You offered to give him points in -regard to the style of playing Fardale would adopt?" - -"I told him all I had discovered." - -"Which wasn’t much, thanks to the kid who caught you in the tree -watching Fardale’s secret practise, and——" - -"Don’t speak of that!" harshly exclaimed Uric, his face flushing at the -remembrance. "Some day I’ll kill that kid!" - -Lynch laughed at Uric’s words, which made Scudder still more angry. - -"Don’t laugh!" he snarled. "You ran off and left me when you heard the -boy coming. But for that——" - -"I did not know it was a boy." - -"You might have waited to see." - -"And been caught, perhaps, by some one from the academy. I did not care -to take the chances." - -"Not you! Yet now you wish me to communicate with a Viewland chap and -offer to give away important information concerning Fardale. Thank you, -Mr. Lynch; I may be a fool, but I’m not such a thundering big fool as -you take me to be!" - -"You’ve let a little thing like that knock the sand out of you. I -thought you had more backbone." - -"Don’t talk to me about sand! What’s the matter with you, Mr. Lynch? Why -don’t you do your own work? You know I am under suspicion. If Glennon -hadn’t denied ever seeing me before, I’d been kicked out of Fardale." - -"Likely," nodded Lynch coolly. - -"Then what do you wish—to get me kicked out?" - -"I want to reach this Dick Merriwell somehow—and his brother. I hate -Frank Merriwell as much as I do Dick. Why shouldn’t I? I believe he had -me dropped off the team that Dick might take my place." - -"You don’t hate either of them more than I do, but I’m just where I -can’t do anything without being in danger of losing my head any moment. -I’m watched—I’m spied on, and the worst spy of the lot is that infernal -old wretch of an Indian, Joe Crowfoot." - -It was Jabez’s turn to shiver a little then, for he remembered a -thrilling experience with Old Joe in the woods when the Indian had -threatened to burn off his right hand because he had flung red pepper -into Dick Merriwell’s eyes. - -"That old devil!" he snapped. "He ought to be shot! One thing is -certain—he can’t get near enough to us here without being seen to hear -our talk." - -"That’s right," nodded Uric, poking at the mass of dead leaves in the -hollow, having picked up a dead branch from the ground. "But he’s the -very Old Nick for concealing himself. One can never be dead sure the old -wretch is not watching or listening. I wish somebody would shoot him!" - -"Still," said Lynch, "if it hadn’t been for him I’d not be in Fardale -now." - -"Eh?" said Uric. "What do you——" - -"Never mind what I did," said Jabez, remembering that Scudder had never -learned the particulars of the affair in question, the truth being that -Lynch had played in disguise with an opposing team against Fardale, and -had, during the game, thrown red pepper into Dick Merriwell’s eyes. -"Anyhow, it was that old red dog that found me out and exposed me to -Merriwell. If Merriwell blowed, it cooked my goose. He said get out of -Fardale, and I decided to get. Then the old redskin caught me in the -woods and was going to torture me." - -"Jiminy!" gasped Uric. - -"Fact!" nodded Lynch. "I think perhaps he’d half-killed me if Frank -Merriwell hadn’t turned up." - -"And then—what?" - -"Of course, Merriwell made him let me go. But you see, he knew I had Old -Joe in a bad hole." - -"I don’t see——" - -"Why, the old dog had tied me up and started to burn my hand off in a -fire he built. What if I had gone and sworn out a warrant against him?" - -"You didn’t?" - -"No." - -"Why?" - -"Because Merriwell agreed to keep everything dead quiet if I let the -matter drop. It was my chance to stay at Fardale, and I kept still. To -save Old Joe, Dick Merriwell had to be silent." - -"You were lucky to get off that way." - -"Sure thing; but I was told that I’d get it the first time I made -another move against Dick Merriwell. So, you see, I have to lay low and -pretend to be good. I must get somebody else to do the jobs. That’s why -I wanted you to do this piece of business." - -"Well, I’m just as bad off as you are since that kid accused me. I’m -suspected." - -"Do you propose to lie down and give up?" - -"No, not much!" - -"What can you do?" - -"As much as you." - -"That’s not much just now, and now’s the time. Fardale is making a -record under Frank Merriwell’s coaching. Not a game lost yet, and the -team’s growing stronger. If somebody does not take a fall out of Fardale -pretty soon, Frank Merriwell will own the academy and run it." - -"Well, what’s your plan?" - -"Somebody must find out the signals." - -"And then——" - -"Post the other team." - -"I see." - -"Merriwell is teaching Fardale another formation." - -"I’ve heard about it." - -"It leaked out somehow. Every man on the team seems to think it a -winner." - -"That’s right." - -"They say it’s new." - -"Yes." - -"And will make other teams look sick. Now, I’d give something to learn -what sort of a play it is. His line-across trick worked pretty well -against Hudsonville for a time, but it’s hinted that this new play is a -peach and will paralyze Viewland next Saturday." - -Scudder’s curiosity was whetted, and he scratched his chin excitedly. - -"It would be great to have Viewland onto the trick and ready to blank it -with another play," he said. - -"That’s just what I want," nodded Lynch. "That’s why I proposed that you -open negotiations with Cranch, whom I know to be a fellow who will do -anything to beat Fardale." - -"You’ll have to get somebody else," said Uric, shaking his head. "I -won’t take the chances." - -"Then that settles it!" exclaimed Lynch, in disappointment, rising to -his feet. "It’s no use to chin over it longer, and we’d better separate, -for somebody might see us together and make talk about it. Keep your -mouth closed. Understand?" - -"Sure thing. There’s no danger that I’ll blab. Don’t let that worry -you." - -"I’ll go down the road. Better wait a little before you come along." - -"All right." - -Lynch started off without another word, leaving Scudder there. Uric -watched him till he disappeared. - -"Do your own work, Mr. Lynch," he muttered, "and I’ll do mine. There was -a time when I’d been glad to stand in with you on almost anything; but -I’ve found you don’t care a continental about me, and you wouldn’t turn -your hand over to help me if I got in a scrape. I don’t love Merriwell, -but, at the same time, I don’t trust you." - -After a few minutes, Uric followed his late companion, and the little -hollow was deserted. The wind came down and rustled the heap of dead -leaves that had gathered thickly at the bottom of the depression. And -then, when the sound of retreating footsteps had died out and all was -still, the leaves seemed to move of their own accord. - -There was a gentle upheaval, and from the midst of the leaves rose a -human head, in which were set a pair of small, keen, coal-black eyes. - -"Ugh!" grunted a guttural voice. - -And from this spot of concealment, where he had listened within three -feet of the rascally pair, rose Old Joe Crowfoot. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - THE SPY. - - -It happened that Jabez Lynch found some excuse that enabled him to be -absent from school a day, and he left Fardale by rail, saying nothing of -his destination to any one. The following day, by an early train, there -came into Fardale a dark-faced youth, who went directly to a hotel, -obtained a room, and retired to it. - -An examination of the register would have shown that he had written -there "H. T. Lincoln, Philadelphia, Pa." Mr. Lincoln did not show -himself much about the hotel, for Fardale was a small place, and -strangers always attracted more or less attention there. - -That forenoon he received a letter that had been dropped in the -post-office at Fardale. When he tore open the letter, he found written -within: "This afternoon, half-past four. Come." - -Shortly before four o’clock that afternoon, Mr. Lincoln buttoned his -overcoat to his chin, pulled on a pair of gloves, set his soft hat well -down on his head, and started out briskly in the direction of Fardale -Academy. - -He did not hesitate to approach the academy boldly, and there was -nothing unusual about him to attract particular attention or arouse -suspicion. Happening to meet two cadets, he paused to ask: - -"How may I find Elmer Tyke?" - -Both professed that they were unacquainted with Elmer Tyke, but they -readily gave him directions and passed on, paying no further attention -to him, as he seemed to be some chap who was seeking to meet an -acquaintance there after the afternoon session. - -The stranger, however, followed the walk around to the door of the -barracks, but kept on along the walk, passing round the corner of the -building, and walking swiftly toward another building beyond, the door -of which stood open. - -As Lincoln ascended the steps of this building somebody came out, -carrying a book, and passed him without stopping. It was Jabez Lynch, -and, although Jabez did not seem to give the stranger so much as a -glance, any one watching closely might have seen his lips move slightly -when he was at the very shoulder of the other. - -The stranger heard these words: - -"Lower south room. Be lively. You can get out after dark." - -That was all. Jabez passed on and the other walked straight into the -building, disappearing within the dark doorway. - -Not much more than twenty minutes later the members of the Fardale -football-team, together with the trusted substitutes, assembled in one -of the rooms of that same building. In that room there were seats, -desks, blackboards, charts, and so forth, indicating it was one of the -recitation-rooms. Barely had the members of the eleven assembled when -Elmer Dow, the manager of the team, came in, accompanied by Frank -Merriwell. - -"Is every one here?" asked Dow. - -"All here," answered several. - -Thereupon Dow closed the door and locked it. - -"That will save interruptions," he said. "Now, go ahead, Mr. Merriwell." - -Frank Merriwell advanced to the platform, calling the members of the -team down to the front seats near him. The afternoon light that sifted -through the windows was beginning to fail, and shadows were gathering in -the corners of the room. - -"It is my intention," said Frank, plunging into his subject at once, "to -introduce and attempt several new and untried plays this season. If you -will remember, it was the introduction of a new and surprising play, the -tandem, that gave the University of Pennsylvania such an advantage over -unprepared opponents a few seasons ago. The tackles-back formation has -been very effective at Yale. The flying wedge, until it was barred by -the rules, was a terrible ground-gainer. Any one that understands -football may devise new formations, but not everybody can work out plays -that will prove successful. I am willing to admit that not all the new -plays I have devised have been winners; but I believe I have struck a -play that will prove a good one with any team until that team gets onto -the trick. If I am not mistaken in studying out the results of this -play, it will cause a portion of the opposing team to play against -itself." - -This statement created a sensation, the listening lads looking at each -other in surprise. - -"I reckon that must be a corker," said Brad Buckhart. - -"Of course," Merriwell went on, "this will be prevented very quickly by -any first-class team when it sees through the trick and realizes what is -being done, but before another team can find out an effective way of -smashing the formation the game may be won. I call the new play ‘ends -around,’ and will now proceed to illustrate it to you here on this -board." - -Then, with a piece of chalk, Frank drew the line-up of a team on the -blackboard. - -"Now," he said, "pay close attention to my description of the play, for -I want every one of you to get onto it so well that there will be no -confusion when we put it into practise to-morrow." - -All were listening. - -"At the signal the ball goes to the left half-back. I have chosen him to -take the ball, because it is better to move three men on the right end -of the line and only two on the left end, and the left guard will remain -with the center to hold the middle of the opposing line as the formation -is being made. The attack is to be focused on the center and right guard -of the enemy. The quarter will plunge in between left guard and center, -with the left half, carrying the ball, right at his heels. The right -half must jump behind the left half, grasp him by the waist, and drive -him forward, and the full-back follows. The right guard swings back and -gets the right half by the waist, adding his weight to the assault. The -left tackle swings back in the same manner and adds his force to the -plunge. The right tackle does the same, and the two ends swing round and -back for the same purpose." - -As he talked, Merriwell drew lines illustrating the manner in which -every man swung back and formed to advance the ball, making the play so -plain that even a novice must have understood his meaning. - -"Supposing the center and left guard have been able to hold the assault -of the enemy," Merry continued, "seeking at the same time to split them -for an opening. Then comes the quarter right through between them, -backed and propelled by the force of nearly the whole line and the other -backs. But here I will explain how it is that I count on assistance from -the enemy, who will also aid—a part of them—in helping forward the ball. -As players of our line swing back, it will be natural for the opposing -players to follow them up. By swinging skilfully and not letting the -enemy through or past, he may be forced to pursue right round and add -the impetus of his rush to help hurl the formation forward. Of course, I -do not say that a crack team will do this repeatedly and continually, -but I believe that, by skilful management, any team may be led to do it -several times in a game, and I think the play is one to use in critical -moments as a desperate resort. For ordinary occasions the old and tried -simple plays will be better. - -"This play may be varied as a tandem or a mass. In the latter case, the -retreating ends must form round the man with the ball and thrust him -forward in a body, at the same time protecting him from assault on -either side. The tandem may work well at the start, but two or three -trials may give a quick-witted enemy opportunities enough to get on and -smash through the tandem formation. Then it will be well to try the -mass. - -"Now, is there any one present who does not understand the play as I -have described it? If so, let him speak up, and I will seek to make it -plain in any particular detail." - -There was a brief silence, and then Brad Buckhart said: - -"A galoot that didn’t understand that would be denser than a Rocky -Mountain burro." - -Frank smiled a bit. - -"I am glad I have succeeded in making it so plain," he said; "but, you -know, Fardale has had a difficulty in being quick to take the signals -and carry them into effect, some of the men finding it difficult to -carry the signals, though our code is one of the simplest. That made it -seem possible that somebody might not understand the full details of -this play. Fardale must liven up before next Saturday in forming to any -kind of a signal. We’re going to meet one of the strongest teams of the -season in Viewland, and we must not let them break our string of -victories." - -"Oh, we’ll walk off with another scalp, you bet your boots," said the -irrepressible Buckhart. - -"You mustn’t forget my lesson on overconfidence, given you before the -last game. It’s just about as bad as lack of confidence. Hudsonville was -overconfident, and Fardale defeated her." - -"Well," said Steve Nunn, captain of the eleven, "the report is that -Viewland is worried. She thought Hudsonville would have an easy time, -but the result of the game has set her thinking in a different way." - -"It’ll kill her to death to be beaten by Fardale," said Don Kent. "She -beat us sixteen to nothing last year." - -"It’s going to be different this year," declared big Bob Singleton. - -"But Viewland will do anything to win," asserted Kent. "Those people -haven’t any scruples." - -Then Dick Merriwell spoke up for the first time. - -"There are certain chaps here at Fardale who want to see us lose," he -said. "I know them, but, for reasons, I’m not going to call their names. -We have traitors and spies at this school." - -"Oh, I don’t like to think that any Fardale fellow really wants to see -us beaten!" exclaimed Steve Nunn. - -"I don’t like to think so," said Dick; "but I know it." - -"But they wouldn’t do anything to help down us?" - -"Wouldn’t they?" - -"An onery Piute who would do anything of the sort ought to be lynched -like a horse-thief!" exploded the Texan Maverick, in his forceful way. - -"I have reasons to believe," said Dick quietly, "that there is at least -one fellow at Fardale who has opened communication with a member of the -Viewland team, with the intention of putting Viewland onto our style of -playing and our signals." - -"Say, Dick," called Buckhart, "just name the varmint, and we’ll give him -a coat of tar and feathers! That’s the sort of medicine that will do him -good." - -"As I have no absolute proof against him, I’ll not name him now," said -Dick, remembering how his charge against Uric Scudder had fallen flat -through Jack Glennon’s denial that he knew Scudder. - -"I think it will not be easy for Viewland to get hold of our signals," -said Frank Merriwell, "as the series signals, which will be adopted in -the next game, will make it hard for them to tell what we’re going to -do. But every man here must be sure he has those signals by heart, so he -will make no blunders in the plays. I want to see if everybody here is -up on signals, so I’ll just give a few and call on different ones to -tell what they mean. I’ll take simple signals first, and then follow -with series signals. Ready now. The one I call will answer." - -They sat quiet and gave him attention. The darkness was gathering more -rapidly in the corners now, the red and gold of the sunset dying out of -the autumn sky. - -"21—37—70—Z—43," called Frank. "Gordan." - -"Drop-kick by full-back," answered Gordan promptly. - -"Right," nodded Merry. "7—70—Y—16—200—10. Shannock." - -"Left half round right end," answered Shannock, with equal promptness. - -"Right again," said Frank. "2—7—22—18—Y—40. Blair." - -"Left half through center," spoke Blair, without hesitation. - -"Correct. 26—28—B—100—4. Merriwell." - -"Tackles back; right tackle through center," answered Dick Merriwell. - -"27—29—F—100—7. Burrows." - -"Tackles back; left tackle round right end," said Burrows. - -"21—Z—83—2—1—62. Douglass." - -"Drop-kick by full-back," said Douglass slowly. - -"Have to think quick in a game, you know," said Frank. - -"I never could think any too quick," confessed Hugh Douglass, his face -flushing somewhat. - -Many who knew this was true had wondered that Douglass had been used in -the line, or on the team at all, yet all were compelled to confess that -he had done good work for a new man, and seemed to be a steady, -promising player. - -"We all seem to understand," said Frank, "that in our code of signals -the players is indicated by a letter and the play by the first number -spoken, except in the tackles-back formation, which is called for by two -leading numbers over twenty-five and under thirty, the signal for the -play then being the number following one hundred. Although this code is -simple and easy to understand, it is hard enough for an outsider, unless -the outsider receives some pointer to begin work upon. But what will -make it more difficult for another team to get onto our signals is the -using of a single signal for a series of three plays. I’ll see if you -have remembered these signals. Ready, now. ‘Brace up.’ Kent." - -Quick as a flash, Don Kent answered: - -"First play, right half round left end. Second play, guards-back tandem. -Third play, fake double pass." - -"Excellent," said Frank. "That’s all right. ‘Hold, everybody.’ Nunn." - -"First play," answered the captain, "mass on center. Second play, left -half round right end. Third play, again mass on center." - -"And that is all right, too," smiled Merry. "It’s plain you have been -studying your little lesson. Of course, everybody understands that these -series of plays may be changed at any time by the giving of a new -signal. If it is found that the series may not work well, or if it is -thought a better play has been discovered, then a new signal cuts off -the remaining portion of the series and starts the boys at something -else. These word signals will be likely to take by surprise the team -that is waiting for a number to be called before the ball is snapped. -And then will come another surprise when the second and third plays are -made without any signal for them seeming to have been spoken at all." - -"Oh, we’ll have Viewland daffy," laughed Big Bob with satisfaction. - -"We’ll stampede the whole bunch," said Brad Buckhart. - -"We must have a signal for the new ‘ends-around’ formation," said Frank. -"I suggest ‘On the jump,’ and think it best to keep using that formation -repeatedly after the signal until the signal is changed. Do you -understand that?” - -"Please make it a trifle plainer," suggested Douglass. - -"‘On the jump’ is the signal for the new ‘ends-around’ formation which I -have illustrated here on the board, and the play is to be kept up after -that signal is given till another signal is spoken. Surely that is -plain." - -"I understand it now," said Hugh. - -Dick Merriwell had risen, without saying anything, and now sauntered -back toward one of the dark corners. Several times he had heard a slight -noise in that corner, and now he took a fancy to investigate. - -The others looked at Dick curiously, but, without paying any attention -to them, the dark-eyed lad penetrated to the corner. Then, of a sudden, -he plunged under a bench and pounced on a figure he saw crouching there. - -"A spy!" he cried. - -Then there was a commotion in that room. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - THE CAPTURE. - - -"Spy! spy!" cried the boys, jumping up and rushing back. - -Dick yanked the fellow out in a hurry. - -"Come out here, you sneak!" he exclaimed hotly. "Let us have a look at -you!" - -"Be careful," warned the spy angrily. "You’ll tear my clothes." - -"They ought to be torn!" retorted Dick. "You should have them torn off -your back!" - -Then the fellow struck at Dick, who dodged the blow. The spy tried to -break away and seek some means of escape, for he realized that the -Fardale players were certain to be furiously angry. - -"Let me get at him!" roared Brad Buckhart. "He’ll think he’s been run -over by a stampeded bunch of longhorns!" - -"Give me a chance!" came from Bob Singleton. "I want to thump him once!" - -But Frank Merriwell leaped in and checked their furious assault on the -fellow. - -"Stop!" he said sharply. "Let’s have a look at him. Let’s see who he -is." - -But the fellow did not fancy being looked at, and he made another lunge -to break from Dick, although he would have found it difficult to escape -from the room had he succeeded in that plunge. - -"No, you don’t!" exclaimed young Merriwell. "Be still, sneak!" - -"Don’t you call me ‘sneak’!" panted the spy, as he succeeded in hitting -Dick a glancing blow on the cheek. - -That was where he made a mistake. It was like a flint striking steel in -a powder-mill. Quick as a flash, Dick hit the spy a blow under the ear, -lifting him and dropping him prostrate at the upper end of an aisle. - -Frank Merriwell caught the chap by the collar and stood him up, at the -same time thrusting back with a sweep of the arm Brad Buckhart, who was -trying to get in a blow. - -"Steady down!" commanded Merry. "Let’s inspect him and hear what he has -to say for himself." - -Then he pinned the fellow against the wall, and they crowded around. - -"He’s not a Fardale man," said Steve Nunn. - -"Who knows him?" demanded Frank. - -"He’s a stranger," said Burrows. "Doesn’t belong here." - -"I’m glad of that," came from Merry. - -"You fellows are too fresh!" exclaimed the spy, with pretended -indignation. "Can’t a person look round your old academy without being -mobbed like this?" - -"You were looking round?" - -"Yes." - -"What were you doing in here?" - -"Just happened to drop in." - -Dick Merriwell laughed. - -"A silly excuse," he said. - -"I’d like a chance to settle with you!" declared the stranger hotly. -"I’d make you laugh out of the other side of your mouth!" - -"Bet you can’t do it!" came quickly from Dick. "Let him go, Frank! Let -him take his coat off! I’d like to have it out with him! I’d like to -give him what he deserves!" - -"Yes, let me!" urged the spy just as eagerly. "I’ll agree to lick that -fellow in one minute!" - -"Why, you poor, onery scrub!" exclaimed Buckhart, "he’d knock the hay -out of you in about ten seconds! You don’t know what you’re talking -about! That’s Dick Merriwell, and I allow he can whip four times his -weight in mountain lions!" - -"I don’t care who he is! He hit me, and I’ll settle with him for that!" - -"Stop that fighting-talk now," ordered Frank Merriwell, "and explain how -you happened to be in this room." - -"Why, I just walked in. Saw the door open and sauntered in." - -"What for?" - -"To look at the place." - -"Mighty interesting place to look at!" sneered the Texan Maverick -incredulously. - -"What were you doing under that bench?" - -"Nothing in particular." - -"Listening?" - -"Well, I couldn’t help hearing what you were saying, though that didn’t -amount to much." - -"Of course, he’s a spy," said Elmer Dow. "That’s how he happened to be -here. He was here to find out about that new play and to get onto the -signals." - -"Do you deny that?" asked Frank of the captive. - -"Of course, I deny everything," answered the fellow defiantly. "What are -you going to do about it?" - -He showed his teeth in a sneering smile. - -At this moment Dick Merriwell brought out something he had discovered -beneath the desk where the fellow had been. - -"Look here!" he exclaimed. "A pad and pencil. He’s got the signals -scrawled here on the pad! He was taking them down!" - -Then there was a moment of silence, followed by an angry murmur from the -Fardale men, which grew louder and louder. - -"Spy!" - -"Sneak! sneak!" - -"Dirty dog!" - -"Onery coyote!" - -"Give it to him!" - -But for Frank Merriwell he must have received rough treatment then and -there. - -"It’s proof enough against him," said Steve Nunn. "It’s useless for him -to try to lie out of it now." - -The fellow decided to be defiant. - -"What are you going to do about it?" he brazenly asked. - -"Somebody helped him get in here," Dick declared. "He was told when we -were to meet here! He was helped by a traitor in our own camp!" - -"I’m afraid that’s right," said Dow regretfully. - -"Of course, it’s right! He won’t deny it." - -"I won’t deny anything," said the captive. "What’s the use?" - -"Well, I’d like to get my paws onto that traitor!" broke forth Buckhart. -"I’d kick him into shoestrings! You hear me shout!" - -"Make him tell who it is," suggested Burrows. - -"Yes, go ahead and make me!" laughed the spy defiantly. - -"Bring him out here where I can get a good look at him," urged Don Kent. -"I believe I know him." - -So the captive was pulled out to a spot where the light from the windows -fell on his face. - -"Sure thing!" cried Kent. "I know him! Some of you others ought to know -him, too." - -"Who is he?" - -"Phil Cranch, Viewland’s left end last year." - -"Cranch?" cried several. "It is!" - -"Well, if you’re not a peach!" came scornfully from Big Bob, as he -glared at the captive. "You should be ashamed of yourself! I’d want to -go die if I’d been caught this way." - -"Viewland must consider the case pretty desperate when it resorts to -this kind of business," said Frank Merriwell. - -"Don’t blame the team," said Cranch quickly. "I did it on my own accord, -and none of the rest knows anything about it." - -"You ought to be proud of the trick," grumbled Big Bob. "I suppose you -regard this as square sport?" - -"Square or not," said the spy, "we don’t propose to let Fardale beat us -this year." - -"I’ll bet you anything you like we do beat you!" flashed Dick Merriwell. -"All you’ve found out here won’t do you any good." - -"Oh, I don’t know. You can change your code of signals, but you won’t be -able to use your fancy ‘ends-around’ play against us. We’ll have -something to offset that, all right." - -"Do you think we’re going to let you go back and carry your information -to your old team?" - -"I don’t see how you can help it." - -"Don’t you?" - -"No." - -"Well, you’re going to find out." - -Cranch laughed. - -"You worry me," he sneered. - -"What do you say, fellows," came from Dick Merriwell, as he appealed to -the others, "are we going to let this fellow off, to carry all he has -discovered back to his team for Viewland to use the information against -us?" - -And it seemed that every man appealed to answered in a breath: - -"No!" - -Cranch laughed again, in the same derisive, defiant way. - -"I’d like to know what you think you can do?" he said. - -"We’ll show you!" - -"You can only turn me over to the authorities. They may fancy there is a -case against me for some trivial charge, but what does that amount to? I -did not break and enter. This is a recitation-room, not a residence. If -I am held, I fancy I can readily obtain bail. Now, will you be good?" - -The spy seemed to think he had the best of it. - -"Oh, we won’t turn him over to the authorities!" exclaimed Dick -Merriwell, at once. - -"Hardly that!" came from several of the others. - -About this time Frank Merriwell decided that it was best for him to -withdraw and let the others settle what they would do with the captive. - -"Do not offer him any bodily injury," advised Frank. "I find I have -urgent business that must be given attention." - -He laughed, and they understood him. He was giving them the opportunity -to dispose of Cranch as they saw fit. Cranch understood this, too, and -he appealed to Frank. - -"Hold on, Mr. Merriwell!" he cried. "You have no right to leave me this -way. You saw them attempt to mob me, and——" - -"I really think you deserve to be mobbed," returned Frank, with perfect -coolness. "At the same time, I counsel against anything of the sort. A -chap of your stripe, Mr. Cranch, does not deserve protection when he -gets into a scrape. You’ve got nerve, it seems; well, let your nerve -stand by you now, for I decline to bother with you longer. It is true -that I have business elsewhere." - -Some one unlocked the door for him, and he departed, leaving the spy in -the hands of his angry captors. - -The moment Frank was gone, Brad Buckhart again proposed doing physical -violence to Cranch. But now Dick Merriwell seemed to take the lead, and -he intervened. - -"No," he said, "we’ll not lower ourselves by jumping on him; but we must -find a way to prevent him from carrying tales to his team. Now, how is -that to be done?" - -That was a serious question. - -"We might drown him," suggested Big Bob. "They say that is a very easy -death, and so we could not be accused of violence." - -"It really will not do to let him loose," said Elmer Dow. - -"Then," spoke Dick, "the only thing to be done is to keep him a -captive." - -"That’s right." - -"Till after the game Saturday." - -"Good scheme!" - -"Who agrees?" asked Dick. - -"I! I! I!" came from all sides. - -The spy saw they were in earnest, and he began to grow anxious. - -"Oh, you can’t mean that!" he said. "Why, that would be an unlawful -piece of business." - -"Don’t talk to us about the law, you duffer!" rumbled Singleton. - -"Thank your luck you’re not in the Rio Pecos Valley," said Buckhart. -"They’d hang you in the first chaparral out there." - -"And serve him right, too!" exclaimed Captain Nunn. - -"I promise you I shall give you the full extent of the law if you -forcibly detain me," threatened Cranch. - -"Go ’way back and sit down!" said Burrows. "We’ll take our chances with -the law." - -"And you’ll show yourself up as a pretty poor pup before the case is -over if you resort to the law," said Buckhart. - -"It’s getting dark," said Dick. "We can run him out of here, but where -shall we take him?" - -"The Meadow Barn," suggested some one. - -"Good place! First rate! But some of the fellows who do not understand -about the affair might find him there and make trouble." - -"I’ll be missed," said Cranch, "and they will search for me everywhere. -You can’t keep me anywhere without getting into a scrape. Better drop -this foolish piece of business." - -"Save your breath," said Dick Merriwell. "You’re in for a period of -imprisonment, and it’s no use to squirm. Can’t somebody think of a -better place than the old barn?" - -"The Dead Road Mill," said Don Kent. "That’s the place." - -"That’s the place," agreed the others. "But it’s farther away than the -barn." - -"All the better." - -"And the story that the old mill is haunted will keep people away from -it," said Nunn. "He’s not likely to be found there. We’ll have to set a -guard over him." - -"To the Dead Road Mill he goes," decided Dick Merriwell, who had assumed -leadership without being disputed. - -"I think I have something to say about that!" exclaimed Cranch. "I won’t -go! You can’t make me!" - -"Oh, I think we can!" said Big Bob. "That doesn’t worry us a bit." - -"I’ll raise a disturbance! Do you think I’ll go without a fight? Well, -you’ve made a mistake! I’ll yell for help now if you do not set me free -at once! I’ll bring the faculty of the academy down upon you!" - -They looked at one another, and then, of a sudden, as if by a single -impulse, three of them leaped upon him. He was tripped and flung to the -floor, being held there. - -"Kneel on his arms!" commanded Dick Merriwell. "Hold his hands while I -fix this!" - -He had taken out a handkerchief. - -"Help!" shouted Cranch, his voice echoing hollowly in the room. - -Over his mouth the handkerchief was placed. He struggled to keep them -from fastening it there, but two more knelt and held his head. Dick was -skilful and rapid in his work. Soon the captive’s roars for help were -muffled and smothered, but Dick called for another handkerchief, which -he bound over the first. - -Cranch began to realize that he was in a decidedly serious scrape, and -he grew frightened at last. - -"Bring cords of some kind," commanded Dick. "We’ve got to tie his hands -behind him, to keep him from snatching the gag away from his mouth." - -It was not long before the captive’s hands were securely fastened behind -his back. Then they lifted him and stood him on his feet. By this time -it had grown quite dark in the room. - -"Now," said Merriwell, "two of you fellows saunter out and see when the -coast is clear. Give us the signal, and we’ll run him out round the -building, get him back of the gym, and carry him off across the field." - -It was strange that none of them thought of rebelling against accepting -this plebe as their leader, and the team was made up of men in every -class; but during the past few weeks Dick had made a record that seemed -to indicate his right to be a leader, and, in the excitement of the -moment, the fact that he was a plebe did not count against him. - -As directed, two of them went out and looked around. Pretty soon one of -them slipped back and hissed at the door. - -"Come on, quick!" he said. "Now is our time." - -Cranch made one more feeble attempt to resist, but they packed about -him, grasping his arms, and he was carried forward. Out through the -hall, down the steps, and round the corner hastily went that mass of -lads, bearing the captive spy in their midst. They did not pause, -rushing round the gymnasium, and soon they were quite a distance away -from the buildings. - -No sentry paced the path across the field at this season of the year, -and they escaped without being challenged or stopped. Not till they were -far away, however, did they pause for a breathing-spell. - -"Talk about rustling cattle!" exclaimed Buckhart, in a low tone. "Well, -this must be something like it, though I allow I never took part in that -kind of a game." - -"Will you agree to keep quiet if we take the handkerchiefs off?" asked -Dick of Cranch. - -The captive nodded. - -"All right," said Merriwell. "Off they come." - -But barely were they removed than the spy raised a wild shout for help. - -They flung themselves on Cranch again, soon gagging him more securely -than before. - -"Might have known I could not trust him!" muttered Dick. "Come on, -fellows; let’s get him away from here." - -And soon they had vanished into a fringe of dark woods, where a lonesome -owl was hooting now and then. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - A HOT START. - - -"Mr. Lincoln" failed to return to the hotel that night. The following -day Jabez Lynch called at the hotel to inquire for the young man, and -was told of his rather singular disappearance. - -Jabez left the hotel in a somewhat puzzled state of mind, but soon -decided that "Lincoln" had obtained the information he desired and taken -a hurried departure from Fardale. - -Then it was that Jabez fancied he saw an opportunity to increase his -pocket-money, for Fardale’s past victories had made the cadets rather -confident in regard to the future, and some of them were willing to risk -a little in backing the academy team. - -In an unostentatious way Jabez proceeded to seek bets, which he found. -He protested that he hoped to see Fardale win again, but said he was -satisfied that Viewland would prove superior. Whenever he succeeded in -raising an argument on this point he offered to back his conviction with -coin of the country, and, therefore, it was not long before he had -wagered his last dollar. - -Secretly, Jabez chuckled to himself when he thought of the surprise -Viewland would give Fardale and Frank Merriwell. For he felt certain -that, knowing Fardale’s code of signals, the opposing team would be -prepared for any play, and, therefore, must readily defeat it. - -Whenever any one accused him of disloyalty for betting on Viewland, -Jabez insisted that he did so not because he wished the enemy to -conquer, but because he believed that must be the inevitable result. But -he found that not a few of the cadets seemed indignant because he was -willing to bet against the academy team under any circumstances. - -"They’ll be madder," he told himself, "when I gather in their dough. -Perhaps they’ll begin to think Mr. Frank Merriwell is not such a great -coach, after all." - -The Fardale team worked steadily in practise that week, although -Merriwell did not permit it to engage in a contest with the scrub the -day before the game was to come off. - -Saturday arrived, and found Fardale more confident than ever. - -Fardale’s good record brought out an unusually large gathering of -spectators, filling the seats provided for them. - -Of course, Zona Desmond and Doris Templeton were on hand, for they -seldom missed a game played in Fardale. Zona seemed more dashingly -handsome than ever, but it was Doris who received the undivided -attention of Hal Darrell, who accompanied the girls, looking spick and -span in his uniform. - -A few minutes past two a band of shaggy-haired youngsters, garbed in -football-armor, trotted onto the field, and then about thirty -loud-lunged Viewland rooters broke loose. - -"’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! -V-i-e-w-l-a-n-d—Viewland! Viewland! Viewland!" - -Divesting themselves of their heavy sweaters, the visitors lost no time -in beginning practise. Two footballs were brought out, and then a ring -was made, and part of the players began to pass the ball round the -circle. - -Off at one side, the center, full-back, and a half-back took positions. -The center placed the ball on the ground, as far in front of him as he -could reach in a stooping position, with his legs wide apart, then -snapped it back to the full-back, who caught it and punted it to the -half-back at a distance. This was kept up for some time, the half-back -punting the ball back, or throwing it by taking hold of the end in a -peculiar manner and giving it a sweeping swing. - -In the midst of these operations there was another stir, and then a -second band of youthful gladiators were seen coming on the run. - -"Fardale!" shouted a voice, and then: - -"Ha! ha! ha! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Rigger-boom! Zigger-boom! All -hail—Fardale! Fardale! Fardale!" - -It seemed that the Fardale team shed their sweaters on the run, for they -were ready for practise when they reached the gridiron, across which -they trotted to the side opposite that on which Viewland was practising. - -Even as they came to a pause, the quarter-back was heard calling a -signal. Down went a ball, and the players lined up quickly; then there -was a snap, a pass, and a forward rush. - -Frank Merriwell came onto the field with the team, and he was close to -the players as they formed, talking to them all the while. He kept them -at work right along, and it was plain to see that the home team moved -with more snap and regularity than ever before, each man seeming to know -what was expected of him and to do the thing expected. This was -calculated to arouse enthusiasm on the part of the Fardale spectators, -and it did not fail. - -Jabez Lynch was watching, and there was an expression of anxiety on his -face. He saw the captain of the visiting team come across and meet Steve -Nunn, and from his position Jabez was able to hear some of their talk. - -"What are you going to do to us?" asked the Viewland captain. - -"We expect to beat you," was the prompt answer. - -"Well, you can’t do that, even though we have lost one of our best men." - -"Lost a man! Hurt?" - -"No—vanished. It’s the queerest thing. Cranch left home the first of the -week, saying he’d be back the next day. Didn’t tell anybody where he was -going, and we have not seen him since. But we can beat your chaps -without him." - -Jabez felt faint and ill. His face turned pale, and he longed to rush -out and ask questions, an inclination he was compelled to resist. - -Cranch gone! What did it mean? And the fellow had not returned since -coming to Fardale! - -"I’m soaked!" thought Lynch despairingly. "What the dickens has -happened! Good Lord! If Viewland loses, I’m cleaned out of my last -dollar and about twenty I have borrowed! I’ll be in a bad hole!" - -From that moment he was desperately anxious. - -Things moved swiftly. Viewland got the choice, and gave the ball to -Fardale. The wind was blowing almost directly across the field from the -west, so there was little choice in goals. - -The positions of the players are here given: - - FARDALE. POSITIONS. VIEWLAND. - Burrows Right end Warwick - Stanton Right tackle Purcell - Douglass Right guard Sargent - Buckhart Center Kernan - Gordan Left guard Low - Blair Left tackle Pitman - Kent Left end Gould - Shannock Quarter-back Moulton - Nunn Right half-back Warne - Merriwell Left half-back Jordan - Singleton Full-back Young - -Viewland’s line was heavier than Fardale’s, and the appearance of the -visiting team was such as to give the impression that it would be able -to batter the cadets down by sheer weight and brawn. But Fardale’s men -were in fine condition, their training not being too fine, and they were -due to put up a better fight than the casual and uninformed observer -might think possible. - -The officials were on hand, the referee wearing a red sweater. On one -side of the field were two men with stakes, and a line that permitted -them to be set five yards apart. - -The two teams scattered out over the field, the Viewland backs retiring -to their goal-line, with the exception of the quarter. - -Then there was a pause, as a discussion rose over something, and a boy, -with a pail of water, trotted onto the field. He was called by several -players, and plunged a huge sponge into the water-pail, letting the -water run from the sponge into the mouths of the players. One fellow -grabbed the dripping sponge and rubbed it over his face. Then the boy -trotted off. - -A player tore off some kind of head-gear and flung it aside. The ball -had been placed on the spot in the center of the field. - -At this moment the Fardale crowd gave the regular cheer, ending with -Viewland three times shouted. Not to be outdone, the thirty Viewland -rooters promptly retorted with their cheer, ending with "Fardale! -Fardale! Fardale!" - -This was a little bit of courtesy that was intended to show that the -game was for square sport and there was no ill-will. - -There was a hush, and then the whistle sounded. - -"They’re off!" cried a voice. - -The Fardale full-back advanced toward the ball, swung his muscular leg, -and booted the oval far into Viewland’s territory. - -Warne took the ball on the run at the ten-yard line, and he carried it -ten yards before Kent brought him down. So the teams lined up on -Viewland’s twenty-yard line for the opening scrimmage. - -Viewland was encouraged by cheers from her thirty lusty-lunged rooters. - -A pause, a move, a rush, a swirl—then a mass of human beings piled up. -But Viewland had made full six yards by a plunge into Fardale’s center. - -Again the visiting spectators cheered, for it seemed by this that -Fardale’s line was not strong enough to hold such rushes. - -The signal was given as the teams lined up facing each other, crouching, -alert, ready. The players of the two lines bent forward so that it -seemed as if their noses must touch, and thus they glared into one -another’s eyes. - -Again Viewland went hard for Fardale’s center, but this time Brad -Buckhart stood there like a tree rooted to the ground, and the guards on -either side of him refused to be swept back. There was a shock, a -straining, a break, and Buckhart had the man with the ball down, without -a gain. - -Now Fardale opened up with a great cheer of satisfaction. - -"Didn’t do it that time!" whooped a loud-voiced cadet joyously. "Oh, I -don’t know that it’s so easy!" - -But Viewland was in for swift work, and the line-up was made in -breathless haste, so that the two teams were at each other again in the -shortest possible time. - -Once more, with the best interference that could be made, the visitors -hurled themselves against Buckhart. The Texan set his teeth and met the -assault in the same spirit that it was made. He held it until Shannock -could break through and throw the man with the ball. - -There was another roar of joy from the Fardale seats, and the red and -black was wildly waved in the breeze. - -"Do it again!" whooped the same loud voice. "It’s just as easy!" - -But Viewland had discovered that the center of Fardale’s line was not as -easy as had been anticipated. - -"Will they kick?" asked many. - -But Viewland was not yet satisfied that the required gain could not be -made, and the ball went to Jordan for an end-run. Moulton and Warne ran -across with Jordan, as interferers, while the Viewland line held -Fardale. Round the left end of the cadets the swiftest half-back of the -visiting team tried to circle. - -Down on him came a flying tackler, and the excited witnesses yelled: - -"Merriwell!" - -Moulton tried to stop Dick, but Don Kent had escaped Warwick, and he -went into Moulton like a battering-ram, spoiling the interference of the -visiting quarter-back. Warne was running too fast to turn in time when -he made the discovery that Merriwell was on hand, and Dick shot past him -and had Jordan by the leg in a moment. - -Down came the runner, who had dodged back in a poor attempt to avoid -Dick, and Viewland was stopped with a loss of at least four yards. - -Then there was another cheer from Fardale—a cheer of exceeding great -joy. The game was opening well for the home team, and Fardale showed she -was not in the least awed by the apparent heaviness of the enemy. - -The cadets had secured the ball, and, as the flags flew, the bleachers -began to sing, a wildly gesticulating fellow leading the chorus. - -Zona Desmond had leaped up with a cry when Dick tackled Jordan, waving -above her head the flag she had brought. Turning, she caught hold of -Doris, and cried: - -"Wasn’t that just beautiful? Why don’t you cheer?" - -But Doris had been too breathless to utter a sound, though her blue eyes -were filled with a light of admiration. - -The students were singing: - - What’s the matter with old Fardale? - She’s all right! - She can fight! - She’s always in the game. - And her work is never tame; - She’ll get there just the same; - So—— - What’s the matter with old Fardale? - -"They’re singing too soon!" muttered Jabez Lynch. "Better wait a little -while!" - -"That’s what I think," said a voice beside him. - -Lynch started, for he had not fancied that he spoke the words aloud. -Scudder was there. - -"What do you want?" asked Jabez, not quite pleased at having Uric there. - -"Oh, nothing, nothing!" was the answer, as Scudder grinned and rubbed -his chin. "Just happened along and heard what you said." - -"I didn’t say anything." - -"Didn’t you? Then I must have been dreaming." - -"And I don’t wish to talk to you here." - -"Why not?" - -"Because it may arouse suspicion. I——" - -"Now, don’t get on your high horse with me!" said Uric, in a low tone, -suddenly assuming a defiant air. "I know all about you, and you’re not a -bit better than I am—if as good. Just because I declined to be your -tool, don’t think you can play the lofty with me. You acknowledged that -you had been caught, and——" - -"Stop that kind of talk here! I don’t want to play the lofty; but we’re -both known as Merriwell’s enemies, and some of these suspicious ones may -see us talking together. We’re not in the same class. You’re a plebe. If -I have too much to say to you, it will excite comment. That’s all." - -"I’m glad that’s all," said Uric, with sarcasm. "All right; I’ll not -call suspicion down upon you. But if you’re banking on Viewland winning -to-day, I fancy you’ll lose. Your game didn’t work, did it?" - -Somehow, this pricked the curiosity of Lynch. Was it possible Scudder -knew something about the disappearance of Cranch? - -"My game?" said Jabez. "You mean——" - -"Oh, you know." - -"What makes you think it didn’t work?" - -"Did it?" - -Uric did not seem inclined to commit himself. - -"Are you quizzing me?" said Jabez angrily. - -"Oh, not at all! But it looks to me as if something had gone wrong in -your plans. You wear a worried expression." - -"Well, don’t you worry about me!" - -"Little danger; but if Viewland wins, I’ll call round and see you -to-night." - -"You call——" - -"Sure thing." - -"Why? You——" - -"I’m broke, and I shall need a little loan," said Uric significantly. - -Jabez glared at him. - -"Well, you won’t get it!" he snapped. - -"Won’t I?" grinned Scudder. "Oh, I don’t know! Perhaps you’ll conclude -to cough after you think about it. Of course, I don’t want to make it -unpleasant for you, you know, but [illegible]" - -Lynch felt like hitting the fellow. - -"Go on!" he grated. "You may be sorry if you try any blackmailing-game -on me!" - -"Oh, law!" said Scudder, in pretended horror. "Don’t use such harsh -language! You shock me!" - -Then, with a sneering laugh, he moved off. Lynch glared after him. - -"That fellow is going to make trouble for me," thought Jabez. "I’ve told -him too much. He can’t be trusted." - -But now he gave his entire attention to the playing. - -Having secured the ball on downs, Fardale lined up for the assault, and -Merriwell was hurled into Viewland’s center. Kernan was a good man -there, but the impetus of Merriwell’s rush, backed as it was by -Singleton, Nunn, and Shannock, forced Viewland to give for a distance of -four yards. - -This was good, and the watchers expected that the attempt would be -repeated. The signal followed, as the two lines formed once more: - -"11—17—92—X—13—40." - -Merriwell was not given another opportunity. The ball was snapped and -passed to Nunn, who started to the left on the run, Shannock and -Merriwell falling in between him and the line, with Singleton just ahead -of him. - -But the left end of Fardale’s line broke, letting Purcell through. The -right tackle of the enemy plunged between Shannock and Merriwell and -nailed Nunn, throwing him fairly onto his head. The ball escaped Steve -and went rolling away. Singleton tried to drop on it, but missed, and -Warwick came down on the oval, having followed Purcell through the -break. - -Viewland had recovered the ball on this fumble. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - SIX TO TWO. - - -A groan of dismay went up from the watching Fardale crowd. - -"Oh, what a shame!" came from Zona Desmond. - -"What’s happened?" panted Doris, who did not seem to understand the -play. - -"Viewland’s got the ball again." - -"How—how did they get it? I thought Dick had it a moment ago. He was -running with it." - -"Dick? I presume you mean Mr. Merriwell?" said Hal Darrell, his face -flushing. "I didn’t suppose you were well enough acquainted with him to -speak of him in such a familiar manner." - -"Everybody calls him Dick," she said. "I suppose it’s because he has a -brother who is so well known." - -"Oh, is that how it happened?" said Darrell, with just the slightest -touch of sarcasm in his voice. "Well, I do not call him Dick. He did not -have the ball at all. It was Nunn who had the ball. Merriwell was -running ahead as an interferer, but a poor fellow he proved for the work -that time." - -"I don’t see why." - -"Because he didn’t keep that Viewland chap from getting to Nunn on the -jump." - -"Could he have done it?" asked Zona. - -"Of course, he could! That’s what he was there for. He should have -blocked the tackler. But you will notice that Merriwell does not put -himself in much danger unless he is given the ball to advance. He never -does much in helping any one else to advance the ball. It’s plain he -hankers for all the glory, and I will say that he has a way of getting -the biggest part of it. He’s continually thrust forward by his brother -and by Nunn till all Fardale is coming to believe him far superior to -what he really is." - -"Why should you be jealous of him?" asked Doris, suddenly turning on -Hal, her eyes flashing. - -"I—jealous?" said he, as if astonished. - -"Yes, you—jealous. You are not in the game, and——" - -"I assure you that you are unjust to me, Doris!" he exclaimed. "I am not -jealous of that fellow. I simply spoke the truth. He’s a much overrated -chap. I am expecting that this game will show it, too. I am not the only -one who thinks this, and——" - -"I understand!" panted the girl, her cheeks flushed. "You can’t deceive -me that way. But I believe he is all right. I’m sure he’s a perfect -gentleman. He never talks about anybody, friend or foe, behind his -back." - -"I have said nothing here that I should fear to repeat to his face," -asserted Hal, who also was very red in the face. "If you mean that I am -not a gentleman, Doris——" - -"Oh, stop talking that way and watch!" said Zona. "Viewland is going to -do something! What are they going to try?" - -So Hal and Doris became silent, though the hearts of both were hot -within them. - -Viewland had learned that Fardale’s center was strong, and so the attack -was concentrated on the right wing of the home team. Warne was sent into -Stanton, and he made three yards in a desperate charge. Then the ball -went back to Young, who followed up Warne’s attack and secured full five -yards. - -The wind had been knocked out of Stanton, and out came the boy with the -bucket and the sponge. A dash of water over Stanton’s face, some -squeezed from the sponge into his mouth, and he revived, jumped up, and -exclaimed: - -"I’m all right! Let her go!" - -The whistle gave Viewland privilege to continue its assaults. - -Next time Warne was given the ball for a run round Fardale’s right end, -and, with a goodly number of interferers to assist him, he cleared the -end of the line at top speed, passing Nunn, who was blocked off, and -seemed to have a good chance to make a run straight to the cadet’s goal. - -The thirty Viewland rooters rose up and howled for joy. But down on -Warne with terrible speed came a flying form. The runner tried to dodge, -but Dick Merriwell shot through the air, got Warne by the leg, and -stretched him on the turf. - -Not more than ten yards had been made, when it seemed that the enemy was -due for a touch-down. - -"Of course, that was a case of bad playing!" cried Doris Templeton -revengefully. "Don’t you think so, Hal?" - -Darrell bit his lip, but he had the manhood to say: - -"That was a good tackle; I confess it." - -But Doris was not to be appeased so easily. - -"I presume you might have done better," she said. "Why don’t you go in -for football, Hal? You play baseball; you might play football. Are you -afraid?" - -"Afraid—of what?" - -"That Mr. Merriwell will do better at the game than you can. That you -may be hurt. That—lots of things." - -He was stung by her words and manner. - -"I might have played the game if I’d wished!" he said hotly. - -"Why don’t you? I don’t believe you could make the team if you tried." - -"Perhaps not now; but——" - -"I thought so!" she said, in a manner that added to his discomfiture. -"That’s why you’re against some other fellow who has made it on the -first trial." - -Her manner was quite unusual for her, and he felt it keenly. It stirred -him to exclaim: - -"I see you think I could not get onto the eleven if I tried! I’ll show -you! I’ll go out for practise Monday. If I do not get onto the team, it -will be the fault of somebody besides myself. I have played football. -But perhaps Mr. Dick Merriwell will object to having me on the team. If -he does, I won’t get on, no matter how good I may prove to be." - -"He’ll never be mean enough to try to keep you off." - -While this conversation was taking place Viewland had tried Fardale’s -center again, but had been hurled back, with a loss of two feet. That -seemed to indicate that, beyond a doubt, the center of the line was -really one of the cadets’ strongest points. But Viewland was determined, -and it found other spots which seemed weak, so that a succession of -gains brought the ball to Fardale’s ten-yard line. - -"Touch-down! touch-down!" the visiting rooters were shouting. "Put it -over, Warne—put it over!" - -Viewland was determined, but, unfortunately for her, Warwick became too -excited in an effort to send Jordan round the end. Warwick saw Kent was -going to get past and tackle the runner, and he proceeded to grasp Don -and hold him. - -Instantly the whistle sounded, and the ball was given to Fardale right -there. - -"A godsend!" breathed Hal Darrell, with a sigh of genuine relief. "But -for that I think those chaps must have made a touch-down. If we can get -the ball away from the danger-point now, there is a chance that we may -brace up a little. It must be a kick." - -But it was not. Fardale simply settled down to an effort to get back at -Viewland by a series of rushes and mass-plays. The first rush was a -failure, but a mass-play followed that carried the ball forward four -yards. Then a surprise was sprung in Frank Merriwell’s line-over play, -which had been used with good results in the Hudsonville game, and full -five yards were secured. - -Viewland was surprised by these gains, for it had seemed that Fardale -was weakening, and now the cadets proved strong enough to advance -smashingly into the enemy’s line. The line-over formation was a new one -on Viewland, but the next attempt to work it was spoiled by the quick -charge of the visitors, who seemed to go through Fardale’s line like -sand through a sieve. - -Fardale was quick to see that the line-over formation could not be -worked on Viewland except at unexpected moments. - -A revolving wedge was tried, and the swinging mass plowed through the -visitors for full seven yards. Once more the Fardale spectators were -happy. Again the singing struck up. What if all the playing had been in -Fardale’s territory? What if the eagerness of the enemy had prevented -them from making a touch-down? No score had been secured, and the cadets -showed they were not discouraged, or weakening. - -Again came the revolving wedge, but this, like the repeated line-over -play, was broken up and the object defeated. A tandem-play was -attempted, hitting the right wing of the enemy, but this failed. - -"They must kick now!" - -The speaker was right, and the full-back of the opposing team was seen -running back as fast as he could, to be ready for the expected punt. It -came. Singleton booted the ball fair and hard, sending it well over into -Viewland’s territory. - -Kent and Burrows went down the field like wild colts, both finding no -trouble in getting away speedily. Kent was waiting for Young to catch -the ball, and he had the Viewland full-back by the leg when the oval -struck in Young’s hands. Down came Young. - -The play was thus transferred into the territory of the visitors, where, -thirteen yards from center, the next line-up was made. - -Jabez Lynch was sadly disappointed, for his heart had been jumping -joyously when the enemy forced Fardale to the ten-yard line. It was his -conviction that a touch-down must be made right there. And now Fardale -had succeeded in getting the ball over the center line. - -By this time it was plain to Lynch that Viewland was not familiar with -Fardale’s signals, and this satisfied him that the captain had made no -bluff in saying Cranch was missing. Jabez was not happy. He had hoped to -see the visitors pile up score upon score in a disheartening manner for -Fardale; but once more it was looking like a close and hard-fought game. - -Viewland earnestly sought to get the ball back over the center line by -rushes, a feat she found herself unable to accomplish, not a little to -her dismay. Five yards from center she was compelled to kick. - -Merriwell caught the ball and sent it back. Dick’s kick caused the -witnessing crowd to shout and rise, for it was a grand effort, the ball -going fully to Viewland’s thirty-yard line. Warne got it, but Don Kent -was on hand, and Warne was downed promptly, although he managed to roll -over and over for almost five yards before being stopped entirely. - -On her thirty-five-yard line Viewland again prepared for the onslaught. -Things were not going to suit the visitors, and they started in to -hustle things. The tackles were placed back of the line, and Purcell was -given the ball, while the interference hit Gordan. - -Gordan was backed by Shannock and Merriwell, and he managed to stand up -to the task of holding the push until Blair got through and brought -Purcell to earth. - -Fardale was fighting well now, and it began to look as if the visiting -team would find its hands full with the lighter cadets. - -This effort failing to get a gain, Warne was given the ball. He went -flying across, having several interferers to protect him, and it seemed -like an effort to circle Fardale’s right end. Certain it was that the -greater part of the Fardale team regarded it as a straight attempt to -get round the right end, and there the resistance rushed. - -But Warne made a skilful pass to Jordan, who was going in the opposite -direction. Dick Merriwell had seen the pass, and he made a leap to get -at Jordan when he came round. But Dick was fooled then, for Young was in -a position to take the ball from Jordan, who kept right on toward the -left end of Fardale’s line, as if still retaining possession of the -leather. - -These movements had caused Fardale to leave an opening right through her -center, and Young went through like a streak. - -Dick was on the point of tackling Jordan as the left half-back came -round, when he discovered the fellow didn’t have the ball. Then Dick -turned and saw Young going for Fardale’s goal-line like the wind. - -Without a word, setting his teeth, Merriwell started after Viewland’s -full-back. Young was doing his best, but the spectators saw the pursuer -gain on him swiftly. Nevertheless, it seemed that Young must make a -touch-down before he could be stopped. - -"Merriwell!" roared the Fardale crowd. "Merriwell! Merriwell!" - -With the leaps of a frightened greyhound, Dick Merriwell bore down on -Young. Drawing near, he launched himself at the full-back, clutched him, -and dragged him to earth. Then others came piling upon them, and the -ball was down three yards from Fardale’s line. - -It was a play to set both sides wild, and cheer followed cheer. - -But again Fardale’s goal was in great danger, and Viewland was happy. - -"Hold ’em!" begged Captain Nunn, as the defenders lined up. "Stick your -toes in, everybody! Don’t let them have an inch." - -And they obeyed him as far as Viewland’s first effort was concerned, and -the visitors had made no gain on that down. But the heavy line told in -the next attack, and the ball was jammed to within a foot of Fardale’s -line. - -Panting, desperate, sweaty, and dirt-stained, the defenders made ready -for a last stand. - -"Don’t let them do it!" implored Nunn. "Steady, all!" - -Then came the pass and the shock. For a few seconds it seemed that -Fardale was going to swing the heavy visitors back for a loss; then -through that mass of straining humanity somehow wiggled Warne. How he -did it no one seemed able to tell, but he squirmed through and shoved -the ball over Fardale’s line. - -It was a touch-down! - -When this result became known, Jabez Lynch could scarcely restrain a -shout of joy. - -Viewland took time in bringing out the ball. The strong wind had to be -judged well in kicking for goal, but Young was equal to the occasion, -and he sent the oval over the bar in very handsome style. - -It was fancied that Fardale would weaken now; but the visitors were -surprised to find the cadets stiffer and livelier than ever when play -was resumed. - -As Viewland had made the first score, it again became Fardale’s duty to -kick off, and this time Merriwell was sent in to do the turn. He made a -handsome kick, that was almost a duplicate of that with which Singleton -opened the game. - -Warne got the ball, but he did not advance four yards before Kent had -him nailed and stretched on the ground. Then came some swift playing -that was almost bewildering to the witnesses. Viewland seemed to think -she could make gains by her great weight in charging; but two attempts, -with no material gain, set her to thinking something different. - -Then came a sudden kick, but Merriwell had anticipated it and dropped -back. Getting the ball, Dick dodged tackler after tackler, running with -it clean to the ten-yard line before being downed. - -Realizing that the half must be drawing toward a close, Fardale went in -to rush the ball over in a hurry. The first effort advanced it three -yards. Then came two yards. Then four. - -The ball was down one yard from Viewland’s goal. - -Fardale might have scored, but at this critical juncture Shannock made a -bad pass to Nunn, who dropped the ball. Pitman leaped through and -dropped on the oval. - -Viewland had regained possession of the leather. - -Jabez Lynch drew a deep breath of relief, his heart seeming to drop back -from his throat, where it had throbbed in a choking way. - -Still confident of her ability to make gains by bucking Fardale’s line, -Viewland declined to kick in order to get the ball away from this -dangerous point. - -In this she made a mistake. The ball was passed to Warne, and the star -half-back of the visitors let it get away from him and roll along the -ground back of the goal-line. - -Brad Buckhart came through with a roar, but Jordan saw the danger and -fell on the ball. - -This was a safety, but it counted two points for Fardale, as Buckhart -had pinned Jordan on that spot. - -The whistle cut the air. - -"Time!" cried a voice. - -The first half was over, and the score was: Viewland, 6; Fardale, 2. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - "ENDS AROUND." - - -Not once during the first half had Frank Merriwell’s new "ends-around" -formation been tried. The line-over had not proved a good thing, and it -seemed that Fardale was afraid to try anything but the simplest kind of -tactics. - -During the intermission, however, Frank had a talk with Captain Nunn and -other members of the eleven. Somehow, it always seemed that the team -came out stronger and more determined after being talked to by Frank -between the halves. - -Fardale was anxious to win this game, but every man of the team knew it -must be won by hard, persistent, determined playing. No half-hearted -work would count this day. Some of the players had been used pretty -roughly, but every man was ready and eager to go back for the second -half. - -The Fardale benches were singing "Glory to the Red and Black" when the -squad came trotting out to the field once more. Then, just before the -second half began, a cadet arose and proposed a cheer for Frank -Merriwell. It was given with a will. - -Another popped up and proposed one for Dick Merriwell. Then the -popularity of the strange boy who had made many enemies at the academy -was shown. The crowd had cheered heartily for Frank, but it broke into a -perfect roar of applause for Dick. - -Hal Darrell did not cheer, but he saw Doris Templeton rise when the -cheer was called for and add her voice to the burst of sound, waving her -flag. Hal bit his lip and said nothing, while she gave him a laughing -look as she sat down, asking: - -"Why didn’t you cheer, Hal?" - -"I didn’t feel like cheering for either of those fellows," he said. "I’m -not a hypocrite, Doris, whatever else you may believe me." - -And, somehow, she liked him better for the answer. - -But little time was lost in making ready after the two teams came out. -The men scattered over the field for Viewland to kick off. There was a -slight pause, and then the whistle shrilled. - -Young was the man who booted the oval, which was caught by a strong gust -of wind and carried far to the right. Apparently, the ball was going out -of bounds, but Blair took it eighteen yards from Fardale’s line, and ran -it forward fourteen yards before being grassed by Warwick. - -There the teams lined up, but a single change having been made on either -side. For the visitors Hagan had replaced Low as left guard. - -"26—28—15—F—100—4," came the signal, and the tackles-back formation was -made, the ball going to Stanton on the pass. Stanton found an opening -through the center, was tackled, but dragged his tackler along to one -side for a gain of fully six yards. - -This was the kind of work that always proved surprising to the team that -faced Fardale at the opening of the second half. It made Viewland angry, -and the captain talked sharply to his men who had permitted Stanton to -get through. - -Then Viewland stiffened up wonderfully, and held the assaults for downs -till Fardale was compelled to kick. Singleton took into account the -wind, and was careful not to have it carry the ball out of bounds, as -they were still near the side-lines. Up into the wind he drove the ball, -till it fell into the hands of Jordan, who made a forward dash of eleven -yards, and was brought down with a terrible shock by Burrows, five yards -from the center of the field. - -Jordan was hurt. Out came the bucket of water, and he was soused till he -gasped for breath. But when he tried to get up he toppled over, and was -ordered off the field. He went with reluctance, a red-headed chap -trotting out to fill his position. The name of the newcomer was Quimby, -and the Viewland crowd gave him a cheer. - -"He’s better than Jordan," declared more than one. "He ought to be on -the team, anyhow." - -The ball was given to Quimby the very first thing, and, aided by good -interference, with the whole backfield behind him, he was rammed through -for fully seven yards, carrying the ball into Fardale’s territory once -more. - -But Viewland did not stop there. With merciless persistency she hammered -at Fardale’s line, making gains that took her within twenty-eight yards -of the home team’s goal. Even then it is possible that the gains might -have continued, but the visitors made an open and plainly seen forward -pass. - -Instantly the whistle sounded clear, the umpire declared the ball as -belonging to Fardale, and there was a sudden change in affairs. - -Shannock gave the signal: - -"3—33—Y—32—201—76—16." - -It was a call for Dick Merriwell to take the ball through center. - -Dick felt that something must be done to arouse Fardale and put the team -on its mettle, so, the instant he got the ball he went in after -Shannock, who had plunged between Buckhart and Gordan. Shannock managed -to butt an opening, and through this Dick shot, making fully ten yards -before being tackled. Then Moulton and Warne nailed him, but when they -had dragged him down he crawled forward, with them clinging to him, and -the ball was close to the forty-five-yard line, when it seemed that -several tons came down on Merriwell and held him fast. - -The breath was driven from Dick’s body, and he fancied he heard his -bones cracking. The pressure was something frightful to endure, but no -sound escaped his lips. When they rose from him he lay there, stretched -limply on the ground. - -Into the heart of Jabez Lynch leaped a wild thrill of joy. - -"Merriwell’s done for!" he muttered. - -"It looks that way," said a well-known voice, and again Lynch found -Scudder at his elbow. - -"You—again?" he growled. - -"Oh, yes!" said Uric. "I’m not drifting far away from you, dear boy. I’m -waiting to see you collect your bets after the game." - -"What for?" - -"I have a little bill to settle Monday." - -"You’ll settle it with none of my money!" grated Lynch. - -"Oh, dear boy!" exclaimed Uric, grinning and passing his fingers over -his chin. "We’re such good friends, I know you’ll not refuse me. If you -did, I might feel bad and talk too much about it." - -"Hang you!" panted Lynch, in a whisper. "I was a fool to ever have -anything to do with you!" - -"Don’t call yourself such harsh names, Lynch. A fellow like you can’t -help being a fool—sometimes." - -Jabez longed to smash the insulting fellow, but he dared not do it -there. - -A shout rose from the spectators. Dick Merriwell had risen, and he was -thrusting off those who offered him assistance. They heard him declaring -that he was fit to remain in the game. - -Then somebody began to sing, and the crowd took it up: - - What’s the matter with Dick Merriwell? - He’s all right! - He can fight! - He’s always in the game, - And his work is never tame, - He’ll get there just the same; - So—— - What’s the matter with Dick Merriwell? - -Scudder actually laughed when Lynch swore in a smothered tone of voice. - -"It’s a shame," he said, "but you can’t knock that fellow out with an -iron bar." - -Dick was rather weak when the team lined up again, and, of course, he -was not selected to advance the ball, which was given, instead, to Nunn, -for an end-run. Steve was tackled and held without a gain. - -But the next effort was successful, Singleton going through center for -seven yards. The ball was close to the center of the field. Again -Fardale was doing well, and her supporters cheered lustily. - -But Shannock soon became an offender, for he failed to take Buckhart’s -pass properly, and let the ball get away from him. Kernan came through -and fell on the oval, which brought the thirty Viewland rooters up -standing and shouting. - -Seeing this, Jabez Lynch laughed. - -"Now Viewland will do something," he thought. - -His conviction seemed justified, for the visiting team quickly lined up -and hit Fardale’s right wing for a gain of more than five yards. As a -rusher, the new man Quimby gave Douglass all he wanted to do. - -Warne was given the ball next, and he seemed to start for a run round -the end, but he turned suddenly, and hit the line in the same place as -before, going through between Douglass and Stanton for fully nine yards -before being brought down by Nunn. - -Viewland did not stop. She was out for blood this time, and something -like seven yards were made with a revolving formation that again struck -Fardale’s right wing. - -Lynch, seeing all this, put his hand over his mouth to keep from -laughing aloud. - -"Keep it up!" he whispered. "Don’t make a foolish fumble now! Stick to -it!" - -This was exactly what the visitors did, for the next plunge took the -ball almost to Fardale’s twenty-yard line. - -Captain Nunn urged his men to brace up and stop these steady gains, but -all his urging could not prevent another gain through the right wing -that lay the ball fairly on the line fifteen yards from the goal. - -Douglass had fought grimly, and now he reeled when he was lifted to his -feet, after the mix-up on the down. Immediately Toby Kane was called out -to take Douglass’ place, while Stanton gave way to Hovey. - -"Bet five dollars Viewland scores!" cried one of the visiting -spectators, and no one made a move to take him, for, as a last resort, -the visitors might kick a goal from the field, the position in front of -the posts being favorable. - -The mass-plays on Fardale’s right wing were abandoned for the moment, -while Warne was again given the ball for an end-run, and he took it to -within eight yards of Fardale’s line. - -"They can’t be stopped!" roared the man who had offered to bet. - -Doris Templeton was in distress. - -"Oh, why don’t they stop them?" she exclaimed, trembling with excitement -and fear. - -"I’m afraid they can’t," said Hal Darrell, who was very pale. "It’s -beginning to look bad for us." - -Quimby tried Fardale’s left end, but Merriwell was ready to meet him, -and he went down without a gain. But then Young slammed into Sargent and -crowded the ball to within two yards of the line before being held. - -"Touch-down! touch-down!" roared the thirty loyal Viewland rooters. - -The Fardale crowd suddenly drowned these cries with a great cheer, meant -to encourage the home team. Perhaps that cheer did give the battered -young heroes courage, for Viewland’s following two efforts were failures -as ground-gainers, and the ball remained two yards from the goal. - -Still, Viewland did not believe the cadets could hold her there, and a -revolving-mass play was hurled against the right wing. Kane and Hovey -showed their mettle by standing up well before this assault, backed by -Shannock, Nunn, and Singleton, and the ball went down without a gain. - -To the joy of the greater portion of the crowd, Fardale had secured the -leather on downs at this point, where it seemed Viewland must score. -Without delay, the ball was given to Merriwell to kick. Dick took the -wind into account, and made a magnificent drive clean to the fifty-yard -line. - -The ball was run back about seven yards, when Burrows stopped it, and -there the line-up was again made. - -Surely, Fardale was fighting for her life, but all her efforts could not -prevent a clean gain of six yards. - -Then the cadets made a strong stand, and Viewland’s following efforts -failed to give but four yards and a half in the required number of -trials, which gave the home team the ball on downs. - -Nunn made nearly five yards on the first effort. - -"13—93—Y—168—13—33," was the signal. - -Merriwell knew what was required of him, but he seemed utterly -unprepared. Apparently, something was the matter with his leg, for he -limped about off at one side, and not one of the visiting players -fancied he would attempt to do anything. - -But the ball went to Dick on the pass, and he seemed to take it on the -run, tuck it under his arm, and go shooting round the end. It was done -swiftly, and Dick was past Gould and Quimby before they could tackle -him. Then he flew over the field toward Viewland’s goal. - -Only for one thing, Dick must have made a touch-down in that attempt. -Young had been holding far back, to take any sudden kick, and he was -between the runner and the goal. - -Dick did his best to pass the Viewland full-back, but Young closed in on -him surely. Dick came very near escaping, but Young got him by one leg -and brought him down. With Young clinging like a leech, Dick managed to -roll over and over till he had secured still more distance. - -The Fardale crowd rose and shrieked like fiends. At last the time had -come for the home team to get into the game in desperate earnest, or -defeat was certain. - -There was scarcely any delay. Fardale lined up, and the signal was given -for a tackle-back formation. Hovey went into the center and made a -handsome gain. The same formation drove Blair forward with the ball for -more than six yards. - -And now, with the ball twenty-five yards from Viewland’s line, there -began to seem a possible chance of a field-goal. - -Fardale’s next effort secured no gain, but then Nunn took the ball -through for six yards. The team seemed full of fire, and the witnesses -were wildly excited. - -But Viewland stiffened and held fast for two downs. Would Fardale try a -drop-kick? - -"On the jump!" cried Nunn. - -"On the jump!" echoed Shannock. - -A thrill went through every player. It was the signal for Frank -Merriwell’s new "ends-around" play. There was a crouching, a pause, a -stir—the ball had gone to Dick Merriwell. - -Then it seemed that both ends of Fardale’s line crumbled and were thrust -back before the charge of the other team. Merriwell leaped in behind -Buckhart and Gordan, feeling himself grasped about the waist. He was -astonished at the force with which he was thrust forward, and a gain was -made that left the ball within twelve yards of the enemy’s goal. - -But that play had not been made exactly right, some of the players -failing to do their part. Captain Nunn was afraid of a bungle, and so he -fell back on old tactics, giving Shannock the word. - -Five yards more were secured by fierce work, and then Kane became too -enthusiastic and got off-side at this critical juncture, making a play -that gave the ball to Viewland. - -The Fardale crowd groaned in dismay, as the half was getting near the -end. - -Viewland had learned a lesson, and now she lost no time in kicking the -ball away from this dangerous point. Young drove it over the -forty-five-yard line, where Singleton caught it and ran back a trifle -over five yards before being downed. - -Captain Nunn saw the situation was desperate, for it seemed that the -game would end before anything more could be done. In this extremity he -resolved on extreme measures. - -"On the jump!" he cried. - -"On the jump!" came again from Shannock. - -The line formed, the ball was passed, the ends swung round, followed by -the opposing ends, and the full force of this movement was used to shoot -Dick Merriwell forward seven yards. - -"’Rah! ’rah! ’rah!" yelled the crowd. "Give ’em some more of that!" - -Not a word was spoken, and the Fardale team knew it was to continue the -play. Again it was tried, and again more than five yards were made. - -Viewland was amazed, for Fardale seemed to weaken in the rush, yet -somehow the ball was thrust forward for a good gain each time. It was -rather bewildering, to say the least. Again the same trick was played, -and the ball went to within a yard of Viewland’s twenty-yard line. - -The visitors could not realize that they were playing against -themselves. - -Time was precious, and Fardale played swiftly, making no change. Another -play had the ball over the fifteen-yard line. Another carried it within -seven yards of the goal. - -It seemed a new team Viewland was facing, and the wondering visitors -could not understand it. - -"Over this time—over!" cried Nunn. - -And, with that same trick, the ball was jammed through Viewland’s center -and over the line for a touch-down. - -Then, as the Fardale crowd cheered and sang, the oval was punted out and -cleverly caught. With a good position in front of the posts, Captain -Nunn stretched himself on the ground, and Dick Merriwell prepared to try -for a goal. - -"You must kick that goal, Dick!" cried the Fardale boys. - -There was a hush in the cheering as Dick went at the ball and kicked. - -The diagram on the opposite page shows all the plays of the second half: - - x x x x x x x x KICK OFF. - — — — — — PUNTS. - ————————— RUNS. - 1. VIEWLAND LOSES BALL ON FORWARD PASS. - 2. DICK’S RUN ROUND VIEWLAND’S LEFT END. - 3. FARDALE LOSES BALL FOR OFFSIDE PLAY. - 4. FARDALE’S REPEATED GAINS AND TOUCHDOWN ON THE ‘ENDS AROUND’ PLAY. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - TOO LATE. - - -In a room of the Dead Road Mill Phil Cranch was held a captive, despite -his threats, protests, and offered bribes. He had not fancied the -Fardale men would dare do such a thing, and he was furious when he found -they actually meant to carry it out. - -"You shall suffer for this!" he threatened. - -"We’re frightened!" said Ted Smart, who had accompanied the captors. -"Please don’t make us suffer." - -"I’ll have you all arrested!" - -"Won’t that be jolly?" chirped Ted. "I just love to be arrested. I enjoy -it. It’s such fun being taken to jail, and all that." - -"Don’t be a fool!" snarled Cranch. "I am in earnest." - -"Oh, well, we’re in fun," said Smart. "We don’t mean to keep you here -till after the football-game Saturday—oh, no! We’re going to set you -free, and let you run right back and carry all you know to your -friends." - -"You’d better set me free! I know you all." - -"That’s fine! We’re proud to know you, you’re such a splendid fellow. -Now, I’m going to watch you, while my friends here get some lovely, -refined gentlemen to take charge of you for the rest of the present -week. I won’t hurt you if you try to break away and raise a rumpus. I -won’t hit you real hard with this soft club. I’ll just let you break -away and do as you please." - -This was Ted’s way of telling what he would do, and Cranch understood. - -The captive had been tied to a beam in the wall of the old room, his -hands still fastened behind him. An old lamp sat on a shelf. In that -room, which had once been used by the miller as a dining-room, there was -a table and some broken chairs. - -With some words of caution to Smart, the others left him there to guard -the captive. When they were gone Cranch tried to bribe Ted, but found -all his efforts vain. - -Near morning two rough-looking fellows appeared and told Ted they would -take charge of the prisoner. - -"Be kind to him, gentlemen," urged Smart. "It’s quite likely he has only -one mother. I love him tenderly." - -"Don’t worry," said one of the men gruffly. "If he cuts up any funny -business, we’ll break his neck and chuck him down under the mill." - -"That’s the easiest way to fix him, anyhow," said the other. - -"I think he would like that," smiled Smart. "It would be such fun for -him. Don’t kill him if he tries to get away; just half-kill him. Your -feed will be brought you some time to-morrow, and you can make -yourselves uncomfortable here just as much as you like. I don’t have to -hurry back to the academy to get in before the cock crows. Oh, no! I’ve -got plenty of time. Good morning." - -Cranch saw that the rough-looking guards were in disguise, for it was -plain their beards were false. After a time he began appealing to them, -but they paid very little attention to him. With the aid of a pack of -cards, they whiled the hours away. - -Cranch was able to lie down on the floor, where some old sacks had been -placed, but, when he pretended to be asleep, he kept watch for some sort -of an opportunity to get away. However, when they were tired of playing -cards, one of the men slept, while the other smoked and kept guard. - -In the morning they provided food for Cranch, setting his hands free for -him to eat, after having first tied his feet, and warned him to let the -rope alone. - -The food was good enough, such as it was, but Cranch choked over it. He -fell to reviling the two men and calling them all sorts of hard names, -until, becoming tired of it at last, they compelled him to be still. - -Somebody brought food to the old mill where Cranch was kept a captive, -as the long days slipped away. He tried in various ways to gain his -freedom, but every effort failed, and, at last, came the night before -Saturday. - -The fellow was desperate. He longed to get away and turn the tables on -Fardale. He thought of the satisfaction he would enjoy could he -accomplish this. In the night he worked at his bonds until he felt that -it was a hopeless case, and gave up in despair. - -His captors welcomed the coming of Saturday, for they were becoming -tired of their task. They offered him breakfast, but he had no appetite, -and refused it. Again he tried all his blandishments on them, but they -laughed at him and advised him to keep quiet a little longer. - -That morning one of the men went away. The other remained deaf to the -prisoner’s appeals. But when the man returned he brought a bottle of -liquor with him, and the two proceeded to celebrate. They drank and sang -and had a high old time. - -Cranch watched them, and finally what he hoped for happened. One of the -men became stupefied and fell asleep. The other staggered over and made -a pretense of examining the captive’s bonds. - -"You’re all ri’," he said thickly. "Orders to let you go three closh -this afternoon. Don’ worry. Goin’ to do it. ’Sall ri’." - -Then he went back to the table, sat down, sprawled on his crossed arms, -and soon fell asleep, also. - -Thirty minutes later Cranch had freed one hand. Then he worked -feverishly to accomplish what he desired. He succeeded finally, and -proceeded to steal out of the room, leaving the drunken guards -unmolested. He knew it was past noon, but he was not many miles from -Fardale. He would be on hand at the game, and his heart leaped for joy. -In a short time he was outside the dismal old mill and hurrying away. - -Finding the grass-grown road, he ran pantingly along it. - -"Oh, I’ll be on hand!" he exulted. "I’ll give them the surprise of their -lives!" - -At last he came to an old house, with a shed nearby. Wishing to get a -view of the country, in order to see which course to pursue, he decided -to climb to the top of the shed and look around. He found a broken -ladder, and leaned it against the shed, after which he mounted to the -roof and crept to the ridgepole. His survey from this point was -unsatisfactory, and he was about to descend, when he saw the ladder -jerked away. - -A moment later Cranch uttered a cry of astonishment, for out from -beneath the eaves of the old shed stepped an Indian. It was Old Joe -Crowfoot, who took from beneath his red blanket a long knife, the edge -of which he carefully felt with his thumb, his manner being most -ominous. - -"Ugh!" grunted the redskin, eying the fellow on the roof. "Heap sharp. -Take white boy scalp much quick!" - -"Lord!" gasped Cranch. "It’s a real Indian, sure as preaching! And he -looks murderous!" - -Cranch was scared, and he remained on the roof of the shed. - -"Come down," invited Old Joe. "Come down, white boy, and let chief take -um scalp." - -"Not if I know it!" chattered Cranch. - -Then the old Indian proceeded to squat upon the ground and bring out his -pipe, which he lighted. - -"He’s going to wait for me to come down!" muttered the boy. "Well, he’ll -wait a long time." - -So he remained on the shed, while Old Joe smoked below. And the time -slipped away. Cranch saw the sun getting down in the west, and knew the -football game was on. - -At last, becoming desperate, Cranch resolved to make an effort to get -away. He believed he could run fast enough to escape this old savage, -provided he could reach the ground. Of a sudden he slid down the roof -and jumped to the ground. Regaining his feet, he was off like a -frightened deer. - -He never knew if Old Joe pursued. Thinking the Indian might be at his -heels, he ran until he fell exhausted. He was alone, but the experience -he had passed through made him a shuddering, shaking, fearful chap, and -it seemed that every tree-trunk and every old stump hid an Indian with a -knife. - -Cranch was never able to tell just what happened after that, but he -wandered about for a long time. At last he came out of the woods and -followed a road. Meeting a man in a wagon, he asked the direction to -Fardale Academy, and was told the way to go. - -As he approached he heard cheers in the distance, and his blood leaped. -The game was not over. He started and ran until he reached a spot where -he could see the field. From that distance he saw Fardale breaking -through Viewland’s line for repeated gains. - -"If I can get there in time!" he thought, and ran again. - -But as he came panting up to the field he was just in time to see Dick -Merriwell kick the goal that finished that game, with the score 8 to 6, -in favor of the cadets. - -Cranch stood there, his heart filled with bitterness, as the victorious -Fardale team trotted off the field. They passed him, and one of them -noticed him. - -"Hello!" said Dick Merriwell, with a laugh. "You’re a little late to get -in your work, Mr. Cranch, for the trick is done and the game is won." - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - A NEW CANDIDATE. - - -When the Fardale eleven and the scrub came out for practise the Monday -following the great game with Viewland, not a few were surprised to see -Hal Darrell show up on the field in football-togs. - -"What’s this?" cried Teddy Smart, as he stared at Hal in his comical -way. "Art about to attend a wedding, or an afternoon tea? I see you are -elaborately attired for a society event of some sort." - -Teddy couldn’t help being familiar if he tried, and his manner permitted -him to say things that must have caused resentment from any other plebe -at the academy. - -Don Kent, like Darrell, was a yearling, and so might address him on -terms of equality. - -"What are you going to do, Hal?" asked dark-eyed Don, coming up. "You -don’t mean to say that you’ve got the fever, and think of getting into -the game?" - -"I’m going to try to get a chance to practise," said Hal. "Perhaps I -won’t be permitted to do that." - -"Permitted!" exclaimed Captain Steve Nunn. "Why, Darrell, you know I -begged you to come out at the very beginning of the practise this year, -and you would not do it. I told you that I believed you could make the -team then." - -"I know you did," admitted Hal; "but I did not want to try it then." - -"It’s different now." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Why, circumstances are different. I’m not sure you can make the team." - -"Oh, I see!" exclaimed Hal, with a touch of scorn. "You mean that you’ll -not be permitted to use your own judgment now about taking on another -good man if one shows up." - -"That was not what I meant. I’ve never been permitted to use my own -judgment without consulting others in regard to players. You know that, -Darrell." - -"Oh, I think there was a time that what you said went. You were really -captain of the team at first." - -Steve flushed. - -"Do you mean by your words that I am not really captain of the team -now?" he asked, touched. - -"Well, I don’t want to say anything unpleasant, but you should hear some -of the talk here at the academy. You know football is being run -differently here this year than ever before." - -"Differently and better!" exclaimed Steve stiffly. "Fardale has cut a -little ice in baseball before this, but we’ve never done much at -football, and all these other teams thought they were as good or better -than Fardale. This is the first year Fardale ever started off a winner -and kept it up. We owe this to the coaching we have received." - -Darrell laughed. - -"Why don’t you confess that you owe it to that remarkable left -half-back, who is robbing you of the honors?" he asked. - -"You mean Merriwell—Dick Merriwell?" - -"Of course. How could I mean any one else?" - -"Who says he is robbing me of honors?" - -"Oh—everybody, except a few particular friends of his." - -"Well, it isn’t true, and no one has a right to say so. He plays the -game to win, as anybody should, and if it happens that he gets a few -more chances than other fellows——" - -"Why, it’s all luck. That’s what I’ve said before now, but I find any -amount of fellows who rise up and howl at me and declare him a marvel. I -confess that he’s fairly good. I wouldn’t try to rob him of any credit -due him; but there are others, and it’s tiresome to hear the rabble -howling for him continually." - -"Good gracious!" said Smart. "How utterly lacking in envy and jealousy -you are! It’s astonishing! Permit me to congratulate you! You deserve a -reward of merit in this great, envious, selfish world. I’d like to give -it to you—if I were big enough." - -Jabez Lynch had been standing near, and now, with a sneer on his -unprepossessing face, he observed: - -"You’re wasting your breath, Darrell. They’ll continue to howl for -Merriwell just the same." - -Hal frowned at Jabez, turning his back on the fellow. - -"I’m going to get into practise to-day, Captain Nunn," he said, "if I am -permitted to do so." - -"It’s too late," declared Steve, who had been nettled by the words of -the other. "I wanted you out at first. Now the team is made up and you -can’t get a chance." - -"Who ever heard of such a thing?" demanded Hal warmly. "No college team -is made up so a fellow can’t get a chance if he can play better than -some other man and he proves it. Why should this team be made up to the -exclusion of better outsiders? Why, when you say that, it’s the same as -telling the scrub that no man on it has any show of making the eleven. -That’s encouraging to the scrub! That will be likely to make the scrub -turn out and be battered up in practise—I hardly think! Wait a minute, -Captain Nunn. I’m pretty sure you don’t mean to say that there is no -show for me to make the eleven now in case I show that I am superior in -a certain position to some man now playing with the regular team, and in -case there is no other candidate who is superior to me? You don’t mean -that, do you?" - -"Of course not," said Steve; "but——" - -"That’s all. I thought you didn’t mean it. It’s all I want to know. I am -satisfied." - -"I’m glad you’re satisfied," said Steve, walking away in anything but a -pleasant temper. - -Immediately Jabez Lynch approached Hal. - -"It’s silly of you to waste your time in the attempt," said the fellow, -with curling lip. - -Hal surveyed him from his head to his feet, without speaking. - -"Oh, you ought to know it’s silly!" said Jabez. "If you can play fast -football, so much the worse. Merriwell doesn’t like you. I happen to -know why, and——" - -"You know too much!" said Hal meaningly. "It would be better if you did -not take such an interest in other persons’ affairs." - -"Don’t throw it into me like that!" snapped Lynch. "I’m your friend." - -"Not if I know it!" - -"You may need me some time." - -"I hope I’ll never come to that." - -"Oh, you do? What’s the matter with you, anyhow? I thought something -must be the matter with you, else you’d never try to make the team with -Dick Merriwell playing on it. He hates you, and a word from him will -keep you off the team. His brother runs the eleven, and all Dick has to -do is to speak the word—he gets things just as he wants them. Do you -fancy he’s going to give you a chance to play with him? You must have -bats in your belfry!" - -Darrell turned sharply on Lynch. - -"I don’t like you or your style of talk!" he exclaimed. "Go away! I -don’t want any one to see you talking to me. They might think I’d come -to being friendly with you, and that’s enough to queer anybody at this -school." - -Lynch literally turned purple with rage. - -"Oh, you’re very high and lofty now!" he said. "There was a time when -you were willing to be friends." - -"That was before you had advertised yourself to be a thoroughbred -rascal." - -"You even had some ideas about going in with me to down Merriwell." - -"But not in a sneaking way." - -Jabez came close to Darrell. - -"You’ll need my aid again some time!" he hissed. "You’re a tame sort of -chap at best, and Merriwell will make sport of you—he’ll kick you and -laugh in your face. It’ll be good enough for you, too! I shall enjoy -seeing him do it!" - -Then Darrell knocked Jabez down. - -Now, Jabez Lynch was something of a fighter, and he was ready to pitch -into Hal Darrell then and there when he quickly arose; but, knowing that -a fight in that place meant a stay in the guard-house for both of them, -several cadets sprang between them at once. - -"Let me at him!" snarled Lynch, his ugly face contorted with rage. - -"Let him come!" flared Darrell, ready enough for the encounter. - -"Don’t be fools, both of you!" growled big Bob Singleton. "This is no -place for a scrap. Fight it out away from the academy grounds. If -Lieutenant Swift saw you he’d take satisfaction in going for you." - -"That’s right," said others. "There’s plenty of time to fight, but don’t -do it here." - -"Anywhere he likes," said Darrell. - -"Chadwick’s pasture," suggested Lynch. - -"Agreed," said Hal. - -"To-night." - -"Yes." - -"If you’re not there——" - -"Don’t worry." - -"There’s no moon," said somebody. - -"Somebody bring a few bicycle lamps," suggested Darrell. "We’ll manage -to get along." - -Then he turned and walked away. - -Uric Scudder had been a witness, and he improved the first opportunity -to whisper in the ear of the panting, anger-shaken Jabez: - -"Well, you are getting it in the neck! Lost all your own money and all -you could borrow betting against Fardale last week, and now nobody wants -anything to do with you. You turned up your nose at me, did you? Well, -I’m thought just about as much of around here now as you are." - -"Get away from me—get away!" grated Lynch. "I’m in an ugly temper now." - -"He! he! he!" snickered Uric, rubbing his chin with satisfaction. "I -don’t wonder. I’d as lief be called Chickens and Hen Fruit as to be in -your shoes. You went back on me, and now you’re getting paid for it. -Why, even the fellows who do not like Dick Merriwell won’t have anything -to do with you." - -"Will you get away from me!" - -"Oh, yes! I don’t want to fight with you. Hal Darrell will attend to -your case. Bet you anything you like he does you up inside of fifteen -minutes." - -It seemed that Lynch would hit the taunting plebe, but Scudder, laughing -in a most provoking manner, edged away. - -Jabez was beginning to feel himself truly something of an outcast, and, -in an unreasoning way, he blamed it all on Dick Merriwell. A year -before, during the football season, he had been popular as one of the -Fardale team; but now Merriwell was playing in his old position, and he, -having refused to take any other, was off the team entirely. And all his -efforts to injure Dick had miscarried wofully, to his unspeakable -disgust. Besides that, not even when Dick was unable to fill his place -on the team had Jabez been asked to come back and play there for a -single game, which had made him unspeakably angry and revengeful. - -Lynch had not fancied that Darrell, a yearling, would rebuff him, a -first-class man, for usually yearlings looked up in reverence and awe to -the first class. Besides that, Jabez had imagined that Hal’s openly -expressed dislike for young Merriwell would form a bond of sympathy -between them, and he had counted much on this in his advances toward the -other. - -But Darrell was a peculiar fellow. Although he hated Dick, he was not -ready to join hands with any one like Lynch, for all the way through he -was loyal to Fardale, and he knew Lynch was not. Originally he had -sympathized with Jabez, thinking him misused; but the course the fellow -had taken had thoroughly disgusted Hal, and his satisfaction was great -when he learned that Jabez had lost heavily betting against Fardale. - -Jabez was incapable of understanding a fellow like Darrell, just as he -was incapable of understanding Dick Merriwell. With him it was anything -in order to obtain revenge on an enemy, and, to accomplish his vengeful -ends, he would have willingly sacrificed the Fardale football-team and -rejoiced to see it go down in defeat before its antagonists. - -Both Lynch and Darrell were selfish and egotistical, but there the -likeness between them ended, for the former was unscrupulous and without -honor, while the latter intended to be square, and honorable, and just, -although he sometimes failed. - -But both Jabez and Hal fully believed that Dick Merriwell would not -hesitate to resort to anything to prevent them from getting on, and it -is probable that Darrell hated Dick as intensely as did Lynch. But Hal -had another reason for disliking Dick. He was truly smitten by the -charms of Doris Templeton, and, until the appearance of young Merriwell, -he had seemed to have a clear field. Knowing that it was the wish of -their parents, he had fancied that some day Doris would become his wife, -although, of course, that day was regarded as quite remote. - -Then Dick Merriwell had appeared on the scene, and it did not take Hal -long to discover that Doris was smitten by more than a mere fancy for -the dark-eyed youth whom she had first seen standing silent as a statue -and looking straight at her in Farmer Snodd’s picnic grove. He could not -forget that, on that very day, Doris had suspected him of treacherously -striking Dick down in the grove, an act of which Lynch, not he, was -guilty. - -That had hurt him, and he often thought how her blue eyes had flashed as -she pointed at him, crying: "You did it, Hal Darrell!" He could not -forget that dramatic scene, and it made him hate Dick all the more. - -For a time he had fancied that Dick was getting the best of him in -relation to Doris; but of late something very strange had happened. -Young Merriwell had seemed to shun the blue-eyed girl in a singular -manner. - -Doris had observed this, and she felt it keenly. She did not know the -cause, for Zona Desmond had not revealed to her that she had made Dick -acquainted with the fact that Hal had a claim on Doris, young though -they both were. - -So the fair-haired girl was forced to believe that Dick Merriwell was -fickle and a flirt, for, truly, he had looked into her face in a manner -that seemed to betray untold admiration, and he had hinted at great and -sudden regard for her. - -Hard as it was, she tried to seal her lips and not let even her best -friend know how Dick’s conduct troubled her. But what girl of her age -could keep such a secret? One day, in a confidential mood, she told Zona -everything. - -"I like him awfully much, Zona," she said. "And I thought at first that -he liked me—a little. But now he takes pains to avoid me, and I never -see anything of him any more. Why is it? What have I done?" - -Zona caught her in her arms, crying: - -"Doris, you’re just the sweetest girl in the whole world, and Dick -Merriwell is a—a—a chump—there!—not to see it! I couldn’t help the -slang." - -"If he had cared more for you," said Doris, "I might understand it. I -mean if he had tried to see you sometimes. For I know you are far -handsomer and more fascinating than I. But it doesn’t seem to be that." - -Zona winced a little. She was in the habit of bringing fellows to her -feet in a queenly way, and she dismissed them in the same queenly -fashion after getting them there; but somehow all her arts had failed on -Dick Merriwell, and it had angered her, although she kept the fact -concealed. - -She knew well enough why it was that Dick had suddenly cooled toward -Doris, for she had taken special pains to show him that he was breaking -in between Doris and Hal when he had no right to do so; but she did not -know and could not understand why she had failed to win his regard to -herself. - -"Don’t talk like that, dear!" she exclaimed. "I’m not handsomer and more -fascinating than you. You only think so. You’re so modest, Doris!" - -Then she kissed her friend, but neither of them was happy. Zona felt -that somehow she was guilty of doing something underhand, although she -tried to justify the act by saying it was better for Dick to understand -at the very start before he really came to care a great deal for Doris. - -This day the girls had come out to witness the football practise. As Hal -Darrell walked away from the vicinity of Lynch he saw them standing at -the far side of the field, near the seats, and he started across to -them. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI. - FALSE SUSPICIONS. - - -Zona greeted Hal with a smile, but he observed that Doris scarcely -observed his approach. Her eyes seemed to be fastened on a group of -football-players holding a consultation at a distance. Dick Merriwell -was in that group. - -"Really and truly are you going to try it?" exclaimed Zona. "Oh, I -didn’t think you would!" - -"Didn’t I say so?" he demanded, forcing a smile, but keeping his eyes on -Doris. - -"Yes, but we thought you were just piqued then, Doris and I, and that -you’d forget it." - -"It’s plain neither you nor Doris know me very well." - -"And are you going to play on the team?" - -"Doubtful." - -"Why?" - -"Oh, there are reasons. I’m going to try for a chance to show what I can -do on the scrub, though; but I may be prevented from having even that -opportunity." - -"Prevented?" - -"Sure." - -"How?" - -"Oh, by a certain party." - -"You mean——" - -"Well, Mr. Frank Merriwell is running things here, as I have told you -before. His brother is on the eleven, and his brother does not like me." - -"Do you really think Dick Merriwell would resort to such a petty thing?" - -"Haven’t a doubt of it." - -"Well, I don’t believe anything of the sort!" said Doris, suddenly -turning toward them. "I am sure he can’t be that kind of a fellow?" - -"What makes you so sure?" questioned Hal, with a smile that meant much. - -"Why, a fellow who is so splendid—I mean such a splendid player——" - -"Don’t change it." - -She blushed. - -"You’re actually becoming hateful of late, Hal!" she exclaimed. "Haven’t -I a right to say he is a splendid player?" - -"Oh, of course? Go on." - -"Well, I don’t believe he’d resort to anything small and petty, even -against a fellow he might not like. So there!" - -"We’ll see," said Hal. "Nunn asked me to come out with the squad some -time ago. He said I stood a show of making the team. I didn’t come out -then, but I’m here now. Let’s see what kind of a chance I have. Keep -watch." - -He did not confess that he believed he had aroused Nunn against him. Not -he! In case he did not get a show, he was willing they should think the -Merriwells were entirely to blame. - -Captain Nunn was calling out the regular players. He gathered them about -Frank Merriwell, who proceeded to talk to them about the new -"ends-around" play that had been worked successfully against Viewland on -Saturday, and was no longer a secret. - -"I want you to put the play into use against the scrub to-day," said -Frank. "You must be surer in your formation behind the center and left -guard. The ends must come round exactly as if compelled to do so before -the charge of the opposing line, while the center must hold fast. Both -Kane and Hovey were too much in a hurry to swing back when the play was -first tried Saturday. They jumped back so quick once that they cut -Burrows off and left him where it was not possible for him to swing -round at all, as several of the other team were between him and the -formation. Haste is all right, but hurry is not. There is method in -haste; confusion in hurry. In football every move should have method. -When you make this play let the ends begin to swing back first, so that -they may not be cut off when they come round to help shove the ball -along." - -Frank also spoke to them of several other points, singling out some of -the men for special criticism and instruction. - -"The team must play together always," he said, in conclusion. -"Individual playing, while it serves to attract attention to some -particular player, does not win as many games as team playing. I have -seen successful teams that did not have a star player. But they had -practised until they worked together like machines. I do not mean to -discourage brilliant individual playing, but always I want such plays to -come from opportunities that do not admit of team plays, or through the -aid of a team play behind it, and I want no man to be constantly -watching for opportunities to distinguish himself above his fellows." - -Dick Merriwell could not keep back the color that surged to his face, -for somehow it seemed that Frank’s words were directed especially at -him. It touched him, too, for already Dick had learned that the one -thing a good football-player should keep in mind is the success of his -team in the game, regardless of what happens to himself. At the cost of -injury, in the face of danger, at all times, he must be ready to -sacrifice himself that somebody else may advance the ball. - -Dick was not to blame because his remarkable strength, agility, and -skill had enabled him to make plays which plainly elevated him as a -star. Yet he could not help feeling that he was blamed, not only by his -enemies, but somehow by his own brother. - -When Frank had talked to the team and to certain ones on the team, he -took Buckhart aside and showed him how to play low in hitting the -opposite line. Then he put several others on the eleven through a -"course of sprouts" before he permitted the regular contest with the -scrub. - -Meantime the scrub was hard at work kicking, tackling, falling on the -ball, passing, and getting used to signals. And Hal Darrell, although -ready to take part, had not been called on. With one or two others he -secured a ball and began passing it and kicking it about. One of the -fellows took a position and snapped the ball back to Hal, who kicked it. -The second time he did this he made a wonderfully long drive, and, -within a few minutes, he had attracted some attention by his kicking, -Then he shifted back and caught the ball, permitting another fellow to -kick. - -Now, Darrell had played football before coming to Fardale, although he -had not made an attempt to get onto the eleven at the academy, being -satisfied to be regarded as the star pitcher of the nine. - -Hal soon showed that he was decidedly clever in capturing punts, and not -a few chaps who were watching from the side of the field began to -express wonder because he had not appeared on the field before. - -And then, having taken the ball, Darrell ran with it dodging two or -three fellows who made a bluff at tackling him. When he stopped he found -himself within three feet of Frank Merriwell, who was looking at him. - -"What’s your name?" asked Frank. - -"Darrell, sir." - -"I don’t remember seeing you before. Have you been out in practise?" - -"This is the first time." - -"I thought so." - -That was all. Frank turned and walked away without another word. Looking -after him, Hal saw Dick Merriwell step out quickly and meet his brother, -with whom he began to talk earnestly. - -"I thought so!" muttered Darrell grimly. "He saw Frank Merriwell speak -to me, and here is where he gets his little knife into my back. I doubt -if I’m given any kind of a show." - -But Dick was speaking to Frank of quite another matter. - -Leaving Dick, Frank walked over to Cogswell, the captain of the scrub. - -"Cogswell," said Frank, "I see there is a new man by the name of Darrell -out to-day." - -"Yes, sir." - -"Give him a try." - -"Where, sir?" - -"Any position at all that happens to be weak. He seems to punt well, -catch the ball in form, and is a fast runner." - -"All right," said Cogswell, "I think I can use him." - -And, having watched every move, Hal Darrell believed that Frank had -notified the captain of the scrub to avoid using him. With his heart -full of bitterness, Darrell walked over to Doris and Zona. - -"I told you how it would be," he said. "I’m thrown down." - -"Thrown down?" said Doris. "What do you mean by that?" - -"Wait and you will see. A certain young gentleman here has fixed it all -right, and I’m not to play to-day. Frank Merriwell has just notified -Cogswell not to use me on the scrub." - -"Darrell, Darrell!" called a voice; "come over here. We’re going to play -two eight-minute halves, and I want you." - -It was Cogswell. - -Not a little surprised and taken aback, Hal went over to Cogswell, who -said: - -"You have played the game before, haven’t you?" - -"A little." - -"Where?" - -"On the high school team at home." - -"What position?" - -"End, half-back, and full-back." - -"You’ll play right end to-day. Billings has a bad knee, and we need -somebody to fill his place. Dustan will put you onto the signals. Here, -Dustan." - -Dustan was the quarter-back of the scrub. He came over to Darrell at -once and began to explain the code of signals. - -Hal asked no questions on the point, but he was wondering how it -happened that Cogswell had called him out to play. He was not yet -willing to believe that Merriwell had suggested using him, although it -looked very much that way. - -Soon the teams were called out for practise, and the brush began with -the regulars kicking off. There was some good timber in the scrub, and -it started off to-day with snap and vim, running the ball back fifteen -yards before being stopped. - -Then came the first line-up, and Darrell found himself opposite Burrows, -who was an energetic player, and he fell on Darrell at the first -opportunity with a jump that sent the new player over in a twinkling, -and the effort to advance the ball round that end was stopped. Hal rose -chagrined by his failure to block Burrow’s, for the end-run might have -been successful had he accomplished this. - -The next attempt was through the center, but this time Darrell got in -swiftly, and had the right end of the regulars out of the play in a -twinkling. This provoked Burrows, who growled at Hal, receiving a smile -in return. - -The scrub was forced to kick, and Dick Merriwell got the ball. Through -the field he darted, dodging tackler after tackler. Darrell fancied he -saw his opportunity, and he cut through to down Dick. In another moment -he would have had the runner, but just then another member of the scrub -made a beautiful tackle, and Hal was robbed of the satisfaction. - -Now the regulars began an assault on the scrub line, and the very first -play tried was the "ends-around." It worked beautifully, fully twelve -yards being made. - -Hal realized at once that he had been led in a most skilful manner by -Burrows to help in advancing the ball by adding his weight to that of -the right-end as the ends swung round. Now, Burrows grinned back at him. - -Again the same play was tried, but this time, instead of charging -against Burrows, Hal made a feint and then cut through the line past -Stanton, and hurled himself into the formation that was to send Dick -Merriwell forward with the ball. So fierce was his assault that the -formation was disturbed, and, before an advance could be made the scrub -had shattered the interference and stopped the trick. - -When they lined up again Hal gave Burrows a smile of triumph. - -As the play continued Darrell showed both strength and skill, soon -proving one of the most efficient men on the scrub. His one fault was in -playing too high, but his success seemed to anger Burrows, who resorted -to rough measures that caused Frank Merriwell to reprimand him -repeatedly. - -Finally Frank took Burrows out, going in to correct Darrell’s style of -playing high by taking a position on the right end himself. He talked to -Darrell, giving him instructions on charging, and then he met the -assault of the new player in the first scrimmage. - -Hal found Merriwell like a rock. - -"Lower! lower!" said Frank. "You lose force by playing so high." - -Thus Frank Merriwell gave Darrell considerable attention, although he -did not forget others or the general play of the regulars. - -But Hal’s opportunity came near the middle of the second half, when, by -a clever tackle, he prevented Dick Merriwell from getting away and -running half the length of the field for a touch-down. Hal slammed Dick -down with particular viciousness, his heart full of joy, but when Dick -started to roll, which he did at once, the tackler forgot himself and -resorted to what looked like slugging methods. Instantly Dick said: - -"If that’s what you want, you may have it any time after the game. I -shall be pleased to accommodate you." - -"Don’t get mad because you were tackled," returned Hal. "You’re not the -whole shooting-match, even if you think so." - -But on the next attempt young Merriwell was successful, and he scored -the only touch-down of the game. - -However, with only a brief time to play, Darrell got through for a run -and carried the ball to the twenty-yard line, where he was tackled from -behind by Merriwell and stopped. - -Then Hal asked to try a field-kick for goal, inducing Cogswell to permit -it. - -This kick might have been successful, although the regulars knew what -was going to happen when Darrell was sent back of the line; but -Merriwell broke through, leaped into the air, and blocked the kick in a -hair-raising manner. - -Darrell felt aggrieved. To him it seemed that he had been singled out by -Dick Merriwell, who had taken special pains to spoil his efforts. He did -not reason that it was all in the game, and that he had first tackled -Dick and handled him in a manner that was not to be expected. - -So, when the practise was over, he was not feeling in a most agreeable -mood as he walked off the field. To add to his displeasure, he saw Zona -Desmond intercept Dick Merriwell and call him over to where she was -standing with Doris. - -Dick smiled on Zona, but bowed with what seemed slight coldness to -Doris. - -Hal, who had been approaching, stopped. He was seen, however, by Zona, -who laughingly called to him. - -"Well, sir," she said, as he drew near, "you see you were mistaken, -don’t you? You were given a chance." - -For a moment the eyes of Dick and Hal met, and in that glance flared the -dislike each felt for the other. - -"I was given a chance," said Hal, with a slight sneer. "I presume you -saw just what it amounted to. Every effort was made to show me up as a -dumb one. That’s why I was given a chance. But I’m not so thick as I’m -taken for. I can see through some things." - -To his further anger, Merriwell seemed to pay no attention at all to -these words. - -"Why, what do you mean?" asked Zona, surprised. "Frank Merriwell gave -you lots of attention, and he wouldn’t have done that if he hadn’t -thought——" - -"That it was a good way to show how much I didn’t know about the game," -cut in Hal. "He was not the only one who did everything possible to make -me look like a stiff." - -He had intended for Dick to resent this, and he was not disappointed in -the result. - -"My brother was foolish to give you any attention whatever, Mr. -Darrell!" flashed young Merriwell hotly. "He might have known you would -not appreciate it!" - -"I appreciated it for just what it was worth," said Hal, holding his hot -temper in check. "Mr. Frank Merriwell was tipped to show me up, and he -did as directed. You do not like me, Merriwell, and for that reason you -do not wish me on the eleven. Well, as your brother is the boss, I -presume I’ll have to keep off and be satisfied." - -"I confess that I do not like you, Mr. Darrell," said Dick, with icy -politeness; "but I think so little of you that, had you not made such a -ridiculous charge against me, I’d never thought of using my influence in -any manner concerning you. Now, however, I am satisfied that you would -be a very poor man for the team, and, if I’m asked, I shall not hesitate -to say so." - -"I understand the whole game! You don’t have to make any bluff with me. -You’ll tell your brother to keep me off the team in case there is any -hope of my making it, and I’ll be kept off. I call that crooked and -low!" - -"Call it what you like. You regard yourself of too much importance." - -"And I agree with Hal!" flashed Doris, to the surprise and delight of -Darrell. "I’m sure he is as good as anybody, and should have a fair -show. If he is kept off the eleven, he’ll know just who is to blame. -Come, Hal, will you walk over to the drive with me?" - -"With pleasure," he said, as he hastened to place himself at her side. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII. - FRANK’S ADVICE. - - -The satisfaction of Hal Darrell was great as he walked away with Doris. -He felt that he had shown Dick Merriwell up in style and convinced the -girl that the fellow was unfair and selfish. How could he know that -Doris had welcomed the opportunity to hurt Dick because she had been -piqued by his cold greeting? Little did he understand the workings of -her mind, but he was to learn that the ways of a girl are strange. As -they walked away, he said: - -"Now you are getting your eyes open, Doris. Now you begin to understand -just how it is. You see I have no real show, because this selfish fellow -Merriwell is bound that I shall not have one. I’m glad you spoke up and -told him what you thought." - -She was silent. When he looked at her she turned her face away. - -"You saw how he took pains to spoil my plays," he went on. "He singled -me out, and he did everything he could to show me up, just as his -brother did. I was getting along too well with Burrows, and so Frank -Merriwell himself went in against me. Then Dick Merriwell got hot when I -tackled him and kept him from making a touch-down. He wanted to fight." - -She looked at him suddenly, and there was a peculiar expression in her -eyes. He went on: - -“He’s a mean, selfish chap, and he wants to be the whole thing in a -game. You saw how he acted, Doris, and——” - -"How you acted, Hal!" she interrupted. "Don’t talk to me! I’ve seen -enough football to know something about it, and he was not to blame for -being angry when you tackled him." - -"Doris!" - -"When he rolled over you threw yourself on him again and hit him. I saw -you." - -"Why, Doris——" - -"I saw you!" she repeated. "You were to blame Hal! You talk about his -selfishness; you are selfish yourself. You seem to think he should have -let you alone—should have permitted you to make a touch-down. Why do you -think anything so ridiculous?" - -"Doris, I——" - -"And you were angry because he spoiled your kick. He had a right to do -that if he could. You accused him of telling his brother to show you up. -I don’t believe it! You said he was crooked and low. It is not true!" - -"But—but you told him you agreed with me!" panted the amazed fellow. -"Why—why did you do that?" - -"Because I was silly—that’s why! I’m ashamed of it. Oh, where is Zona! I -wish I was away from here!" - -She felt like bursting into tears, and her fear that she would do so -made her anxious to get away. She turned to look back for Zona, but -there was a mist before her eyes and she could not see. - -As for Hal, he was bewildered and dazed. All the satisfaction and -pleasure he had felt was gone now. But he was angry. - -"I don’t understand you at all, Doris!" he exclaimed. - -"I know you don’t," she choked. "I don’t understand myself. You may go -now. I’m going to walk alone." - -"But I will not leave you like this. I——" - -"I tell you I wish to walk alone!" she said. "Let me do so!" - -"No, Doris. I must——" - -"If you’re a gentleman, you’ll do as I ask! Do you pretend to be a -gentleman?" - -"I hope I do." - -"Then go!" - -She would not be denied, and he was compelled to obey. When he had left -her, she hurried away till she heard Zona calling behind her. She had -not been able to keep back the tears entirely, and the sound of Zona’s -voice led her to hurry still more. But Zona overtook her, filled with -amazement by her remarkable manner. However, girls quickly understand -each other, and it did not take Zona long to fathom the feelings of -Doris. - -In the meantime, Dick Merriwell, after leaving Zona, had sought his -brother. - -"See here, Frank," he said, as he drew him aside, "I want you to know -just what that cheap dog has been saying about you." - -"Eh?" said Merry. "What cheap dog?" - -"Darrell." - -"You mean the new man who played with the scrub?" - -"Yes." - -"Why, that fellow’s promising. He ought to make the eleven within a -week. I was surprised to see such a good man come out at this late day." - -"He’s cheap!" said Dick warmly. "I’ve known it a long time, but he -proved it to-day. If you let him get onto the team you are foolish, -Frank! You mustn’t let him do it." - -"Why, Dick," said Merry gravely, "would you think of objecting to any -man, no matter who, in case you knew he’d be a valuable addition to the -team? You must not let personal feelings influence you in the least when -it comes to football. If you have an enemy on the team, it is your duty -to interfere for him if he carries the ball, to help him make gains, to -do everything in your power to win. Personal likes and dislikes cannot -enter into the game of football. The moment they do a team begins to get -disorganized. You may play with a man you would not accept as a friend -or associate, but you do that for the good of the team." - -"Oh, you’ve told me all this before, Frank; but it’s different in this -case." - -"Different—how?" - -"Why, this chap has been lying about me and about you to some girls I -know." - -"What did he tell them?" - -"Oh, he said I told you not to give him a show, and then he said you -called him out and played against him just to show him up. You saw him -slug me the first time he tackled me, didn’t you? That’s the sort of -fellow he is, Frank, and you know a chap like that is not fit for any -team." - -"Evidently he lost his temper then, but he did not repeat the trick." - -"Because he didn’t get another chance at me. He did try to kick me when -I tackled him, but he was shaken up so that he didn’t seem to kick in -the right direction." - -"What have you ever done to him, Dick?" - -"Nothing." - -"Why does he dislike you?" - -"Oh, why do lots of fellows here dislike me, Frank? They just do, that’s -all." - -"And this one has no particular reason for it?" - -"No; no real reason." - -Still Dick thought of his first meeting with Doris Templeton in Farmer -Snodd’s beech-grove, and of the evident jealousy he had awakened in the -breast of Darrell by his attentions to the blue-eyed girl, and he knew -why Hal disliked him. - -"Look here, Dick," said Merry, "when I first came to Fardale I made many -enemies here. One of my most bitter enemies was Bart Hodge. He fought me -tooth and nail every time he could, and I confess that he was a fighter. -But he was not satisfied in those days to fight on the square. In order -to get the best of me he resorted to every expedient, some of them -decidedly shady. But I fought him openly, and I never sought to take an -underhand advantage of him. I might have exposed him and made it pretty -hot for him here, but I didn’t do that. - -"I didn’t like him then, but there came a time when he got into a bad -scrape, being accused of something of which he was entirely innocent. It -looked dark for him, but I discovered the truth and saved him. Was he -grateful? Perhaps so, but his pride did not let him show it. Chance made -him my roommate. I can’t say just how it came round, but in time that -fellow changed and became my friend. You know him, Dick, and you know -how much I think of him now. He is a true friend—one to be proud of. He -has told me a hundred times that he owes it to me that he is not a bad -fellow to-day. He says I made him ashamed of himself at last, and then -he quit trying to hurt me. - -"But that was not all. He had made himself unpopular, but he started to -do what was right, and be just to those who disliked him. It was a hard -thing for him to do, and often he failed in his efforts, but he kept on -fighting until to-day there is not a finer fellow anywhere than Bart -Hodge. He is square, manly, straightforward. I believe he will make a -successful man. Dick, you must know that I feel satisfaction when I hear -him tell me that I—my example and influence—have made him what he is. -You must understand that I am glad I did not push him down when I had a -chance, and when I might have done so with apparent justice. Think this -over, Dick. If you have an enemy play fair with him, no matter what he -does. He may become ashamed in time. I do not advise you not to stand up -for your rights, but I do advise not to mind petty things, and, when -possible, to give a fellow another show. I do not believe Darrell is so -very bad, and some time he may become your friend." - -"Never!" exclaimed Dick. "Never! I’m not like you, Frank. I can’t forget -so easy. Under no circumstances will I ever accept Darrell as my -friend." - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII. - A RASCAL AND HIS TOOLS. - - -Jabez Lynch had been boiling with passion when he challenged Hal Darrell -to fight him in Chadwick’s pasture. In that condition Jabez would have -put up a hot fight, but afterward his blood cooled and he regretted that -he had made the challenge. - -"I was a fool!" he told himself. "The fellow can scrap some, and he may -mark me in the dark. I should have found some other way to get even for -his blow." - -The more he thought about it the greater became his regret. He did not -wish to meet Darrell, but he knew he would be regarded as a coward if he -failed to appear. Then he set about trying to devise some method of -escaping the encounter without seeming to back down. After a while, he -fancied he had hit upon the proper idea. - -That evening Jabez found an excuse which gained him permission to go to -the village. Dick Merriwell had likewise obtained leave, and in town -Dick saw Jabez talking with two fellows who looked like sailors, and -were plainly tough characters. Lynch was speaking to them in a -confidential manner when he happened to observe Merriwell, and at once -he gave the men the tip and moved away. - -"Something’s up," decided Dick, his curiosity aroused by the suspicious -actions of the fellow. He thought of following Lynch, but decided to -keep his eyes on the sailors. - -This did not prove a hard task for the boy, who had been trained by Old -Joe Crowfoot in the art. He saw the sailors strike out toward The -Harbor, and, although it seemed like time wasted, he followed. - -At The Harbor was an old house that had been turned into a saloon. The -sailors entered the place. Of course Dick had no thought of going in -there, but five minutes later he was crouching beneath a broken window, -from which shone a light. - -A look through the window had shown him the sailors within, and they -were talking to a third man, quite as rough as themselves. The trio were -seated around a table. An old woman came in and brought drinks for the -three. - -Dick felt a desire to hear what they were saying, but, for a time, they -spoke in low tones, so he caught only an occasional word. What he heard, -however, was enough to convince him that some sort of deviltry was -afoot. Several times the old woman was summoned to bring drinks, and, at -last, under the influence of the liquor, the men began to speak louder. - -"It’s easy," declared one, who had a black beard. - -"The fellow will give us ten each, and we can knock out the lubber -without any trouble at all. He’s only a boy." - -"Why didn’t you an’ Jim do it alone?" asked the third man. - -"Because the kid insisted that we was to get another. We said we’d do -it, but he said the feller might have one chap with him, and he was -afraid the right one’d get away." - -"Come on, Bill," urged the black-bearded man’s companion. "It’s an easy -way of earnin’ a tenner." - -"Oh, I don’t mind," said Bill. "But why does the kid want this here job -done?" - -"Got some kind of a hunch agin’ the chap he wants knocked out," -explained Jim. - -"We may git inter a scrape an’ run foul o’ the law." - -"No danger." - -"If the chap should recognize us——" - -"How can he? It’ll be pitch-dark, and we’ll lay him out stiff afore he -knows what’s hit him." - -"A fine piece of business!" thought the boy under the window. "I wonder -if I’m the one they are to lay out." - -"How are we to know just where to strike him?" - -"Kid says he’ll show us. We’re to meet him in an hour. Let’s have -another drink and come on." - -So the old woman was called in to bring more drinks, after which the -ruffians prepared to depart. - -Little did the slightly intoxicated sailors know that they were being -followed by a shadow that made no sound, yet kept close enough not to -let them get away. Back to the main part of the town went the ruffians. -After entering another saloon and having drinks, they sallied forth and -met Jabez Lynch, who seemed to be waiting for them. - -Toward the academy they went. At a point on the road they stopped, and -Dick heard Jabez talking to them. It took the shadow but a few moments -to slip forward to a point where he could hear what was being said. - -"He’ll come along this way," said Jabez. "It’s probable there will be -one chap with him, but it’s certain not more than one, for they always -go to Chadwick’s pasture by twos or singly, so that they will not -attract attention." - -"Well, how are we to know when ther right chap comes along?" questioned -one of the sailors. - -"I’ll be down the road a short distance, and I’ll whistle after he has -passed me—so." - -Lynch gave a peculiar whistle. - -"That will be the signal to jump the fellow, or the two fellows, who -come along. See?" - -"That’s plain enough, kid. An’ we’re to knock both of ’em stiff?" - -"Sure. Don’t fail. Put both of them out, and fix them so they’ll be -likely to go to the hospital for a few days." - -"Done! When do we get our sawbucks? Better cough in advance, for——" - -"Oh, you can trust me." - -"Mebbe; but we don’t propose to. Cough up now, kid, or we quit right -here." - -"That’s the stuff," said another of the men. "Pay in advance for a job -like this." - -"’Cause we may have ter jump outer this town right spry, you know. We’re -liable to sail any day." - -"All right," said Jabez, somewhat reluctantly; "but don’t you fail me." - -"No danger, kid. You has our word of honor." - -"Well, I’ve got just thirty dollars with me. It’s three tenners, and -here they are." - -Lynch handed the bills over in the dark, but one of the men struck a -match to examine the money and make sure it was all right. The light of -the match flared on the faces of the quartet, and the watching lad could -not help observing that Jabez looked as much the rascal as any of his -chosen tools. - -"Are you satisfied?" demanded Lynch, with a smile. "I use you square, -and now you must me. I had to touch up a fellow for that money, and -leave my watch for security. Lost all my money betting on a -football-game last week." - -"Reckon they’re all right, kid. Now, we’re to squat right here, are we?" - -"Get into those cedars and lay low till you hear me whistle." - -"It’s rather chilly to-night, kid. I hope ther feller shows up pretty -soon." - -"It may be an hour, or even a little more. Keep still till then, but be -ready when you hear me whistle. I’m going down the road. If others come -ahead of the one I want you to do up, don’t mind them, but keep out of -sight." - -Having given these instructions to his tools, Lynch slipped away. - -It did not take Dick Merriwell long to decide to remain right there and -see the finish of the affair. After a while the dark forms of the -sailors disappeared in the bushes, where they proceeded to seek to keep -out the cold by frequently imbibing from a bottle one of them had -brought. - -Dick slipped down into a little hollow where a boulder shut off the -sharp night wind, and there, with his hands in his pockets and his -collar turned up, he waited. - -The time passed slowly, but the boy had learned patience from his Indian -tutor, and he did not fret. Finally he heard voices drawing nearer, and -two persons left the highway, jumped over the fence, and started away -across the rough clearing. - -Dick recognized them by their voices. They were Big Bob Singleton and -Tod Hubbard. - -"Singleton is on hand at all fights," thought Dick. "He gets round to -see fair play." - -Singleton and Hubbard passed on and their voices died out in the -direction of the "Bloody Hollow" in Chadwick’s pasture. - -There was another brief period of waiting, and then down the road -sounded the signal—that peculiar whistle! - -Instantly Dick Merriwell was on the alert, his blood leaping and his -nerves tingling. The victim was coming! - -Dick knew that there were to be brisk "doings" around that locality in a -short time, and he had decided to take a hand in the affair. He did not -propose to remain idle and see anybody waylaid and assaulted by some -hired ruffians. - -In a moment he had unbuttoned his coat. As a dark form vaulted the -fence, Dick flung that coat aside. Then he crouched, ready to leap -forward. - -The unsuspecting fellow started to pass close to the bushes where the -ruffians were hidden. Of a sudden, out sprang the three ruffians, -confronting the startled chap. - -"Give it to them!" cried Dick Merriwell. "They’re going to do you up! -Soak ’em!" - -At the same time he made a dash forward. The ruffians had rushed at -their intended victim. One of them was armed with a sand-bag, and he -tried to lay out the fellow they had been hired to slug. - -Warned by Dick’s cry, the chap dodged the blow; but, even then, he was -not certain it was not some kind of cadet joke. - -"You fellows quit!" he cried. "If you don’t you’ll get hurt! I didn’t -come along for this, and I’m no plebe." - -"Give it to them!" cried Dick again. "They’re paid to do you! Look out!" - -One of the sailors had clutched the victim from behind and was seeking -to hold him while the chap with the sand-bag got in his work. -Fortunately the liquor had affected the trio enough, so they were not -very certain in their movements. - -Then Dick Merriwell took a hand, and his hard fist caught under the ear -of the thug who was holding the intended victim. The blow was hard and -sure, and the fellow would have been knocked flying had he not clung to -the chap he had grasped. Both were sent staggering, and then the unknown -broke away. - -"Jump them!" again urged Dick. "They’re paid to do you! I heard the -bargain!" - -Then the other woke up, and the two sailed into the ruffians in earnest. -This was quite unexpected by the sailors, but they had taken enough -liquor to make them ready for any kind of a fight, and they did not quit -on finding they had tackled more than they anticipated. - -"Soak ’em, Bill!" roared one. "They’re a couple o’ kids. Give ’em -thunder!" - -"Don’t get caught from behind again!" cried Dick to the fellow he was -aiding. "Back to back! I’ll stand by you! We can do these drunken -thugs!" - -"All right!" came the reply, as the one attacked sailed into the fight -and managed to thump one of the ruffians in the stomach, doubling him -up. - -Then followed a furious encounter, for the sailors were determined to -earn their money, and they had no thought of being routed by two boys. -Being engaged in front by the biggest fellow of the trio, who seemed to -know something about the science of boxing, Dick received a heavy blow -on the temple, which dropped him to one knee. - -"He’s down!" snarled the fellow who had struck him. "Now we’ve got him!" - -But at this point the chap Dick had hastened to aid broke away from the -third ruffian, saw Dick’s peril, and leaped to his assistance, skilfully -tripping one of them and kicking the other in the side. - -"Thank you," said Dick, springing up, although the blow had made things -seem to swim around him for a moment. "Now, back to back. We can take -care of these dogs." - -So, for the moment the lads stood back to back, meeting the renewed -assault of the thugs, two of whom engaged Dick, while the one with the -sand-bag went at the other fellow. - -Dick was having his hands full, when he heard a cry that was half a -groan, and felt a body strike against him. Instantly he understood what -had happened. The other fellow had been downed. - -Nine boys out of ten would have taken to their heels in such a fix and -tried to get away, but Dick did not. He made a sidelong leap, and was -just in time to avoid being dropped by a blow from the sand-bag. - -A glance showed him that he was left for the time to fight the three -ruffians. If he did not meet the emergency, if he fled, the sailors -would accomplish their dastardly work of knocking out a Fardale cadet. - -Then Dick Merriwell became a perfect whirlwind. It seemed impossible for -one of the three sailors, or the three combined, to follow him up and -get a telling blow at him. He leaped here, there, to the right, to the -left, forward, backward, and his arms shot out now and then, his hard -fists counting on the heads of the ruffians. - -He was pantherish in his movements. When a thug sought to clutch him -from behind he was away in a twinkling. When they struck at him, he -dodged like a flash. When it was least expected, he sprang in and -delivered sharp blows. He could handle his feet, too, as the rascals -found out to their sorrow. He kicked first one and then another of them. - -The ruffians began to curse, but still they continued to follow the -leaping lad about. Dazed and partly stunned by a glancing blow he had -received, the other fellow rose to his elbow and stared weakly at the -struggle. He was amazed by the manner in which the pantherish lad fought -the three ruffians, keeping them all engaged. A feeling of awe and -admiration seized him. Three times he tried to rise and take part in the -battle, and three times he fell back with a strange weakness that made -him helpless. - -Still Dick Merriwell fought on like a fury. Thrice he knocked down the -smaller of the three thugs. As many times he sent the big man staggering -before heavy blows. And he gave the other jabs and kicks that made him -snarl and curse. - -It was a grand fight against odds, and the chap who had been knocked -down felt that young Merriwell was a wonder. - -"I must help him!" he panted. "I must!" - -Then he set his teeth and made a fourth attempt to get up. The ground -seemed unsteady beneath him, but just then he saw one of the men get -hold of Dick from behind. - -In an instant the chap whom Dick had warned grew steady and rose. He saw -the trio close in on Merriwell, and then he plunged into the battle -again. - -It was fortunate that he recovered just as he did, for the ruffians had -caught Merriwell at a disadvantage. They might have succeeded in downing -him, but the other came rushing into the fray once more, striking right -and left. - -This diversion gave Dick a chance to break away, and, with a singular -laugh, he resumed the unequal struggle. That laugh—it was like the laugh -of Frank Merriwell when beset by peril and when fighting against odds. -It was full of recklessness, and there was something about it that made -a foe hesitate in amazement. - -"Ha! ha! ha!" it sounded. "Why, this is real sport! Get at them, -pardner! I reckon we’re enough for a set of curs like these! How do you -like it, coyote? Ha! ha! ha? Oh, ha! ha! ha! ha!" - -That laugh sounded strange and eery in the darkness, and it made the -ruffians pause a moment. - -"He’s the devil!" declared one of them. - -"He’s northin’ but a kid," grated the big fellow. "At ’em again!" - -But Dick had not waited a moment, and he managed to get in another -knock-down blow during their hesitation. - -“Put them out of business!” he urged, getting after another one. "Finish -the whelps!" - -Inspired by his example, the other chap went into the fight once more -with a vim that counted, and the two boys would have been more than a -match for the rascals had not one of the latter been armed with the -sand-bag. - -Again the fellow with the sand-bag succeeded in hitting the one Dick had -aided, knocking him down. At this moment dark forms were seen coming -over the fence, and a voice exclaimed: - -"Why, they must be fighting here, instead of at the regular place." - -"Help!" called Dick. "Give us a hand! Three thugs have tried to do us -up!" - -Then the dark forms came hurrying forward. - -"Sneak, mates!" growled one of the sailors. "The jig is up! We’d best -git out o’ this in a hurry!" - -Then the thugs took to their heels. - -"Run ’em down!" cried Dick. "They’re ruffians! Don’t let them get away!" - -The cadets who had leaped the fence rushed away in pursuit of the -sailors, while Dick knelt beside his fallen comrade of the terrible -encounter. - -"Hurt bad, partner?" he asked, lifting the head of the other. - -The injured fellow drew a deep breath and answered thickly: - -"Bumped pretty hard, but I think I’m all right. You’re a dandy, old man, -whoever you are. How did it happen, anyway?" - -"I heard a sneaking cur hire those dogs to do you, and so I waited to -give you a lift." - -"Who hired them—who was it?" - -"A nice young chap by the name of Lynch." - -"Jabez Lynch?" - -"Yes." - -"The sneak! He’s the dirtiest fellow at Fardale!" - -"I think you are right. How do you feel now?" - -"Weak. I was to fight him to-night in Chadwick’s pasture. That’s why he -did it. But I’ll be there—I’ll meet him if it——" - -The injured lad tried to rise, but dropped back limply, for the effort -had caused his head to whirl. - -"Oh, the sneak!" he groaned. "He has fixed me so I can’t be on hand! The -time will pass! He’ll claim I failed to appear! I can’t fight him!" - -"Then," said Dick, "it will give me pleasure to take your place and meet -Mr. Lynch. I think I can polish him off." - -"You?" - -"Yes. Why not?" - -"Why should you?" - -"Because you can’t do it now. Because I have a little score against -him." - -"But who are you? I believe I know your voice! I believe I know you! Is -it possible——" - -The injured lad began to choke in his bewilderment. Up to that point he -had been too excited to seek to recognize Dick. - -And Dick—well, it must be confessed that he had not been cool, and he -had not recognized the other. Now, however, he started back a little, -leaving the fellow resting on his elbow and facing him. - -In silence the two lads stared at each other through the darkness. They -heard the fellows who had pursued the ruffians returning, but still for -some moments they did not move. - -At last Dick felt in his pockets and found a match. In a moment he had -struck it, holding it so the light fell on the face of the fellow -opposite. - -It was Hal Darrell! - -Then a gust of wind blew out the match, and they were again in darkness. - -"You?" choked Darrell. - -"You?" said Dick coldly. - -"I didn’t know," spoke Hal. - -"No more did I," confessed Dick. - -"If you had, you might not have been so ready to aid me. You would not!" - -"I ask no credit for it, Darrell. I did not once ask myself who the -fellow was that Lynch had hired the ruffians to soak. I simply decided -to take part in the scrap. That’s how it happened." - -"I’m sorry it was you!" exclaimed Darrell bitterly. - -"And I’m sorry you were the one. We can’t help it now. But I have a -favor to ask of you." - -"A favor?" - -"Yes. Will you grant it?" - -"I don’t know. What is it?" - -"Let me fight Lynch to-night in your place." - -"No, no—hang him, no! I’m going to——" - -Darrell tried to rise, but again he dropped back, gasping: - -"My head swims, and I’m so weak!" - -Dick did not offer to touch him, but he swiftly said: - -"You must do it! Some of the fellows are coming right here. They will -help you reach the Hollow, but you’ll be in no condition to fight when -you get there. I’m all right. I’ll give Jabez Lynch what he deserves. -Don’t refuse, Darrell! Do me this favor, Darrell, and we’ll be square. -You’ll owe me nothing then!" - -"All right," said Hal. "If I can’t fight him when we get -there—understand. If I can, no one else shall." - -"If you can’t——" - -"Then you may." - -"It’s a bargain. Not a word about him to the others—not a word till -after the fight." - -"All right." - -Then Brad Buckhart, Ted Smart, and Toby Kane, who had pursued the -fleeing ruffians, came up. - -"The varmints got away," said Buckhart regretfully. "They stampeded into -a piece of timber over yonder, and it was too dark to trail them. What -was the merry old rumpus, anyhow?" - -Dick explained in a few words. - -"What a lovely time!" exclaimed Smart. "It must have been like a church -raffle. How I should enjoy to be jumped on by three big, brawny seamen! -It would be such fun to have them thump me round! Oh, dear! I’m sorry -they didn’t do it to me!" - -By this time, with assistance, Darrell was able to stand, but he was -pretty limp. - -"Well, I don’t reckon you’re going to be in shape to put up much of a -fight," said Buckhart. "You’d better go back to the academy and do your -fighting some other night." - -"No!" grated Hal. "I’ll meet Lynch if I can get to the spot." - -"But," said Dick, at once, "if he’s not in condition to fight he has -agreed to let me take his place." - -"Oh, my!" said Smart. "I know you’re frightened to death! How can you -think of scrapping with such a perfectly lovely gent as Jabez Lynch? You -are real mean, so there!" - -In a short time they set off toward Bloody Hollow, which they reached in -due time. But, although they waited long, and about twenty cadets -gathered there to witness the fight, Jabez Lynch failed to appear. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX. - HOW THE GAME BEGAN. - - -The game with Fairport was about to begin. Fardale had won the toss and -taken the southern goal to defend. A fluctuating wind was blowing from -the northeast, and the day was raw and cold. - -The line-up of the teams was as follows: - - FARDALE. POSITIONS. FAIRPORT. - Burrows Right end Wade - Stanton Right tackle Vance - Kane Right guard Stratton - Buckhart Center Taylor - Cogswell Left guard Powers - Blair Left tackle Holden - Kent Left end Gilson - Shannock Quarter-back Coleman - Nunn Right half-back Marley - Merriwell Left half-back Ringsdale - Singleton Full-back Emerson - -Cogswell, the captain of the scrub, was to be given a trial in the place -of Gordan, who had not been entirely satisfactory as left guard in the -last game, while Kane had replaced Douglass, being quicker than the -former right guard. Kane was not new in the line, having been -substituted for Douglass on a previous occasion; but these changes led -some of the knowing ones to shake their heads and prophesy trouble. - -Fairport turned out a stocky-looking set of fellows, most of them having -light hair, which led their admiring friends to allude to them as "the -Vikings." It was generally admitted that Fairport might give the home -team the hottest game of the season, and Fairport was confident it could -make a break in the wonderfully victorious career of the cadets. - -The Fardale band was out and made things lively before the game. The -band could play well for youngsters, and blue noses and stiff fingers -did not seem to make any difference to-day. - -Wrapped in furs and overcoats, the crowd shivered and watched from the -stand, while another gathering lined up at one side of the field, beyond -the ropes, to witness the game. - -"Where is Hal?" asked Zona Desmond, who, of course, was on hand with -Doris Templeton. "I thought they were going to give him a chance to play -to-day. They’ve taken another fellow instead. Now, I don’t think that’s -just fair, do you, Doris?" - -"I don’t know," answered Doris. "Perhaps they think the other fellow -better than Hal." - -"I believe it’s just as Hal said—I believe they don’t mean to give him a -chance." - -"I don’t believe anything of the sort." - -"Why, you said——" - -"Never mind what I said, Zona; I am sure he’ll get a fair show. -There—there he is with the substitutes." - -"Sure enough; but not half the substitutes ever get a chance to play. -It’s easy enough to keep a man a substitute and never let him get onto -the field in a game. You said yourself——" - -"Something I did not mean, perhaps." - -"But you’re so queer, Doris!" - -"Am I?" - -"You are changeable. I don’t wonder that Hal doesn’t know what to think -of you. Do you fancy you treat him just right?" - -"I don’t know; I haven’t thought much about it." - -"I have, and I’m sure you have not treated him right. You know he has a -reason to expect a great deal from you." - -"I do not know. I have never given him such a reason. I think he expects -too much." - -"Well, you are enough to worry any fellow and keep him guessing," -laughed Zona. - -"The game is about to begin," said Doris, eager to turn the subject. -"Fairport kicks off." - -The ball had been placed in the center of the field, and the two teams -were spread out. Emerson was ready, and the whistle sounded. A moment -later the full-back of the Vikings advanced and kicked. As the ball rose -a strong wind took it and carried it far to one side, with the result -that it was out of bounds when it was caught by a Fardale man. This made -it necessary for another trial, and the oval was brought back to center. - -Emerson did better next time, driving the ball to Fardale’s fifteen-yard -line, where Nunn caught it. Steve did not try a kick, but ran at once, -dodging a tackler, having another blocked off by Stanton, and reaching -the thirty-five-yard line before being downed. - -Fardale rose with a roar as Steve made this run. Fairport answered with -another roar when the captain was downed. - -The line-up was sharp and quick, and Fardale opened its assault by -bucking Fairport’s center. Taylor was a big fellow, and, assisted by the -backs, he stood like a house until the ball was downed without a gain. - -"Fairport!" roared the visiting spectators. "Fairport! Fairport!" - -"4—11—Y—93—44—4," called Shannock, as the lines formed, and every -Fardale player knew an end-run was to be tried. - -The ball was snapped quickly, and passed to Merriwell, who took it -deftly, without the least sign of fumbling, and was off. Shannock and -Nunn fell in as interferers, while the line did its best to withstand -Fairport’s charge. - -Shannock came out round the end a bit in advance of Merriwell, and -Ringsdale, who was on hand, promptly tripped him in Dick’s path. Dick -jumped as Shannock went down, but Holden had broken away from Stanton’s -attempt to block him and was on hand, so that Merriwell was dragged to -the ground with a gain of only two yards. - -But now the umpire promptly came forward and gave Fardale ten yards on -Ringsdale’s tripping of Shannock, which advanced the ball to the -forty-five-yard line. Then Fardale roared again, thus expressing its -satisfaction over the punishment meted out by the umpire to the -offenders. - -As may be imagined, Fairport was not at all pleased. Ringsdale had -played the tripping trick thus far during the season without being -punished for it before, and the visitors felt hurt and wronged because a -just penalty had been imposed in this case. They started in to wrangle -over it, but were choked off at once, and the game progressed. - -Things were going Fardale’s way, and it looked brighter when five yards -were made through Fairport’s right wing. Then, with the ball five yards -from the center of the field, Fardale grew too eager, both Kane and -Blair getting off-side on the next play. - -The ball went to Fairport, which gave the visiting witnesses of the game -another opportunity to cheer. - -"That’s bad, fellows," said Steve Nunn, shaking his head. "We had them -going. You must look out for that. We can’t afford to lose this game -through breaks of that sort." - -But it quickly began to seem as if there was danger of having this first -break count against them heavily, for Fairport made full ten yards on -the first plunge through the right wing of the home team. This was so -encouraging to the Vikings that they repeated the play, only to find -this time that the right wing stood firm, and the ball was stopped -without a gain. - -Then Fairport tried a trick play. Apparently Marley was sent to circle -the left end, but he passed to Ringsdale, who darted in the opposite -direction. Dick Merriwell took it for a double-pass, and laid for -Ringsdale. - -The left half-back of the enemy, however, made a clever pass to Emerson, -although keeping right on. When Ringsdale came round the end Dick -Merriwell discovered he did not have the ball. - -As no runner followed Ringsdale, Dick whirled to look for the ball, -discovering that Emerson had taken it through a big opening in the -center and was dashing down a clear field, Singleton and Shannock having -rushed to stop Marley. - -Dick was disgusted, for once before during the season had the same trick -been worked on Fardale, and the members of the team had talked it over -till they felt certain that they were fully prepared for a repetition of -it. Both Cogswell and Buckhart had been fooled by the clever passing of -the enemy, and that explained why they had made the opening at center. - -Dick was off after Emerson like a flash, but the full-back of the -opposing team had obtained a big start. However, the watching crowd was -electrified by seeing Dick Merriwell fairly flying in pursuit of the -runner and swiftly closing the gap. - -Two girls on the seats rose and screamed in excitement. - -"He’ll catch him!" cried Zona. "I know he will!" - -"He’ll catch him!" echoed Doris, waving her flag. "Oh, how he can run!" - -Dick strained every nerve, for he saw the case was desperate. Emerson -was a swift runner, and he drew nearer and nearer to the Fardale line. - -The spectators were shrieking as Dick Merriwell shot forward through the -air and tackled Emerson, dragging him to the ground. Then it seemed that -half the players on the field, who had been trailing out after the -runners, came and slammed themselves down on the two. - -When the piled-up mass of humanity had untangled it was found that -Emerson, although thrown inside the line, had managed to reach out with -the ball and was holding it on the ground six inches beyond the line. - -"A touch-down!" shouted the Fairport crowd in joy. - -Dick Merriwell’s splendid run had not availed to stop this score. - -Emerson was pretty well used up, but he revived when they told him he -had made a touch-down. - -The ball was brought out, and Wade was called back from the line to try -for the goal. Wade waited till the wind lulled, and then, seizing a -favorable occasion, drove the yellow egg twisting over the bar, while -the Fairport crowd yelled with joy. - -There was a brief breathing-spell, during which the water-bucket went -round and the players took a drink and sopped a little over their faces, -for they were perspiring, in spite of the cold wind. - -Now it was Fardale’s turn to kick, and Big Bob booted the ball up -against the strong gust of wind, driving it barely thirty yards from the -center. Kent ran under the ball, and was on hand to down the fellow who -caught it; but a fair catch was made, and Fairport retorted with a -return kick that sent the ball almost twenty yards into Fardale’s -territory. - -With the uncertain wind against her, Fardale decided against kicking, -and Captain Nunn, who had the ball, sprinted with it. Gilson did his -best to pull Nunn down, but was blocked off by Shannock. Holden, -however, was on hand, and he tackled Steve at the fifty-yard line. - -Now, Steve had been awake to all that was going on, and he knew who was -behind him. He saw he could not avoid being tackled. As he felt Holden -touch him, just as he was being dragged down, the Fardale captain -twisted about and passed the ball over his shoulder to Dick Merriwell. - -Dick took the ball cleverly, and was off like a flash. Taylor made a -grab for him, but he crouched and escaped by a sidelong movement. Ten -yards he ran, and found Powers coming down on him. It seemed then that -he gave up, and Powers flung himself forward for the tackle. - -At that instant Dick made a sudden spring and shot out of the reach of -Fairport’s right guard. On he went, twisting and turning. It was a run -through a broken field, and no more exciting play may be witnessed on -any gridiron. - -Dick seemed cool enough, and it was plain his eyes did not fail to note -every danger. His strategy was wonderful, and the Fardale witnesses -roared and roared as he avoided tackler after tackler. - -Stratton tried to get at the runner, but Brad Buckhart had fallen in for -interference, and he balked Stratton’s attempt. - -"Whoop!" he gasped. "Go it, Dick. Wild mustangs can’t catch you now, -pard!" - -But Emerson was laying for the runner, as young Merriwell saw. Having no -interference, Dick knew he must depend on his own skill. - -Could he deceive the triumphant full-back who had lately made a -touch-down? He had been unable to stop Emerson from scoring, and a -fierce desire not to be balked himself by the fellow seized upon him. - -Emerson was crouching, ready to tackle him, no matter which way he -turned. Dick did not hear the roaring of the spectators. He heard -nothing then, for every particle of energy within him was concentrated -on the task he hoped to accomplish. - -As he approached Emerson, Dick bore to right. Yet in his manner the -runner suggested that he meant to dodge the other way, and Emerson was -prepared for the movement. - -True enough, of a sudden, Dick seemed to make a dart to go past on the -other hand. Emerson whirled to meet him. - -Then, like a flash, and in a most amazing manner, the runner changed his -course again, darting swiftly to the right. - -Emerson was not steady on his feet when he turned and sprang to tackle -Dick, but he knew no moment was to be lost if he would stop the runner. -His uncertainty caused him to make a false spring, and he saw Dick go -clear of his grasp. - -Then, with the Fardale witnesses shrieking like a lot of wild Indians, -Dick Merriwell continued down the field, having no tackler before him, -and shot over the line for a touch-down. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX. - DARRELL CALLED TO PLAY. - - -Not more than twenty yards did Dick have to run after passing Emerson. -As he put the ball down behind Fairport’s line he became aware for the -first time that the great crowd was roaring. His eyes saw the red and -black fluttering everywhere. Then he heard the organized cheering-squad -burst forth with Fardale’s "Rigger-boom! zigger-boom!" ending with his -name. - -"Merriwell!" they shrieked. "Merriwell! Merriwell!" - -Captain Nunn came tearing up and flung his arms round Dick. - -"Merriwell, you’re a dandy!" he shouted, in supreme delight. "That was -the greatest run I ever saw!" - -"That’s what it was!" agreed Brad Buckhart. "Just threw his head back -like a wild mustang, shook out his mane, and tore up the turf with his -hoofs. Whoop!" - -The ball was brought out. Dick was chosen to kick, while Steve held it. -Dick took the wind into consideration, and kicked with care. As the ball -rose, however, a sudden gust caught it and carried it to one side. - -"A miss!" gasped the Fardale crowd. - -"A miss!" shouted the Fairport spectators. - -"It’s all over!" shouted a loud-voiced cadet. - -The wind had not veered it quite enough to carry it past the part of the -post that rose above the bar at one side. It barely brushed that post, -but went over on the right side, and the score was tied. - -Fairport was angry enough over the success of Merriwell in making such a -remarkable run through a broken field. - -Hal Darrell had withdrawn a little by himself, where he was watching the -play. At this moment he heard a voice behind him saying: - -"Don’t make a show of yourself, Darrell. Are you silly enough to think -Merriwell will give you a show as a sub? Then you ought to go ’way back -and sit down!" - -Hal whirled as if struck. Somehow, Jabez Lynch had penetrated within the -ropes and joined the substitutes near the side-line. Hal was white with -anger. - -"Don’t speak to me!" he panted. "You cowardly dog! You’re a disgrace to -the academy! You hired those thugs to do me up, like the whelp you are!" - -"It’s a lie!" returned Lynch. "That’s one of Merriwell’s stories, and my -word is as good as his. Why didn’t he produce the thugs? Why didn’t he -bring them forward as evidence against me? He couldn’t do it, though he -made a bluff at it. If you were attacked at all, it was done by somebody -who wanted to rob you; but I’m not inclined to believe you were -attacked." - -"Go on! Get away from here!" grated Hal. "You’re a coward, or you’d been -on hand to fight me, as you agreed." - -"I’ve explained why I failed to get there, and——" - -"Lied! You might have been there, but you did not come. You are branded -as a coward for failing. The best thing you can do, Lynch, is to leave -Fardale. You haven’t a friend here, and you’ll be kicked out before the -end of this term if you get your just dues." - -Then Hal disdainfully turned his back on Jabez. - -Lynch seemed tempted to leap on Darrell, but little Ted Smart had been -watching, and he quickly said: - -"That’s right, respected sir—show your nobility of character by slugging -him in the back of the head! It will be a very genteel thing to do." - -"Bah!" snapped Lynch, turning away. - -By this time the ball was again on the spot, and Fairport was ready to -kick. Emerson was vicious, and he lifted the oval with a force that sent -it clean to Fardale’s ten-yard line. Nunn took the ball on the run, and -carried it back fifteen yards before he was tackled by Holden. - -Then began the fiercest struggle of the game thus far, for Fairport went -in for blood. Dick made an attempt to go round the left end of the -enemy, but Burrows was bowled over by Gilson, and the end of the line -did not hold the charge of the enemy. - -Burrows was in bad shape when they lifted him up, but he would not -retire. In the very next scrimmage, however, he went down and out, being -limp as a rag. - -As Burrows was aided off the field, Frank Merriwell spoke to Hal -Darrell. - -"You’re wanted, Darrell," he said. "Captain Nunn is calling for you." - -Hal started and flushed. He had not believed he would be given an -opportunity in a real game, and he scarcely could believe it now. With -his heart beating wildly, he started out upon the field. - -Then he saw Doris Templeton rise on the seats, saw her wave her flag, -and heard her cry: - -"It’s Hal! It’s Hal! He’s going to play!" - -How he thrilled! Doris was happy because he was going to play. - -"I’ll do my best!" he thought. - -"Darrell!" cried the cadet who was leading the cheering. "Ready for -Darrell, fellows! Now—one, two, three!" - -Then, at the word three, the great crowd lifted up their voices as one -man and cheered for Hal Darrell. - -"Look out for that man Gilson," said Steve Nunn, to Darrell. "He’s a bad -egg, and he’ll put you out of the game if he can." - -Hal nodded and took his place in the line as it formed. Having been made -a regular substitute, he had learned the signals of the team. - -It was plain that Fardale had resolved to get the ball farther away from -the dangerous point, if possible, by kicking, and Fairport prepared in -haste to receive the kick. When the ball was snapped Gilson flung -himself on Darrell like a tiger, but Hal blocked him nicely, and the -line held well for Singleton to kick. - -Big Bob was fortunate in getting in a splendid punt, which Emerson -caught in Fairport’s territory. Kent had escaped Wade, and was coming -down like a hawk, so Emerson kicked in return. - -This time the ball fell into the hands of Dick Merriwell. Dick decided -to try his luck, and he booted the leather still farther into Fairport’s -territory. - -Emerson again captured the ball, and, fancying he had a good opening, -started to run with it. But he had not observed Darrell, who had given -Gilson the slip, and was close at hand. Not over five yards did Emerson -make before Darrell had him, and the tackle was made in very pretty -style, stretching the big half-back on the turf. - -"Darrell!" shrieked the Fardale crowd. "Darrell! Darrell!" - -"Good boy!" panted Steve Nunn, as he came rushing up. "That’s the kind -of work!" - -On the stand were two delighted girls, and certainly Doris seemed the -most pleased. She clapped her hands and screamed in a perfect abandon of -joy when Hal tackled Emerson. - -"There, Zona—see, see! He did it—Hal did it!" - -"Well, you’re too much for me!" murmured Zona. "First you don’t and then -you do." - -With the ball in their possession, the Fairport players began the -assault on Fardale’s line. Fardale fought every inch of the ground, and -Darrell showed his mettle by meeting the veteran Gilson in splendid -style. His friends were delighted, as well they might be, considering -the fact that he had practised so little with the team. - -But Fairport hammered her way steadily along by small gains, making the -distance in the required number of downs each time, until she had again -passed center and was in Fardale’s territory. - -Then, just as the struggle was becoming terrific, the whistle blew and -time was called. The first half had ended, with the teams tied. - -Darrell was complimented as the sweating fellows trotted off to the -dressing-rooms for a rub-down; but what really gave him more -satisfaction than anything else was to feel the hand of Frank Merriwell -on his shoulder, and to hear Frank say: - -"You played like a veteran, my boy! Keep it up!" - -Darrell choked a little, for this was the fellow he had declared unfair -and prejudiced—the fellow he had believed would refuse to give him a -fair show. - -"Thank you," he said huskily. - -But Dick Merriwell did not give him as much as a look. In fact, since -the night Dick had saved him from the ruffianly sailors, Merriwell had -treated Darrell like an utter stranger. Hal had been compelled to -express gratitude, but Dick declared he did not deserve it, as he had -not known who it was he was helping. And the incident had appeared to -create a still wider breach between the two, instead of bringing them -nearer together. - -Frank Merriwell talked to the players during the intermission. He told -them that Fairport would be sure to make a desperate attempt to rush -them from the very outset of the second half, and he gave a number of -the players definite instructions. To Captain Nunn and Quarter-back -Shannock he said: - -"Don’t forget the ends-around play. It’s a good thing to change your -style of playing in the second half, as the enemy will talk over the way -you have played, and make preparations to meet your style. If you spring -a surprise by new plays, you will have them guessing. They are tricky, -and you’ll have to be on the guard all the time, as they are clever in -making running passes." - -The crowd on the raised seats were singing "Fair Fardale" when the team -trotted out for the final half. The band struck up when the young -gladiators appeared. - -Fairport was waiting, having come out a moment before. No time was spent -standing around in the cold. The time for the second half had arrived, -and the teams were called onto the field by the whistle. - -Now the goals were changed, and Fardale had the advantage of the wind. -It was the home team’s kick-off, but now Merriwell was chosen to kick, -instead of Singleton. Dick advanced steadily on the ball and lifted it -handsomely, sending it full forty-five yards. - -Darrell and Kent were off like greyhounds at the proper moment, and they -had Marley cornered when he attempted to run back with the ball. It was -Kent who brought him down, about twenty yards from the goal-line. - -Fardale came down and lined-up to hold the enemy in check, if possible. -But, as Frank Merriwell had expected, Fairport was out for business in -this half, and her first assault was of the battering-ram sort, tearing -a hole through the home team’s center and making full seven yards. - -Buckhart arose covered with dirt and having blood running from his nose. -The blood was washed off, and the Texan declared that he was all right. - -"Just let’s see if that herd can stampede over me again," he growled. "I -reckon I’ll be ready the next time they buck up against me." - -"Hold ’em, boys!" urged Steve Nunn. - -Ringsdale was saying: - -"You know what I want, fellows. I want you right through there, -now—right through. Get in lively! Rush it! rush it! Be ready! At ’em! at -’em!" - -"Come on!" muttered Buckhart. - -The ball was snapped and passed, and this time Cogswell was picked out, -being hit by a revolving formation. Fardale’s left guard would not have -been able to do much before that rush, but the backs of the team were -there to assist him at the right time, and Blair did good work in -ripping open the formation. Dick Merriwell went through an opening made -by Blair and downed the man with the ball. - -This time Fairport had not gained. The Vikings lined up swiftly, the -ball went back to Ringsdale, and the captain of the visitors scooted -toward Fardale’s left end. It looked like an end-run, but before -reaching the end Ringsdale turned and plunged into the line with all the -force he could command, being hurled forward by Emerson. - -Blair was carried back, and lost Ringsdale, but again Merriwell was on -hand, and downed the runner. Four yards had been made. - -The next assault was on Buckhart, and, although the Texan was expecting -it, two yards were made. Fairport had made her distance. - -"Got to stop this business!" said Captain Nunn. "Ready, everybody! Watch -out! watch out!" - -"Right through! right through!" came from Ringsdale. "Keep them going! -They’re easy!" - -Marley was given the ball, and he sprinted toward Fardale’s right end. -But Ringsdale’s trick was tried, and he turned and smashed into the -line, giving Stanton a shock. Stanton could not stand before it, but -Darrell escaped Gilson and brought Marley down with a gain of three -yards. - -There was no let up in this style of work. The ball went to Emerson, who -came plunging into the center of the line, hurled forward by both Marley -and Ringsdale. Despite the fact that Buckhart had been watching for -this, full four yards were secured. - -And thus Fairport continued the attack until the center of the field had -been reached and passed. - -This kind of playing was hard on the line, and Fardale began to show -signs of wavering. Nunn talked to his men, and Frank Merriwell, on the -sidelines, seemed to betray some anxiety. - -On Fardale’s forty-yard line a fortunate thing happened, for Coleman -fumbled a pass and lost the ball. Before he could drop on it, Kane was -sprawling over the oval. This fumble came at a time when it seemed the -Vikings were liable to break through any moment and carry everything -before them. - -There was a brief pause for the water-bucket to go round, and then -Fardale prepared for the offensive. - -"26—28—F—203—100—3," was the signal, and the tackles-back formation was -made. - -Blair was given the ball, and, supported by the backs, hurled himself -into center. The assault was heavy, but Taylor was supported in splendid -style by Fairport’s entire back-field, and barely two yards were made. - -"28—29—B—73—197—100—11." - -It was the same formation, but this time Stanton was given the ball, and -away he went toward Fardale’s left end. The line held well, and Stanton -rounded the end for full six yards before being grassed by Vance. - -Fardale was getting on, and the crowd cheered. - -"5—Z—42—2—130—91." - -This time it was the regular formation, and Singleton was sent for a -plunge into center. Big Bob charged like a thunderbolt, hitting the line -with staggering force and making five yards. But, on the very next play, -Cogswell plunged into Stanton too soon, and the ball went to Fairport -for off-side playing. - -This was bad, but Fardale seemed determined to check the successful -career of the enemy, being able to hold the Vikings twice without a -gain. Emerson fell back. - -"A kick!" was the cry. - -It looked that way, but it was simply a trick. The ball went to -Ringsdale, who dashed for Fardale’s left end, Emerson coming forward on -the jump at the same time. Ringsdale passed to Emerson, and the latter -found an opening between Buckhart and Kane, getting through the middle -of the home team’s line. - -Shannock and Singleton had been fooled, and Nunn was not quick enough to -stop the runner. Merriwell leaped for Emerson, but Stratton had got -through, and was able to block Dick for a bit. Dick thrust him off, -however, and started after the runner. - -Again it was a thrilling race, and again it seemed that Merriwell would -not be able to prevent the full-back of the enemy from making a -touch-down. Emerson, in spite of his size, was a swift runner. However, -Dick was swifter, and he summoned every bit of energy at his command. -Over the chalk-marks sped pursued and pursuer. Dick gained, drew near, -hurled himself forward. - -Down came Emerson full fifteen yards from Fardale’s line. This time Dick -had been successful in spoiling Emerson’s run for a touch-down. - -But Fairport was full of confidence, and lined up in a hurry to rush the -ball along. Now Fardale took a brace and held like a granite wall. After -two trials without a gain, Emerson fell back. - -"A try for a field-goal!" exclaimed the witnesses. - -The next moment the ball was snapped and passed to Emerson, who dropped -it and kicked. - -"It’s over!" - -Over it was, and Fairport had added five points more to her score. - -Then the visitors were given a chance to cheer lustily. - -From the time of the next kick-off the witnesses saw such whirlwind -football as never before had they witnessed at Fardale. It was rough -work, for Fardale fought furiously, her plunging being sharp and heavy. - -For Fairport three substitutes were put in, Vance retiring for Mullen, -Powers for Dyer, and Taylor, with a twisted knee, giving place to Cobb. - -But, in spite of everything, a fumble enabled a Viking to get the ball -and carry it to Fardale’s twenty-yard line, where another field-kick was -tried. This time the wind spoiled the kick, a gust taking the ball just -outside the posts, and the score remained the same—11 to 6 in favor of -the visitors. - -It was necessary now for Fardale to do some desperate work to win. When -the ball had been carried to Fairport’s thirty-five-yard line and held -there, Dick asked leave to try a kick from the field. - -"It will tie," he said; "and that may save us from defeat." - -Captain Nunn consented, and young Merriwell made a handsome kick before -the chargers broke through and downed him. - -Over the bar went the ball, and the score was tied. - -"That’s all to-day," said a witness. "Nothing more will happen. There is -not two minutes to play." - -"Well," said another, "Fairport is the first team this season to hold -Fardale down to a tie." - -The Vikings kicked off, and the ball came into the hands of Dick -Merriwell, who took it on a sharp run. Marley missed Dick by an inch, -and away flew Fardale’s left half-back, turning to the right. Singleton -was behind, Shannock did not get started soon enough, and it seemed that -Mullen would nab Dick. - -Then, from somewhere, up bobbed Hal Darrell in a most surprising manner, -and he put his shoulder into Mullen, bowling the tackler over. - -It did not seem that the shock stopped Darrell in the least. On he -dashed with Merriwell, turning when Dick turned, seeming to think Dick’s -thoughts, and ever he was in the way of the tacklers who sought to reach -the runner. - -The work of Darrell caused the watchers to gasp, for never had a single -Fardale interferer helped a runner in such magnificent style. He was as -good as three men during that run. - -Over the middle of the field sped Dick, still with Hal at hand. Dyer -tried for him, but again Darrell did the trick, and Dick was able to -keep on. Coleman came from another direction, but Hal got across and -spoiled Coleman’s chance. - -"For the love of goodness!" cried a Fairport witness, "will somebody -pull that interferer down! It’s the only way to stop the runner!" - -"See! see!" panted Doris Templeton, clinging convulsively to Zona. "Dick -Merriwell—Dick and Hal! See how Hal is helping him!" - -"They’re playing together like a machine," said Zona. "It’s just -perfectly splendid! Nothing can stop them!" - -All Fardale was standing—all Fardale was shrieking! To the dull November -sky rose a medley of sounds that seemed to indicate a thousand maniacs -turned loose. - -Toward the Fairport goal sped the lad with the ball. Ringsdale came at -him. Ringsdale sprang for a tackle. Darrell was on hand to balk the -play, and Ringsdale rolled on the ground empty-handed. - -Emerson was in the way, and now Emerson meant to do or die. This time -Darrell was too far on the opposite side of Merriwell. But Dick swung -toward Hal and Hal swung toward him. Then Emerson leaped and brought -down—Darrell! - -Dick Merriwell ran on and crossed the line. - -The time was up as the ball lay dead on the ground back of Fairport’s -goal, but the touch-down entitled Fardale to a try for goal, and the -ball was brought out. - -Emerson kicked, and the goal was made, the final score being: - -Fardale, 17; Fairport, 11. - -The delighted cadets rolled onto the field in a great wave, and once -more lifted Dick Merriwell aloft, uttering cheer after cheer. - -But he motioned them to silence, and the cheering died. - -"Fellows!" cried Dick, in a clear voice, "I’d never been able to make -that touch-down in the world but for Darrell’s interference. He’s the -one who should be up here in my place. Put me down! Take him up!" - -"Darrell!" roared the crowd. "Up with them both!" - -And then Hal Darrell was lifted to their shoulders by the side of Dick -Merriwell. - - THE END. - - - - -No. 78 of the MERRIWELL SERIES, entitled "Dick Merriwell’s Promise," by -Burt L. Standish, is a thriller from beginning to end, and has some -surprising incidents that will astonish and delight the reader. No boy -should miss reading this. - - The Dealer - -who handles the STREET & SMITH NOVELS is a man worth patronizing. The -fact that he does handle our books proves that he has considered the -merits of paper-covered lines, and has decided that the STREET & SMITH -NOVELS are superior to all others. - -He has looked into the question of the morality of the paper-covered -book, for instance, and feels that he is perfectly safe in handing one -of our novels to any one, because he has our assurance that nothing -except clean, wholesome literature finds its way into our lines. - -Therefore, the STREET & SMITH NOVEL dealer is a careful and wise -tradesman, and it is fair to assume selects the other articles he has -for sale with the same degree of intelligence as he does his -paper-covered books. - -Deal with the STREET & SMITH NOVEL dealer. - - - - - STREET & SMITH CORPORATION - 79 Seventh Avenue New York City - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - Transcriber’s Note - -Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and -are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original. -The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions. - - 47.17 When the moment for play arrived[,] Added. - 50.21 got Newton roun[g/d] the legs Replaced. - 53.19 who smash[e]d it hard Inserted. - 62.28 would come from the other side[.] Added. - 66.4 [“]Somebody ought to kick me!” Added. - 69.16 They’re g[o]ing to kick! Inserted. - 69.28 Rogers was past Mer[r]iwell Inserted. - 99.6 "Ain’t it fun[!]" Added. - 99.14 struck Uric[k] on the forehead Removed. - 136.28 some sneaking rattler had [soaked] his fangs ? Obscured. - 150.17 he called Ted[d]y Smart to his side Inserted. - 164.25 a charge of t[r]eachery Inserted. - 183.28 Do you understand that?[’/”] Replaced. - 209.28 unpleasant for you, you know, but [ ] Illegible. - 220.3 This effort[,] failing to get a gain, Removed. - 221.27 somehow wiggled Warn[e.] Restored. - 241.14 he tried all his b[l]andishments Inserted. - 272.5 You saw how he acted, Doris, and——[”] Added. - 281.18 when [ther] right chap _sic_ - 283.5 I hope [ther] feller _sic_ - 289.25 “Put them out of [’/”] Replaced. - 302.28 just as he was being dragged down[,] Added. - 308.6 be[i]ng limp as a rag. Inserted. - 317.14 Powers for Dyer, and Tayl[e/o]r Replaced. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Dick Merriwell's Glory, by Burt L. 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