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diff --git a/6898-h/6898-h.htm b/6898-h/6898-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a239f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/6898-h/6898-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9566 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron, +by Graham B. Forbes +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 4% } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.contents {text-indent: -3%; + margin-left: 5% } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 4em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.intro {font-size: 90% ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron, by +Graham B. Forbes + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: The Boys of Columbia High on the Gridiron + or, The Struggle for the Silver Cup + +Author: Graham B. Forbes + +Posting Date: March 20, 2014 [EBook #6898] +Release Date: November, 2004 +First Posted: February 9, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON GRIDIRON *** + + + + +Produced by Anne Folland, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="t3"> +<br /><br /> +[Illustration: COOTS WAS DOWNED BY A FIERCE TACKLE ON THE PART OF +SHADDUCK.] +</p> + +<h1> +<br /><br /><br /> +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH<br /> +ON THE GRIDIRON +</h1> + +<p class="t3"> +OR +</p> + +<p class="t3b"> +The Struggle for the Silver Cup +</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p class="t2"> +BY GRAHAM B. FORBES +</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p class="t4"> +AUTHOR OF "THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH," <br /> +"THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND," ETC. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t3b"> +CONTENTS +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +CHAPTER +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +I. <a href="#chap01">OUT FOR PRACTICE</a><br /> +II. <a href="#chap02">ON THE ROAD TO TOWN</a><br /> +III. <a href="#chap03">THE STRANGE HISTORY OF RALPH</a><br /> +IV. <a href="#chap04">TREACHERY IN THE CAMP</a><br /> +V. <a href="#chap05">THE SIGNAL PRACTICE</a><br /> +VI. <a href="#chap06">AT THE SINGING SCHOOL</a><br /> +VII. <a href="#chap07">THE ABDUCTION OF "BONES"</a><br /> +VIII. <a href="#chap08">THE LINE-UP WITH CLIFFORD</a><br /> +IX. <a href="#chap09">A HARD FOUGHT FIRST-HALF</a><br /> +X. <a href="#chap10">A SCENE NOT DOWN ON THE BILLS</a><br /> +XI. <a href="#chap11">CLIFFORD'S LAST HOPE</a><br /> +XII. <a href="#chap12">DR. SHADDUCK FEARS AN EPIDEMIC</a><br /> +XIII. <a href="#chap13">THE GREAT MARSH</a><br /> +XIV. <a href="#chap14">THE DANGERS OF THE MUCK HOLE</a><br /> +XV. <a href="#chap15">FRANK TURNS CHAUFFEUR</a><br /> +XVI. <a href="#chap16">AN UNWILLING PILOT</a><br /> +XVII. <a href="#chap17">A DESPERATE REMEDY</a><br /> +XVIII. <a href="#chap18">MATCHING WITS</a><br /> +XIX. <a href="#chap19">AT THE END OF THE CIRCUIT</a><br /> +XX. <a href="#chap20">FRANK'S LUCK</a><br /> +XXI. <a href="#chap21">THE LIFTING OF THE CLOUD</a><br /> +XXII. <a href="#chap22">HOW BELLPORT BUCKED THE LINE</a><br /> +XXIII. <a href="#chap23">WON BY FOUR INCHES</a><br /> +XXIV. <a href="#chap24">THE MESSAGE FROM TOKIO—CONCLUSION</a><br /> +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="t2"> +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON +</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER I +</h3> + +<h3> +OUT FOR PRACTICE +</h3> + +<p> +"Oh, what a splendid kick!" +</p> + +<p> +The yellow pigskin football went whizzing through the air, turning +over and over in its erratic flight. +</p> + +<p> +"Wow! Look at old Sorreltop run, will you?" +</p> + +<p> +"He's bound to get under it, too. That's going some, fellows! Oh, +shucks!" +</p> + +<p> +"Ha! ha! a fumble and a muff, after all! That's too bad, after +such a great gallop. Now Clack's got the ball, and a clear field +ahead for a run! Go it, you wild broncho! Say, look there, will +you, Tony; Ralph West thinks he can tackle that flying tornado!" +</p> + +<p> +"Will he? Maybe, maybe not, fellows!" called out the ever-skeptical +Jack Eastwick, as he watched the rapidly nearing figures. Jack +was on the regular team, but not playing that afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +"There, he's done it! Wasn't that tackle a screamer, though? That +man West belongs with the regulars. He's too good for the scrub +team. Mark my words, when we go up against Clifford he'll be doing +duty with Columbia's eleven!" +</p> + +<p> +"Bah!" sneered Tony Gilpin. "He's still only a greeny; never saw a +football till he came here last year. Bones Shadduck taught him +all he knows about the game. Take him away from his teacher, and +the little boy would be hopelessly foundered, and you know it, +too, Herman Hooker." +</p> + +<p> +Herman was Columbia's "cheer captain." His sonorous voice aroused +more enthusiasm among the struggling athletes when the prospects +seemed dark and forbidding, than all other elements combined. As +soon as it boomed out over a hotly-contested field, every Columbia +fellow seemed to take on fresh confidence, and in many instances +that meant a new determination to win the victory. +</p> + +<p> +Herman looked at the last speaker, and smiled broadly. It was well +known among the students of Columbia High School that Tony Gilpin +still entertained great hopes of holding his place on the regular +team; but his play was not up to the standard of the preceding +year, and dark hints had gone abroad that in all probability he +would be dropped, for "a dark horse." +</p> + +<p> +As this latter must of necessity be taken from the scrub team, it +can be easily understood why Tony showed so much concern over the +playing of the newcomer, Ralph West. +</p> + +<p> +"Why ain't you practicing with your team this P. M., instead of +loafing around here watching the scrub eleven do things." remarked +Charlie Scott, one of the group. "It can't be possible that a +seasoned veteran of two years' experience can pick up points from +a come-on?" +</p> + +<p> +"I strained my leg a bit yesterday, and the coach advised me to +give it a rest for a day. When I tackle I'm apt to go at a man +without regard to consequences; and sometimes the jar is fierce," +explained Tony, sneeringly. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, if you can beat that work of Ralph West, you're going some, +now; take it from me, son," commented Herman, with fatherly +interest, and simply a desire to see the best man on the regular +team when the auspicious day dawned that lined Columbia's eleven +up against the warriors of Clifford. +</p> + +<p> +Tony made no verbal reply, but his brow grew dark, as he once +again shot a look of hatred toward the player who had made that +brilliant flying tackle. +</p> + +<p> +The big town of Columbia was situated on the Harrapin River, with +Clifford nearly four miles above, and the manufacturing town of +Bellport twice that distance down-stream. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, as each of these bustling places boasted of a high +school, the consequent rivalries of the students had blossomed out +into a league. In various sports they were determined rivals, and +the summer just passed had witnessed a bitter fight between the +baseball clubs of the three towns, in which Columbia won out after +a fierce contest. +</p> + +<p> +Among the Columbia students there were also strivings after +supremacy in many gymnastic feats, as well as between the several +classes, each of which was jealous of the others when it came to +giving spreads. Many of the deeply interesting happenings along +this line that marked the preceding Winter and Spring have been +chronicled in the first volume of this series, called: "The Boys +of Columbia High; or, The All-Around Rivals of the School." +</p> + +<p> +With the coming of the season for outdoor sports, there was +baseball in the air from morning to night, in preparation for the +carnival of games mapped out for the schedule between the three +schools. What thrilling contests took place, and with what final +results, can be found in the second story of this series, bearing +the title, "The Boys of Columbia High on the Diamond; or, Winning +Out by Pluck." +</p> + +<p> +When the Glorious Fourth came along, the river that flowed past +the three towns was the scene of a most remarkable gathering; for +the annual regatta between the boat clubs of the high schools had +been set down for observance. To enjoy the humor of the tub +races, and experience the thrills that accompanied the flight of +the rival four-oared and eight-oared shells over the scheduled +course, the reader must peruse the third volume, called: "The Boys +of Columbia High on the River; or, The Boat Race 'Plot That +Failed." +</p> + +<p> +And now vacation having ended, and school being once more under +full swing, with the dropping of the highly-colored leaves from +the woods along the banks of the picturesque Harrapin, there was +heard little save football talk on the campus, and wherever the +sons of old Columbia High congregated. +</p> + +<p> +A well-to-do widow, in memory of her boy, Wallace Todd, who had +died the preceding year while a student at the high school, had +offered a beautiful silver cup to the victor in the football +contests, the winning team to hold it for an entire season. +</p> + +<p> +It was to be known as the Wallace Cup, and every day crowds stood +before the window of the silversmith's store in Columbia, admiring +its magnificent proportions. +</p> + +<p> +Squads of boys even came by trolley from Bellport, and openly +boasted as to their intention to carry that same trophy home with +them after the struggles on the gridiron had been finished. +</p> + +<p> +The group of lads watching the work of the scrub team consisted of +various types among the students and town fellows. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, however, Tony Gilpin nudged another fellow and beckoned +him away. He knew full well that Asa Barnes, now a senior, and a +class ahead of him, had only bitter feelings for several in that +scrub team, and chief of all the captain, Bones Shadduck. +</p> + +<p> +Lately both Tony and Asa had taken a notion that they would like +to join the Delta Pi fraternity. To their disgust, however, they +were blackballed, some among the members objecting to receiving +fellows with their known reputation for mischief and evil-doing. +</p> + +<p> +In some way they conceived the idea that Bones Shadduck was +primarily responsible for their humiliation. They never accused +him of it, but nursed their fancied grievance, and planned to have +revenge in some fashion. +</p> + +<p> +Tony was looking more than ordinarily ugly as he strolled away +with Asa Barnes. +</p> + +<p> +The broad hint which one of his companions had advanced regarding +his rather poor chances of holding down his position as a Columbia +half-back against the aspirations of Ralph West, the boy from +Paulding, had fired his heart anew with a fierce desire to take +matters into his own hands, and remedy them. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, what's your opinion, Asa?" demanded Tony, as they sauntered +along. "You said you'd be square with me. What d'ye think of that +dub's playing? Is he going to make it, and knock me off the +earth?" +</p> + +<p> +Asa Barnes was nothing, if not a sneak. Throughout his entire +career at school he had been looked upon as a species of snake, +and had few friends. Even those who did go with him, on account of +his having unlimited spending money, always kept a cautious eye +out for treachery. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, you're going to get it where the chicken did—in the neck!" +he replied cheerfully, with a grin that told of secret pleasure, +for he liked to see others suffer. +</p> + +<p> +"No kidding now, but tell me the truth for once. Is Ralph West the +wonder they make out? Can he play half-back better than I do? I'm +not from Missouri, but, all the same, I want to know; for it's +going to settle a question I've had in my mind a long time. Cut +in, now!" exclaimed Tony, wrathfully. +</p> + +<p> +"He's all to the good," replied the other, grimly, "and when I say +that, disliking the fellow as I do, you can understand it means +something. I never saw a quicker half-back in my life; and when it +comes to making a tackle, the fellow doesn't really know what fear +is! If they put him on the regulars, there's going to be something +doing among those long-legged chaps from Clifford." +</p> + +<p> +Tony growled like a bear with a sore head; he also cast a side +look at his companion, as though questioning his sincerity. Asa +liked to see anyone squirm, and often did and said things just for +that privilege. His companions had long ago declared that he was +cut out for a surgeon—or a butcher, like his father. +</p> + +<p> +"Once for all, do you mean that?" hissed the enraged boy, laying a +quivering hand on his comrade's arm. +</p> + +<p> +"I certainly do. He's got the Indian sign on you, Tony, for fair. +Mark my words, when I predict that, <i>unless something unusual +happens</i> between now and next Saturday, when we play Clifford, +Ralph West is going to take your place at left half-back!" +</p> + +<p> +The other fairly glared at him. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, you're awful plain about it, Asa," he muttered. +</p> + +<p> +"You told me to be, and I'm giving you my honest opinion. But, all +the same now, I don't think this disaster will happen," Asa added, +with a grin at the other. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, you don't, eh? What's going to prevent it?" demanded Tony. +</p> + +<p> +"You are, unless I'm mighty much mistaken in your make-up," said +the other boy, promptly. "Remember what we agreed to do about that +Bones Shadduck, for getting us knocked down with that measly old +Delta Pi business? Well, there's a pair of 'em now!" +</p> + +<p> +"Do you mean it. Will you stick with me if I try to knock West +out, so he won't be able to play football again for weeks? Are you +game, or do you mean to egg me on to the last ditch, and then +sidestep, leaving me to shoulder all the blame?" +</p> + +<p> +Tony's face was eager, and the light in his eyes told of a fierce +desire to do something mean that would accomplish the desire of +his heart. +</p> + +<p> +His companion laughed as though it might be a joke. Asa was so +used to others suspecting his honesty of purpose that he never +seemed to get offended when they doubted his word. Another boy +might have shown temper, but Asa never did this. He might grit his +teeth behind a fellow's back, and vow to get even for an insult; +but to his face he was either smiling or sneering, as the humor +seized him. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I'll help you out. Remember, it isn't because I feel for +you," he said, quickly, as though he feared lest he should +actually be considered as possessing any consideration for a +comrade. "I've got my own little axe to grind, you see. The fellow +happens to be sweet on Helen Allen, and once on a time she used to +go with me to parties and the like. You understand, don't you, +Tony?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure. And there's nothing that burns so deep as that. Then it's +settled that we're going to lay for both Ralph and Bones at the +very first chance, with some fellows we can depend on, and do +them up? That's the programme, Asa?" +</p> + +<p> +"I leave the particulars to you. Meanwhile I'll drum up a few +recruits to make the crowd. Just now I know of three bully fellows +who happen to have it in for either Ralph or Bones. You get as +many, and then there's going to be some fun doing," and Asa +laughed in the cold-blooded fashion that made so many dislike him. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, when a fellow is bruised to beat the band, not to speak of +possibly a broken rib or two, he ain't going to play football in a +hurry," grunted Tony. +</p> + +<p> +The other cast a quick look at his companion. +</p> + +<p> +"You don't want to go too far, old chap. If he happened to be +seriously hurt, we might be called on to explain before Professor +Parke," he observed. +</p> + +<p> +So talking, they sauntered along the road again, having paused to +exchange the significant remarks as to their intentions. +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had they gone twenty feet away, than a head was cautiously +raised above an old log that lay just within the edge of the +woods, and a white face looked rather fearfully after the pair of +plotters. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER II +</h3> + +<h3> +ON THE ROAD TO TOWN +</h3> + +<p> +"Hello, Ralph, through practice here? Then walk home with me, and +take supper at the house, won't you? I've got some things I want +to talk over with you." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, we're done working, and I'll be glad to walk with you; but +if I'm to sit down at your table, you'll have to wait for me to +dress and clean myself. Will we have time?" And Ralph's face told +how much he appreciated a chance to spend an evening at the home +of Frank Allen, his friend and chum; for his boarding house room +did look a bit cheerless at night time. +</p> + +<p> +"Plenty of time, old fellow. How did the practice go to-day? +Getting in trim, do you think?" asked Frank, who, as a senior, and +the captain and full-back of the regular football squad, was +supposed to have an intense interest in everything that took place +on the practice field day by day. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, pretty well, I think. I'm not wholly satisfied with myself, +but I believe I'm improving every day," replied the other, +modestly. +</p> + +<p> +Frank looked sideways at his friend, and smiled. He had just been +talking with the coach, and heard what he had to say about the +scrub team. It was already understood between them that two of the +regulars must give way to better men who shone as stars on the +scrub. Columbia wanted her best sons in front, regardless of any +favoritism. +</p> + +<p> +Coach Willoughby was back again, visiting at the home of Buster +Billings' folks. He said the "lure of the leather" was too much +for him, bringing back those dear old college days when he played +on the Princeton eleven, and carried the ball over Yale's line +for a hard-fought victory. +</p> + +<p> +And so he had consented to take charge of the Columbia players, +and help them get in condition for the work ahead, when they were +to meet the brawny cohorts of Clifford, and those others from +Bellport. +</p> + +<p> +Frank and Ralph had not gone more than fifty yards down the dusty +road leading from the recreation field to the town center, perhaps +a full mile away, when Ralph felt a sharp tug at his arm. +</p> + +<p> +"Hello! what's this?" he said, looking down at a small girl, who +seemed so shy that her face was covered with blushes as she pulled +at his sleeve. +</p> + +<p> +"Please, Mr. West, I'd like to say something to you," she said, +hesitatingly. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, it's Madge Smalling, Mary's older sister!" exclaimed Ralph, +showing new interest. +</p> + +<p> +In the Spring he had been instrumental in finding a little girl +who had hurt herself seriously, in the woods. At the time, Ralph +was on his way to the recreation field, where he was expected to +pitch a game against a rival school. Still, as he could not think +of leaving the child there to suffer, he had carried her to the +mill where her father was employed. +</p> + +<p> +Since that time, he had been a welcome visitor at the home of the +Smallings, and, of course, was well known to this girl of nine, +who had been away at the time of Mary's adventure. +</p> + +<p> +"Shall I walk on," asked Frank, with a wink, "because, you know, +there are times when two is company, three none." +</p> + +<p> +"None of your joshing, now," said Ralph, and then, turning to the +child, he continued: "I hope nothing is wrong over at your house, +Madge?" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, no, sir. It wasn't that. I heard something about you, and I +wanted to tell you right away, 'cause I'm afraid of that bad boy. +Once he threw water on me, and laughed when I cried. Then he put a +nasty cold frog in my hand, and made me hold it ever so long." +</p> + +<p> +Ralph looked at his friend. "Whoever can she mean, and what has +that got to do with me?" he said, wonderingly. +</p> + +<p> +"The other boy called him Asa," remarked Madge, quickly. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, now I begin to see light. And was the second chap called +Tony?" Ralph asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, yes, that was it. I saw them coming along the road, and I +was afraid that he had another nasty frog. So I hid behind a log," +the child went on, her face showing the deep interest she felt +in her own recital. +</p> + +<p> +"Say, Frank, this grows exciting. Tony and Asa walking along with +their heads close together means trouble for someone, perhaps even +me. And this little girl, hiding behind a log, hears them +plotting. Now, what d'ye think of that for thrilling a fellow's +nerve? What did they say, Madge? Can you remember?" he asked, +looking down into the girl's face reassuringly, and stroking her +tangled hair. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I didn't understand it all, but they hated you, and said they +must get some other bad boys to beat you, so you couldn't play +ball again. If you only saw his face when he said that! It was so +fierce I just shivered. I hope they don't do it to you, Mr. West. +It would be worse than a nasty, cold frog." +</p> + +<p> +Again the two lads exchanged glances. +</p> + +<p> +"Aha!" chuckled Frank, "the plot thickens. Tony feels the chill +of coming events, and wants to make sure that you will never +displace him on the regular team. I'm not so much surprised, +though. It wouldn't be the first time a candidate has been marked +for assault in the hope of putting him out of the running. An +ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. And since we +know now what is in the wind, we must be doubly on our guard. I +suspected that some of them, Lef Seller and his crowd, perhaps, +might have it in for me, but it seems that you are the goat, +Ralph." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I'm ever so much obliged to Madge here for telling me. And +next time I come out to her house I'm going to fetch along a box +of candy to pay the debt," said Ralph, kindly. +</p> + +<p> +"You always do that, anyway," declared the child, promptly, at +which Frank burst into another laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, all your secrets will come out, one by one, old fellow. I +think I'll have to post my sister Helen on your double dealing. +She might be jealous of Mary and Madge," he declared. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't you worry. Helen has walked out there with me more than +once. They're all very fond of your sister, Frank," declared +Ralph, blushing a little. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, you don't blame them, do you?" asked the brother, +promptly; which caused his friend to bend down to shake hands and +bid the little maid good-by. +</p> + +<p> +As the two boys tramped along toward Frank's home, they naturally +talked again of the unpleasant news that had been brought to their +attention in so singular a way. +</p> + +<p> +"I wish I knew just what to do about it," said Frank, frowning +with displeasure, "It's certainly a most unsportsmanlike spirit to +show, knocking your school colors, because you can't play. I call +that a rule-or-ruin policy. Do you suppose, if we told the boys, +it would put a stop to the nasty game?" +</p> + +<p> +"We have no proof, for they wouldn't be apt to take a child's word +for much. So I'm afraid it wouldn't be just the wisest thing to +tell it broadcast," answered the serious Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Anyhow, I mean to take a few of my special friends into council, +and warn them what we're up against. From this time on you need a +guardian squad, Ralph," the other went on. +</p> + +<p> +"Why me more than any other fellow?" asked Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll tell you, though I meant to keep it until to-night. Coach +Willoughby finally made up his mind, though nobody knows it but +myself. He means to drop two fellows off the team to-morrow—Tony +Gilpin and George Andersen; the former because he fails to come up +to the scratch, and George on account of that old injury to his +leg, which is cropping up again. He was our star player last year, +and we are going to miss him a heap." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I supposed poor George would have to go, but expected Tony +would hold on," remarked Ralph, quietly. +</p> + +<p> +"And the coach has decided that <i>you</i> are to take the place +of Tony as left half-back. I'm awful glad of it! I purposely kept +my hands off, because I wanted merit and not favoritism to bring +the change about. Shake on it, Ralph!" +</p> + +<p> +"And I'm glad, too," remarked the other, his voice quivering a +little with his emotion; "not that I like to supplant any other +fellow, but I believe it's only right that every one of Columbia's +sons should cherish an earnest desire to make the best of what +there is in him. I only hope the coach isn't making a serious +mistake, that's all." +</p> + +<p> +"I know he isn't, and the other fellows will say so, too, when +they hear. Tony isn't a popular player at all, and when there is +dissension in a baseball nine or a football eleven, it's going to +make trouble. 'Beware the worm i' the bud,' you know. But these +cowards may find that they're up against a tougher proposition +than they suspect, before they're done with it." +</p> + +<p> +Frank was even more indignant at the possibility of peril +overhanging the head of his chum, than if it had threatened +himself. That is ever the way with generous souls. +</p> + +<p> +"Three days more, and then comes Clifford after our scalp," +remarked Ralph, desirous of dropping the unpleasant subject for +the time being. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and although Bellport beat them last Saturday 17 to 4, we +mustn't imagine Clifford is going to be an easy mark for us. +Perhaps they may fancy our style of play, and rub it all over us. +Nobody can say until we've met, and fought it out," was Frank's +sagacious remark. +</p> + +<p> +"I agree with you on that score," declared his companion: +"Clifford was unfortunate in many ways. She lost three of her best +men through accidents, while Bellport did not. Then some people +hint that her secret signals were given away, because the Bellport +players seemed to be ready to meet every sudden move Clifford +made." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I heard that, too, and while I hate to believe any fellow +could be so low as to betray his school to the enemy, it's been +done before. We must be doubly on our guard against such a thing. +I've been thinking up a little scheme that would upset anything +like that. But we haven't started with signals yet, keeping that +until to-morrow, when the real team as selected will come +together." +</p> + +<p> +"I can guess what you've got in mind, Frank, but I'm not asking +questions. Only I do hope nothing prevents me from going into +that game. Somehow, all my life I've just longed to be a football +player. There's something about the game that seems to just stir +me up, as even baseball couldn't. And yet nobody would call me a +scrapper either," remarked Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, it isn't that always. Lots of good football players are +quiet, modest fellows, ready to mind their own business, if let +alone. I guess it must be something in a fellow's nature that +makes him long to buck up against difficulties, and down them. And +seeing that you've always been so quiet and unassuming a fellow, I +hardly know how to apply that to you, either. It's just born in a +man, that's what," and Frank clapped his hand affectionately on +his chum's shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +Others were streaming along the road at the same time, homeward +bound. +</p> + +<p> +"Look out, here comes a vehicle back of us," said Ralph presently, +when they were about half-way to Columbia Center. +</p> + +<p> +They stepped to the side of the road, to allow the carriage to +pass. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, it's Minnie Cuthbert and a friend!" said Ralph, suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +At that Frank turned hastily, the color flying to his face like +magic; for that same name always had a wonderful influence over +him, since he and Minnie had long been the warmest of friends. +</p> + +<p> +The pretty girl who held the reins urged her horse on. There was a +look in her face that Frank had never seen there before. She +stared straight at him, as he took off his cap and bowed, but not +by the slightest sign did she give any evidence of being aware +that such a person as Frank Allen existed. +</p> + +<p> +It was the cut direct! +</p> + +<p> +Ralph uttered an exclamation of amazement. Quickly he glanced at +his chum, to see that Frank had gone deadly white, and his eyes +glittered with sudden spasm of pain that seized upon him. +</p> + +<p> +He drew a long breath, and tried to get a grip on himself. +</p> + +<p> +"Say, that hurt some, I tell you, Ralph. I never expected to be +cut by Minnie Cuthbert, that's sure," he said, between his set +teeth. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph was sorely puzzled. He remembered that Minnie really owed +her life to the wonderful presence of mind of Frank, when a +runaway horse had threatened to bring disaster down upon her. +</p> + +<p> +"What's happened?" he asked, eyeing his friend. +</p> + +<p> +"You know as much as I do. It's a mystery to me," returned Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps Lef Seller could tell; he's just back of us, and I heard +him laugh as he saw Minnie drive past without speaking," suggested +the other, meaningly. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder now if history has a habit of repeating itself," +ventured Frank. "But what can I do but grin and bear it? Sooner or +later she'll find out the truth. I'll never ask for an explanation, +knowing that I've done nothing to make her act so. Now, forget it, +and let's talk about your affairs, Ralph." +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER III +</h3> + +<h3> +THE STRANGE HISTORY OF RALPH +</h3> + +<p> +"If you don't mind, Frank, I'd like to go out of my way a few +steps, so as to stop at the post-office. There's a late mail comes +in after the last delivery by carrier," observed Ralph, after they +had reached town. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, certainly," returned the other, quickly, as he glanced at +Ralph, who smiled half sadly and nodded. +</p> + +<p> +"I keep hoping to hear something from your Uncle Jim. It may come +any day now, unless the very worst has happened, and they're all +lost over in that big wild country," said Ralph, drawing a long +breath. +</p> + +<p> +"When did you hear from him last?" asked his friend, as they +turned the corner into the main street of Columbia. +</p> + +<p> +"A month ago. You know, from England they had gone to India. He +wrote me from there that he had just missed Mr. Arnold Musgrove +and his widowed sister, Mrs. John Langworthy, who had sailed for +China." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I remember all that. The lady has always been a very great +traveler, and something of an explorer. You told me she was +intending to do something that few strong men had ever attempted," +remarked Frank, wonderfully interested in all that pertained to +the strange history of this boy friend. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph had been brought up as the son of the Wests, living in the +village of Paulding. Then there had come a letter by mail, +accompanying bank notes to the extent of fifty dollars, and +telling him that a friend, knowing of his great ambition to get an +education above what the little country school could afford, +wished him to accept this gift, which would be duplicated every +month. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph, with the assistance of his good friend, Frank, had learned +that the money came through a lawyer in New York, really an uncle +of young Allen. Then, later on, it was found that Ralph was only +an adopted son of the Wests, who had taken him from a poorhouse. +</p> + +<p> +By degrees, it came out that the man who had left this sum with +the lawyer, Mr. Arnold Musgrove, must be an uncle of the boy, who +was, in all probability, a son of the rich widow. +</p> + +<p> +Judge Jim had immediately set out for Europe, to confront +Musgrove, and tell the lady that her child was not dead, as she +believed, but could be restored to her. And, as Ralph had just +said, the legal gentleman soon found that he was going to have the +time of his life overtaking the energetic couple. +</p> + +<p> +"Well," remarked Ralph, in answer to the inquiry of his chum, "she +and her brother actually started with a caravan overland across +China, skirting Thibet, and aiming to head northeast, so as to +pass through a portion of Siberia, and after that reach Russia. +They have been gone a long time now, and I wonder if I will ever +see her face. Sometimes it seems too good to be true." +</p> + +<p> +There was no letter at the post-office for Ralph. He was getting +used to this daily disappointment. Still, Frank could see the look +of pain that flashed across Ralph's fine face, though he tried to +conceal it with a little laugh. +</p> + +<p> +Arrived at his boarding place, the boys entered. It did not take +Ralph long to take a bath, and get into his ordinary clothes, +after which they hurried to the Allen home, where Frank followed +suit. +</p> + +<p> +Although Frank said nothing more about the strange actions of +Minnie, it was very plain to his friend that he felt the snub +deeply. +</p> + +<p> +"If I thought he wouldn't be mad with me, I'd be tempted to try +and find out from Minnie what she meant," Ralph was saying to +himself, as he sat opposite his chum at the table, and noticed the +little frown that occasionally came upon the open countenance of +the one he had in mind. +</p> + +<p> +But he knew Frank's ways, and that the other would not like any +meddling in his own private affairs. +</p> + +<p> +"Better let him settle it in his own fashion," was the conclusion +Ralph reached. "But if Lef Seller has had anything to do with it, +I'm sorry for him, that's all. Once Frank makes up his mind that +these pranks of Lef have reached a limit, he's going to give him +an <i>awful</i> licking; and I know it." +</p> + +<p> +Frank had been watching his sister Helen at supper. He knew that +there was something worrying her, too, and the strange thought +came that perhaps it might be along the same lines as his own +vexation. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder, now, could that be possible?" was the question that +kept confronting him. +</p> + +<p> +Having once given way to this suspicion, he could not refrain from +trying to find out the truth. Helen had gone upstairs, on some +small excuse. He was surprised to find her in her room, and with +traces of tears in her beautiful eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, what's the matter, sister mine? Has anyone been abusing you? +I wonder if I could guess. Is it about Minnie?" he asked, gently, +for Frank was very fond of his only sister, but two years younger +than himself. +</p> + +<p> +She looked at him in surprise. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, Frank, however did you guess?" she exclaimed. +</p> + +<p> +"Because," he replied, steadily, "she gave me the cut direct when +Ralph and myself were heading home from the athletic field this +evening. She and Dottie Warren were in the carriage, and Minnie +looked right through me when I bowed. Whew! it gave me a shock, I +tell you." +</p> + +<p> +"The mean thing, to carry it to you! I suppose I've said something +or other to give her offense, although I tried in vain to remember +any cause; but since she chooses to include all my family in her +resentment, I'm not going to do the least thing in the way of an +apology," exclaimed Helen, warmly. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm of the impression that it's me who's to blame, though I don't +know what I've done," said Frank, immediately. "If I did, I'd +apologize decently, and have it over with, whether she accepted it +or not. But Ralph suggests that perhaps it's the work of some +outsider, who wants to make trouble between Minnie and the +Allens." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, how mean! And from the way you talk, I can imagine who it is +you have in mind. That wouldn't be the first time Lef Seller has +been guilty of meddling!" exclaimed the girl, indignantly. +</p> + +<p> +"It was Ralph who said that. He heard Lef laugh when she cut me, +as if it tickled him. If I could only get proof that he's been +telling yarns about me, I'd soon settle old scores with him. But +you won't try to make up, will you Helen?" +</p> + +<p> +"Certainly not! I'm the innocent party. Minnie chose to give me to +understand that she'd prefer to go out with Dottie this afternoon. +I just turned away and came straight home. I think she called out +after me, but I wouldn't turn my head an inch. I shall decline to +ever speak to her again until the time comes when she apologizes. +There!" and Helen stamped her little foot on the floor, for +emphasis. +</p> + +<p> +Frank sighed, and went back to the library, where Ralph was +chatting with Mr. Allen, always deeply interested in the strange +life story of the boy from Paulding. +</p> + +<p> +Three times that evening Frank went to the telephone and held a +little confab with some unknown parties. Each time when he came +back he would be smiling in a way that mystified his friend, who +wondered what the particular business could be that took up so +much of his time. +</p> + +<p> +But then, a captain of a school football eleven, on the eve of a +great struggle, must have no end of difficulties to straighten +out; and doubtless Frank found much to talk about with the various +members of his team. +</p> + +<p> +Helen had come down again, and showed nothing of the dreadful +shock her feelings had sustained when her one particular chum so +basely deserted her. +</p> + +<p> +She sang for Ralph, and the three of them also joined their voices +in many of the school songs dear to the heart of all Columbia +students. +</p> + +<p> +"Ten o'clock, and time I was getting away to my little den," +remarked Ralph, at last; for even the best of evenings must come +to an end. +</p> + +<p> +"Wait just a few minutes," said Frank, mysteriously. +</p> + +<p> +"What's all this? You're up to something or other," laughed the +other. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm waiting, that's all," returned Frank, calmly. +</p> + +<p> +"Waiting for what?" +</p> + +<p> +"To hear the signal—there it is!" as three distinct knocks +sounded on the outside of the house. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, whatever does it mean, Frank," asked the visitor, as he +arose to get his cap: for they were again in the little den Frank +called his sanctum, where he kept all his beloved traps connected +with the sports he delighted in, most of them decorating the +walls. +</p> + +<p> +"They're all on deck, thank goodness! And now it's safe for you to +go home," was the rather startling remark of the other. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph looked at the speaker a moment, and then, as a light dawned +upon his comprehension, he burst out into a genuine, hearty, +boyish laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"Say, you don't mean to tell me you've gone and got a bodyguard to +escort me to my own dear little home, do you, Frank? Well, of all +the pranks, this certainly takes the cake! What do you think, that +they're already getting down to their fine little work, and mean +to kidnap me?" he exclaimed, greatly amused. +</p> + +<p> +"No, but I know that crowd better than you do. When two sneaks +like Tony Gilpin and Asa Barnes make up their minds to gather a +bunch of skunks after their own stripe, and waylay a fellow they +hate, they lose no time about it. There's only one more day +between now and Saturday, when we play Clifford; and I saw them +turning to notice whether we kept on together. They know you are +here, sure." +</p> + +<p> +"But I might slip out the back way, and give them the merry ha! +ha!" suggested Ralph; "though I hate to crawl that way from such +cowards, not one of them willing to face me outright." +</p> + +<p> +"But that isn't it. We have talked it over, and come to the +conclusion that half of the fun would be lost unless those whelps +were treated to a dose of their own medicine. They need a good +sound licking, and I give you my word for it, they're due for one +if they try to tackle you on the road home to-night," and Frank, +as he spoke, brought his fist down sharply on his knee. +</p> + +<p> +"Who did you invite to the party?" inquired Ralph, still laughing +at the absurdity of his requiring a bodyguard. +</p> + +<p> +"Let me see," replied Frank. "There's Lanky Wallace, for one; +Buster Billings, for the second, and Paul Bird, for the third." +</p> + +<p> +"Three good men, and true. I see that I'll be well protected on my +journey of half a dozen blocks!" cried Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that's only a beginning. Each one of them agreed to get two +other fellows belonging to the team, if possible; for they want +all the practice they can get. So there will be nine in the bunch +that follows after you; ten, counting myself!" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, splash! That's an army! Why so many, Frank, when I'd be +willing to go anywhere with just you along for company," demanded +the other. +</p> + +<p> +"Thanks for the compliment; but, you see, everybody wanted to go, +and bring others, and so I had to let 'em have their way. Now, +you'll probably never see a sign of our crowd as you walk along, +whistling and seeming to be unsuspicious. But at the first sign of +trouble, lift your sweet voice and sing out the rallying cry we +all know, 'Columbiad!' That will fetch us on the jump, Ralph. Hold +them off as best you can for a dozen seconds, and then prepare to +laugh." +</p> + +<p> +"All right, seeing that it's your joke. Honestly, I don't think +they'll pay any attention to poor me; but since Coach Willoughby +believes I ought to play with the regulars, and any hurt to one is +an injury to all, I'll accept the guard of honor; only <i>please</i> +don't tell anyone about it to-morrow, unless you want me to be the +butt of ridicule for the whole school." +</p> + +<p> +"Wait and see," was all Frank would say; and with this Ralph had +to be content. +</p> + +<p> +The two friends separated at the door. Frank rather ostentatiously +bade his visitor good-night, and Ralph sauntered down the walk to +the gate, as the door closed. +</p> + +<p> +Although he looked around once or twice, and thought he caught a +fleeting glimpse of several flitting figures, Ralph walked bravely +on his way, whistling merrily, as though he had not a care or +trouble in the wide world. +</p> + +<p> +When he had gone a couple of blocks, he came to a portion of the +road when the shadows were densest. Here the trees grew close to +the thoroughfare, and this fact made it a splendid hiding place +for anyone so inclined. There was a legend told of a peddler who +had, once upon a time, been set upon by tramps at this point, and +robbed and beaten, so that he died of his hurts. +</p> + +<p> +Even bold people were wont to hurry their steps a trifle when +passing this ill-omened place. Ralph, however, kept on at his +customary pace, still whistling one of the songs he had so lately +sung with Frank and Helen Allen. +</p> + +<p> +Just as he was half-way past the shadowy spot, he heard a sudden +shrill sound, not unlike a referee's whistle on the football +gridiron. Dark figures immediately sprang up close by, and the +rush of many feet told that the danger anticipated by Frank was +about to materialize. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph at once threw himself into a position of self defense, and +at the same time shouted out the call for assistance so well known +to all the sons of Columbia High. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER IV +</h3> + +<h3> +TREACHERY IN THE CAMP +</h3> + +<p> +"Columbiad! Columbiad!" +</p> + +<p> +It was the call for assistance, known to, and respected by, every +boy who loved the name of Columbia High School—a rallying cry in +time of emergency, when the enemy had carried the ball down close +to the home goal, and almost supernatural efforts were needed, in +order to beat back the rising tide. +</p> + +<p> +Never did the old familiar yell of "Hey, Rube!" appeal more +positively to canvasmen connected with a traveling circus, when +set upon by rowdies in some wayside town, than did this shout. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph had no time for more. From three sides he found himself +attacked by unknown foes. Some had their hats drawn far over their +faces, in order to conceal their identity, while others had gone +still further, and tied handkerchiefs over the lower half, with +the same purpose in view. +</p> + +<p> +A jargon of angry cries arose, each assailant seeming desirous of +venting his especial method for showing dislike. +</p> + +<p> +"Down him, boys!" +</p> + +<p> +"Spank the cub!" +</p> + +<p> +"Send him back where he belongs; we don't want poorhouse brats +here!" +</p> + +<p> +"Do him up! Butt in, fellows! Make a clean sweep of it now!" +</p> + +<p> +Among all these outcries, only that one concerning the "poorhouse" +stung the ears of the boy at bay. It was so cruel, so mean, so +utterly uncalled for, that his whole body seemed to quiver with +indignation, and a burning fire shot through his veins. +</p> + +<p> +He had thrown himself into an attitude of self defense, with his +back against a tree. In this way he was able to avoid considerable +punishment, since the attacking force could not completely +surround him, the tree being an unusually big one. +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +[Illustration: HE HAD THROWN HIMSELF INTO AN ATTITUDE OF +SELF-DEFENSE.] +</p> + +<p> +So far as he could see, there were at least half a dozen opposed +to him. Evidently Tony and Asa did not mean to take any chances +when trying to put the new candidate for honors on the regular +team out of the running. +</p> + +<p> +What with all the row connected with their rush, the cowardly +assailants were themselves unable to hear the patter of +swiftly-approaching footsteps, coming from the rear. They evidently +shouted, in order to keep their courage up, and prevent Ralph from +recognizing any one particular voice. +</p> + +<p> +The beleaguered boy was himself fighting like a cat at bay. He had +no positive assurance that friends were near, and with so many +eager hands striving to reach his face and body, he had to +retaliate, giving blow for blow. +</p> + +<p> +Once he managed to dash his clenched fist into the face of a +fellow who, in his eagerness, had rushed in too close. +</p> + +<p> +"Wow!" bellowed the stricken party, and somehow it seemed to Ralph +that the voice was that of Tony Gilpin. +</p> + +<p> +More than once he was himself the recipient of blows, some severe +and others of a glancing nature. For a brief period of time there +was a constant maelstrom of hands flying back and forth, +accompanied with shouts, jeers and grunts. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, you cowards!" called Ralph, as a blow struck him on the back +of the head, and almost stunned him for a second; one of the +crowd, not daring to face the boy at bay, having crept alongside +the tree to watch his chance. +</p> + +<p> +He could easily believe that this was Asa Barnes. Immediately a +mad desire possessed him to pounce upon that sneak and return the +blow with interest. Despite the array of threatening fists that +formed a half-circle in front, Ralph threw himself around to one +side of the tree, eager to come in contact with the object of his +especial contempt. +</p> + +<p> +So speedy were his movements that the treacherous one could not +get out of the way, nor was he, anticipating such a bold act on +the part of the boy who had been held up on the road. +</p> + +<p> +Just as Ralph pounced vigorously upon him, he caught sight of a +number of dark figures jumping into the fray. At the same instant +new shouts arose, a volume of sound that made the welkin ring, and +brought satisfaction to the heart of the one in peril. +</p> + +<p> +He knew then that his call for assistance had been heard—that +Frank and his football comrades had reached the spot, and were in +the act of practicing their gridiron tactics upon the unfortunates +who had fallen into the very trap they had themselves set. +</p> + +<p> +"Help! help! fellows, take him off!" shrieked the one against whom +the angry Ralph had collided; for both of them had gone down in a +scrambling, kicking heap. +</p> + +<p> +Fear caused the under dog to make frantic efforts to escape; and +while Ralph was able to get a little satisfaction out of his +attack, he found it utterly impossible to hang on to the squirming +figure, which, eluding his grasp, presently rolled over and over, +bounded to his feet, and fled like the wind. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile there was taking place a furious fight. The disguised +crowd found itself outnumbered two to one, and while they struck +back whenever possible, the one thought in their minds was escape. +</p> + +<p> +"Cut it!" shouted the one who seemed to be a leader. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't let them get away! Take 'em prisoners!" whooped a tall lad, +who was doing his share of the mauling. +</p> + +<p> +But that was easier said than done. The now sadly demoralized +enemy scattered in every direction, some running wildly down the +road, and others vanishing in the darkness of the wood. +</p> + +<p> +"They're gone!" cried Lanky Wallace, in disgust, as he found that +the fellow he had embraced was no other than his fat friend, +Buster Billings. +</p> + +<p> +"Let me go, hang it! You've squeezed the last breath out of me! +I'd had that dub, only for your interference. Such rotten luck!" +gasped the stout one, as he shook himself free from Lanky's +encircling arms. +</p> + +<p> +Frank was at the side of the boy they had rescued just in time. +</p> + +<p> +"How is it, Ralph, did they pummel you hard?" he asked, +solicitously. +</p> + +<p> +"I gave 'em more than I took; but my head sings a bit from the +nasty knock that sneak Asa Barnes gave me from behind!" replied +the other. +</p> + +<p> +"From behind!" echoed Lanky, indignantly; "well, wouldn't that jar +you some now? But what else could you expect from that snake in +the grass? He never fought fair in all his life. I hope you got +one or two in back on him, Ralph." +</p> + +<p> +"Didn't you hear him howl for help?" replied the other, quickly. +"That was when I nailed him. I guess his head rings about as much +as mine does. But, boys, you came just in time. I was in a tight +box. And I'm ever so much obliged for the help." +</p> + +<p> +"Don't mention it, old chap. We really needed the exercise, and +the only thing I complain of is that it all happened too fast. +Why, I don't believe I really got my windmill working freely when +I was threshing the air. Zip! and they were gone," and Paul Bird +laughed heartily at the hasty way in which the enemy had vanished. +</p> + +<p> +"You're sure they didn't get you?" persisted Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"I guess I'm all right," laughed the other, as he swung both arms +back and forth, and bent his body to test his muscles; "you see, +there wasn't time enough for them to do much damage. And they were +all so mighty anxious to reach me they really interfered with each +other." +</p> + +<p> +"As we came up on the run, I thought I heard one fellow give a +whoop of pain, as if he had run up against something. Was that +your fault, Ralph?" demanded Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure. And what's more, I expect it was Tony. If he shows a black +eye to-morrow, give me credit for one goal kicked, boys," replied the +party addressed. +</p> + +<p> +Bones Shadduck was lighting a match. +</p> + +<p> +"Hello! What's that for?" asked Jack Eastwick. +</p> + +<p> +"I picked up a hat just now, and the idea struck me that possibly +there might be some more headgear lying around. We'd like to know +who these pirates are, you see, and here's a chance to get a line +on 'em," explained the other, as he bent low to scan the ground in +the immediate vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +"Matches—who's got any? Pass 'em around, fellows!" called Buster. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately there was quite an illumination around that part of +the road, half a dozen tiny torches burning at once, as eager eyes +scanned the ground. Twice cries of satisfaction announced that a +find had rewarded the search, but the supply of matches gave out, +and, besides, it seemed that there were no more hats or caps to be +gathered in. +</p> + +<p> +"Three times, and out, boys! Now we'll be able to learn who some +of the crowd must have been. I think I ought to nail this gay old +cap. Nobody but Bill Klemm ever dared wear such a screamer as +that," announced Lanky, holding the object of his derision aloft. +</p> + +<p> +"And this looks like the hat I turned over to Jay Tweedle the time +I accidentally knocked his off in the river, and it sank. I know +it is, fellows!" exclaimed Frank, who had been one of the lucky +discoverers. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, we're getting a line on the bunch, all right," laughed +Jack. +</p> + +<p> +"If only Ralph marked both Tony and Asa, and we've got the hats of +three more, it looks good to me," chirped Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +"Fall in, fellows!" called Bones Shadduck, assuming the air of a +drum major, as he waved an imaginary baton in the air. +</p> + +<p> +With considerable talking and laughter, the squad gathered around +Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Here, what's all this mean?" laughed Ralph. "Want to make me a +high muckamuck, a grand sachem surrounded by his valiant +bodyguard? I object. I'm only a common worm, like the rest of you, +and not fit for these great honors. Take Frank there, and put him +in the center of the bunch; he's the captain of the crew!" +</p> + +<p> +"Worms! Hear him rant, fellows, will you? Compares us to the lowly +angleworm of commerce. And this is the reward we get for +sacrificing our sleep to rescue the perishing! I call it base +ingratitude, that's what!" cried one. +</p> + +<p> +"But just now you're the guest of honor, Ralph; the one bright +particular star that has attracted the attention of all the meaner +ones. Just hold your row, and let us run this funeral, will you?" +declared Buster. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well, have it your own way, fellows. You're a good lot, +anyhow, to pull my chestnuts out of the fire for me," concluded +the one upon whom all these attentions were being showered. +</p> + +<p> +And so they marched through the streets singing one of their +school songs. The good people of Columbia were quite accustomed to +such "stunts" on the part of the students, especially when there +was a day of sport close by. At such times the thriving town on +the bank of the Harrapin was wont to assume all the airs of a +college center, and enthusiasm run rampant. +</p> + +<p> +So, while many heads were thrust from doorways or windows as the +procession trailed along, no adverse comments arose. Many of those +same men were old graduates themselves, and such patriotic songs +only served to awaken the spirit that never could be wholly +eradicated from their systems. +</p> + +<p> +In such fashion was Ralph West conducted to his humble boarding +place. And hearty were the "good nights" that accompanied the +scattering of the band of defenders. +</p> + +<p> +Frank and Lanky walked home together. +</p> + +<p> +"That job's done, anyhow," remarked Frank, with evident satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +"And well done, too. Only one more night to consider, and the +glee club has its regular meeting then. We must keep a close watch +on Ralph. Those chumps mean to get him yet if they can. I only +hope I have just one more whack at some of that bunch. I never hit +a follow with more vim in my life than to-night, when I came up +against that chap with the handkerchief across his face." +</p> + +<p> +"I heard him grunt," observed Frank, with a chuckle, "and really I +felt sorry for him. I think you struck him with both fists +together in the excitement. But it's a shame that Columbia fellows +are fighting among themselves just now, when we ought to be +united, and showing a common front against the enemy." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, these represent only a tail-end fragment. Don't count them as +much. Outside of possibly a dozen students, I firmly believe the +school <i>is</i> united, and that you posses the confidence of the +whole town. This is our lucky year. I tell you we just <i>can't</i> +lose," and Lanky emphasized his words with a smack of one hand in +the palm of the other. +</p> + +<p> +"I feel the same way," said Frank, "but, all the same, I'll be +better satisfied when the game has been played. There's many a +slip, you know. An accident might mar the finest play the gridiron +ever knew. And then the treachery of these fellows always annoys +me. An open foe I can meet boldly, but deliver me from the snake +in the grass that steals up in the rear to upset your calculations." +</p> + +<p> +"Never mind, it'll be all right, Frank; but here we are at your +gate, so good night," and Lanky hurried on. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER V +</h3> + +<h3> +THE SIGNAL PRACTICE +</h3> + +<p> +The next day was Friday. +</p> + +<p> +And with that battle of the gridiron gladiators looming up just +ahead, it can be readily understood that Mr. Amos Wellington, not +to mention Mr. Oswald, and the women teachers in Columbia High +School, found it a most difficult task to get any satisfaction out +of the many classes before them that day. +</p> + +<p> +Football was in the air! The very tang of the frosty morning +seemed to suggest ideal weather conditions for the coming +struggle. Wherever boys congregated, on the campus before the +morning session, or down in the lunch room during intermission, +when they sampled the various types of sandwiches and pies +supplied by Mrs. Louden, nothing was talked of but the chances of +Columbia against the seasoned players of Clifford. +</p> + +<p> +"They're heavier than our men," one would lament. +</p> + +<p> +"But the day of weight in football is gone," cried another, +quickly. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, for the game as played to-day calls for agility and +pertinacity more than heft. And we've got the boys who can do +stunts, believe me, fellows!" remarked a third deeply-interested +student. +</p> + +<p> +"They practice for the last time this afternoon, don't they?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but mostly on signals, I understand. Now the team has been +selected, they want to work in harmony," remarked the fellow who +seemed to know, because he had a big brother on the eleven, and +that was a great honor for the entire family. +</p> + +<p> +"There's one weak spot," grumbled another prophet of evil. +</p> + +<p> +"Name it, Sandy." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, tell us where it is. I've gone over the whole bunch ever so +many times, and with the new men I think it couldn't possibly be +improved." +</p> + +<p> +"That's just it; you've put your finger on the sore the first +thing. Now, don't all jump on me at once, and say I'm knocking, +for I'm not. I think a heap both of Ralph West's playing and that +of Bones Shadduck. They're cracker jacks, and far superior to the +fellows they displaced." +</p> + +<p> +"Then what are you kicking about, Sandy?" demanded Molly Manners, +the dudish student, who, while no athlete himself, always felt a +decided interest in the accomplishments of his more muscular +comrades. +</p> + +<p> +"Lack of practice in common will bankrupt us. That's what worries +me. You see, Bones and Ralph haven't worked with the rest, to any +extent, at least. How can they fill their parts in the machine? +I'm dubious, that's all, even while hoping for the best," went on +the croaker. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, now, don't let that keep you awake tonight. Coach +Willoughby has been training the scrub just as he did the regular +team. They know the same plays, and once the signals are decided +on the whole thing will move along like a well greased machine. +He's done wonders with the raw material. And if Columbia wins this +year, much of the credit belongs to the trainer, our old Princeton +grad." +</p> + +<p> +"Hear! hear! Three cheers for Coach Willoughby!" +</p> + +<p> +And they were given with a will. +</p> + +<p> +Frank and Ralph came together at intermission. While they munched +a bit of lunch, they naturally fell into conversation, and, of +course, their talk must be in connection with the stirring events +of the preceding night. +</p> + +<p> +"Have you met Tony?" asked Frank, with a chuckle of amusement. +</p> + +<p> +"No. You see, he's a junior and I'm only a soph, so we run in +different grooves. What about him, Frank?" asked the other, +eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"I was sent into Miss Condit's room with a message from Mr. +Wellington, and, of course, I felt a little curious to know how +Tony looked. While I waited for an answer to the note I carried, I +glanced over to where he sat. Would you believe it, he had turned +deliberately around in his seat, so that his back was toward me." +</p> + +<p> +"Then perhaps I did put my mark on him?" suggested Ralph, eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, now, you certainly did. As I glanced further along I saw a +mirror at the side of the room, and just then discovered that he +was facing it. He turned fiery red when he caught my look, for I +really couldn't keep from grinning, because, as sure as you live, +my boy, our friend Tony is nursing a most beautiful black eye!" +</p> + +<p> +"It serves him right. He had no business to bother me so. I only +struck in self-defense, and everyone is entitled to that +privilege," declared Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I should say so," remarked his friend, quickly, "and I hope +you did as well by that sneak of an Asa. But he was wise enough to +stay home to-day. When you get that fellow off his guard you can +catch a weasel asleep." +</p> + +<p> +The ending of the recess brought their conversation to a close, +but after school, Ralph, possessed by a sort of fascination to +behold his work, haunted the campus until Tony appeared, +surrounded by several of his set. +</p> + +<p> +The two rivals met face to face at the exit of the grounds. Tony +glared at the author of his woes, and his two chums made +threatening gestures; but, of course, they did not dare place a +finger on Ralph at such a time. +</p> + +<p> +But, at any rate, Frank had certainly not understated the facts, +for Tony was the possessor of a fine black eye. Of course, it was +easy for him to invent a plausible excuse for this mishap; he had +run slap against a door when getting up in the dark. And, of +course, nobody believed him, though only a select few understood +the true origin of his damaged optic. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph said never a word; but he could not keep from smiling a bit +as he turned away; and this must have been gall and wormwood to +the other fellow. +</p> + +<p> +An hour later and the chosen eleven, together with the +substitutes, gathered on the field for their last instructions, +and the trial of the signal code. Frank and the coach were +frequently in secret confab, and the others regarded this as +having more or less significance. +</p> + +<p> +"What did your investigation result in, Mr. Willoughby?" Frank was +asking. +</p> + +<p> +"Just what we expected. I have learned beyond a shadow of a doubt +that the secret signals of Clifford were given to Bellport by some +traitor. A dozen people I interviewed were positive in that +belief. For while there is as yet no proof, they declare that on +no other grounds could the Bellports know just what play was +coming every time the other captain called out his numbers," +replied the coach, in a firm voice. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, it is what may happen to us, unless we change backward at +the last minute. That would confuse Clifford, and set them on the +wrong track," remarked Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Just so, and the advantage would be with us. If they can down you +boys squarely and fairly, I'll be the last one to knock, but this +thing of trickery makes me angry. Because they feel that they were +fooled by Bellport is no reason they should want to pass it along, +and defeat you unfairly. I'm surprised that there is no clean-minded +fellow on their team who will positively refuse to take advantage +of such a mean game." +</p> + +<p> +"If Cuthbert Lee was still on the Bellport team," said Frank, "I'm +sure he'd never have listened to such a thing. It would be just +like him to go to the other side and tell them to change their +signals, as they had been betrayed. He was a lover of clean +sport." +</p> + +<p> +"Then I only wish there were more like him, Frank. The trouble is, +too many boys, yes, and young men, too, believe that anything is +fair that promises to bring the advantages to their side. Love of +school is all very good, but it should never step in the way of +honest dealing," observed the Princeton man, soberly. +</p> + +<p> +"Then we'll go on with the signals as they have been used?" asked +the other. +</p> + +<p> +"To-day, yes, but in the morning we'll get the boys together +early, and change the whole order, so that things mean just the +opposite of what they are now. You get my meaning, don't you, +Frank?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and think it a capital idea. I've always been told that the +truly wise man is he who grapples with adversities, and makes them +work to his advantage. And that is what you propose to do now. +Watch Lanky; he's up to some mischief or other. I can tell it in +his actions. There he goes after the ball that he purposely kicked +into those bushes, I believe." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, he's got it all right, and is calling to Substitute Buster +that it's up to him to try for a field goal," commented the coach, +smiling. "Yes; notice, however, that Lanky makes no effort to +hold the ball for the kick, but has set it there on the ground," +continued Frank, who knew the joking propensities of his chum so +well that he could quickly guess when the other had any lark +coming. +</p> + +<p> +"I suppose Lanky doesn't want to take chances of a bad kick, and, +considering how near the game is, you can hardly blame him. +Perhaps he's had some experience with Buster's kicking before. +There he goes now!" +</p> + +<p> +"Look at Lanky, sir, with his fingers in his ears!" +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had Frank spoken when Buster, swooping down, with all sail +set, on the inoffensive oval, brought his right foot against the +ball with a tremendous effort. The result was certainly +astonishing, for there was a sudden heavy detonation, and the +football arose about ten feet, in a sadly flattened condition, +while the kicker sat down heavily on the ground, looking dazed. +</p> + +<p> +Lanky had substituted some cleverly constructed gas balloon, +placed in an old cover, for the genuine article, having previously +hidden the fraudulent contraption in those bushes until the chance +came to utilize the same. +</p> + +<p> +There was a brief silence, and then a shout went up from the husky +band of players, who caught on to the joke. All but the dazed +Buster, who, still sitting there and gaping at the seeming remains +of a once fine oval football, shook his head and turned +appealingly toward the coach, called out: +</p> + +<p> +"Say, that wasn't my fault, Mr. Willoughby. Now, who pays for that +ball, anyhow?" which remark brought out renewed shrieks from the +others, some of whom fairly fell over with the violence of their +merriment. +</p> + +<p> +When the joke was explained to the fat boy, of course he laughed +heartily, for his nature could not take offense at anything. +</p> + +<p> +Then the work began in earnest. The efficient coach drilled the +players in all the various plays that were apt to come up during +the course of the game. He expressed his pleasure at the masterly +way these were carried out. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm satisfied that the changes I made have vastly strengthened +the whole team," he said, as he and Frank came together during a +period of rest, after a fierce foray, in which every player worked +systematically, and really clever passes and runs were made around +imaginary hostile forces. +</p> + +<p> +In other days they had rubbed up against the scrub team, and +practiced all their arts against real foes, but this last practice +was to be in secret. Signal work and the drilling of Ralph and +Bones in their respective positions, must occupy much of the +afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +To keep spectators away from the field, several dozen boys had +volunteered to patrol the neighborhood, completely surrounding the +open. Thus it would seem that there could be no one close enough +to overhear when the signal numbers were deliberately called by +the captain. +</p> + +<p> +"Still, I'm under the impression that there may be someone hidden +in those bushes, or in a hollow tree, watching our work, and +drinking in all we say. When fellows descend to such low practices +as betraying their schoolmates to the enemy, they become very +crafty. On the whole, it will be better to change the code just +before the game to-morrow," remarked the coach, later on, during +another rest. +</p> + +<p> +Frank said no more. Secretly, however, he was planning to find +out, if it could be possible, that this idea of Mr. Willoughby had +reason back of it. In other words, he had made up his mind that +when the crowd of players went back to town, he would find some +opportunity to drop behind, and keep watch over that field. +</p> + +<p> +For the third and last time, play was resumed. Again did the coach +follow the carefully arranged maneuvers. Up to the present he had +found it necessary to stop them in the midst of the play to start +afresh, because of some inaccuracy. Not once did this occur now. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, sir, how was that?" asked Frank, as, with disheveled hair +and soiled clothes, he came out of the fracas and sought the side +of the man who knew. +</p> + +<p> +There was hardly any need to ask. Coach Willoughby's bronzed face +was all smiles. +</p> + +<p> +"Fine! I never saw the thing executed better, even by the leading +colleges. Depend on it, my boy, if you and your men do as well as +that to-morrow, and there's no treachery shown, you're going to +mow Clifford down far worse than she suffered at the hands of +Bellport. I congratulate you, every one, for the fine form you +show. It does my heart good to see it. And now, home, lads, and +see to it that you don't overeat to-night, and go to bed at a +reasonable hour. That's all from me, and I feel that my work is +well done!" +</p> + +<p> +The afternoon had worn away while they strained and labored, +trying for the last time some of the plays by means of which they +hoped to carry the ball into Clifford territory during the coming +game. +</p> + +<p> +Each member of the team felt more or less weary when the coach +declared that they had done enough, and dismissed them for the +day. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't forget the secret directions given for an early morning +meet in the place selected, to go over the changed signals," was +spoken in the ear of every fellow before they started back to +town. +</p> + +<p> +Frank held out behind the rest, pretending to be busy with a +number of things that fell to his lot as captain of the eleven. He +had whispered his intentions to Lanky, and the latter, while +laughing at his fears, promised to keep any of the others from +returning to look for the leader, should they notice his absence. +</p> + +<p> +Watching his chance, Frank dropped behind some bushes. Then, +without wasting any time, he started to crawl back to where he +might have a view of the wooded side of the athletic field. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps, after all, the fears of the coach had been groundless. He +would spend a short time watching, and then, if nothing developed, +he could hasten home. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time, the thought of how Clifford had been deceived +and beaten by the too free handling of their secret code, gave +Frank an uneasy feeling. +</p> + +<p> +When he had gained a position that would allow him to observe the +ground he deemed most suspicious, he waited for developments. +</p> + +<p> +"What was that?" he asked himself in another minute; for it seemed +to him that he had heard a sharp crack, as of a rotten branch +giving way. +</p> + +<p> +Then his attention was attracted toward a certain spot, where +something had undoubtedly fallen to the ground. Eagerly he riveted +his eyes on the place, and in this way became aware of the fact +that something was certainly moving up among the branches of the +pine tree. +</p> + +<p> +Then an object came heavily to the ground, rolled over once or +twice, and scrambled half erect. Though some little distance away, +Frank could see that this was no animal, but a human being, a boy +at that, who was rubbing his elbow furiously, as though it had +been smartly tapped in his fall. +</p> + +<p> +No need to put a label on this fellow to signify what his presence +meant. Frank knew that he was looking on a spy, who had been +perched among the thick branches of that pine tree during the +better part of the afternoon, making notes of the signal play of +the Columbia eleven! +</p> + +<p> +And he was now moving off, possessed of information that was of +tremendous value to the Clifford team! +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER VI +</h3> + +<h3> +AT THE SINGING SCHOOL +</h3> + +<p> +Frank did not hesitate a minute. He believed that it was his duty, +if possible, to overtake the spy, and not only learn his identity, +but in some fashion make him promise not to reveal what he had +seen and heard. +</p> + +<p> +He started as fast as he could, making allowances for the fact +that he did not wish to alarm the fellow too soon. The shades of +evening were not far away, since night comes early in mid-November, +and try as he would, he found it impossible to decide as to +whether the other was someone he knew or a stranger. +</p> + +<p> +As he ran quickly over in his mind the list of those who would +come under the head of suspicion, he put them aside, one after +another. It was certainly not Lef Seller or Bill Klemm; another +look, and he was just as positive that it could not be either Asa +Barnes or Tony Gilpin. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps, after all, this cunning spy might be some enthusiast from +Clifford, who, believing that his team had suffered through +treachery on the preceding Saturday, when Bellport overwhelmed +them, wished to even matters by picking up Columbia's signals. +</p> + +<p> +"As if two wrongs ever yet made a right," said Frank bitterly, as +he continued to chase after the unknown. +</p> + +<p> +He was gaining rapidly. Still, in order to do so, he had to keep +his eyes fixed for the most part on the moving figure ahead, and +in this way was unable to properly watch his footsteps. +</p> + +<p> +Consequently, it was not at all surprising when he suddenly +stepped on a stick that broke with a sharp twang. And, before he +could dodge behind a tree, the fellow beyond had turned his head. +</p> + +<p> +Frank knew instantly that he was discovered. He had stood +perfectly still, in the hope that he might escape observation; but +when he saw the other take to his heels, he realized that it was +now destined to be a stern chase. So he, too, started to run at +top speed, which meant a hot pace, since Frank was something of a +sprinter on the cinder path. +</p> + +<p> +At least, that turn on the part of the other had told him one +thing—it was no Columbia fellow who had played this miserable +trick upon the football squad; so undoubtedly he must belong in +Clifford. +</p> + +<p> +Despite the efforts of the school authorities, there was always +more or less laying of wagers on these games. Driven away from the +racetracks by recent strict State legislation, it seemed that +those who made books were seeking all manner of sports, in order +to carry on their games of chance. +</p> + +<p> +So Frank consoled himself in the belief that this might be some +agent of these gamesters, rather than a Clifford schoolboy +intending to take a mean advantage of the rival team. +</p> + +<p> +He was outrunning the fugitive, and it looked as though, if the +chase were continued five minutes more, Frank was sure to overtake +him. +</p> + +<p> +Then the road leading north toward the river was reached. To +Frank's disgust, he saw the other drag a bicycle out of some +bushes, and, while he made a swift rush, hoping to yet come upon +the fellow before he got away, it was only to see his intended +quarry spin off along the road. +</p> + +<p> +Frank followed a short distance, still cherishing a faint hope +that something might happen to upset the other, but gradually the +figure of the fleeing spy began to vanish, and he had to give it +up. +</p> + +<p> +The last he heard from the fellow was a sharp howl of derision. +Evidently his sudden coming on the scene had given the coward a +great scare, and he was now rejoicing over his narrow escape. +</p> + +<p> +"Too bad that he got away," thought Frank, as he started across a +field to take a short-cut that would save him considerable in his +walk home. "I don't even know who he is. But, at any rate, this +settles the question of signals. We wouldn't dare use the old ones +now." +</p> + +<p> +He made direct for the home of Buster Billings, where Coach +Willoughby was stopping, he being an old friend of the family. +</p> + +<p> +"Hello, how did you make out?" was the way he greeted Frank when +the football captain was ushered into his room, where he was +dressing for dinner. +</p> + +<p> +"You guessed right, sir," answered Frank, gloomily. +</p> + +<p> +"Then there <i>was</i> a spy around to pick up our signals?" asked +the coach, smiling. +</p> + +<p> +"He was hidden up in that big dense pine tree, and I guess he +could see everything we did, as well as hear my signals. It's a +shame that we have to go up against such trickery as that, sir," +declared Frank, warmly. +</p> + +<p> +"That's all right. Remember what we concluded would come out of +this thing. If those Clifford players are small enough to take +advantage of this find, let them, that's all. We'll fix it so that +they'll make some tremendous blunders before they decide that +honesty is the best policy. But I'm glad you found out. Now, tell +me all about it, Frank," and the coach put both hands on the +shoulders of the young athlete, in whom he had taken great +interest. +</p> + +<p> +Frank made a wry face. +</p> + +<p> +"There isn't much to tell. No <i>veni, vidi, vici,</i> about this, +for, while I came, and saw, I didn't conquer by a long shot. The +fellow dropped down out of the tree, and made off, with me tagging +behind. Then he discovered me, and ran. I followed suit, and was +rapidly overtaking him, when we reached the road that turns toward +the one along the river bank leading to the Clifford bridge." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and then?" continued the coach, expectantly. +</p> + +<p> +"I lost him! He had a wheel hidden in the bushes, and pedaled +away, giving me the laugh as he went out of sight. That's all, +sir," concluded Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Did you get a square look at the fellow?" inquired Mr. +Willoughby. +</p> + +<p> +"Enough to make sure that he didn't belong in Columbia, so far as +I could tell. I guess he came from Clifford, all right, sir." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, it makes little difference, so long as we know the signals +are off. Forewarned is forearmed, they say. Forget all about it, +my boy, and we'll fix matters so that we can profit from our +seeming misfortunes." +</p> + +<p> +So Frank went home to clean himself, and eat his supper. The +consolation given by Coach Willoughby did much to cheer him up, +and he managed to put the ugly business out of his mind. +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, he had a host of other things to bother him. The game on +the morrow, of course, meant much to an enthusiast like Frank. +Then, again, there was that strange matter in connection with +Minnie Cuthbert. Frank thought a good deal of Minnie, and they had +been great friends for a long time. To have her cut him dead was +bad enough, but to act as she did toward his sister Helen seemed +outrageous. +</p> + +<p> +"There is something wrong about it," Frank said, as he dressed. +"Minnie isn't the kind of a girl to do such a thing unless she +believes she has a mighty good excuse. Well, I can't do anything +to bridge the gap. It must go on until something happens to bring +about an explanation. Until then it is my policy to simply leave +matters alone, and pay attention to my own affairs." +</p> + +<p> +But when he got to thinking of how Lef Seller had on one other +occasion played a trick that, for a time, made trouble between +Minnie and himself, he shook his head wrath fully, and muttered +threats that boded no good to that prank-lover, should he prove to +be guilty in this present instance. +</p> + +<p> +Helen, being a girl, knew how to disguise her feelings. She seemed +quite herself, and Frank could not help wondering if, after all, +she had cared more for Minnie than she did for Flo Dempsey, with +whom she intended seeing the great game on the morrow. +</p> + +<p> +"Going to the meeting of the glee club to-night, Helen?" he asked, +after supper. +</p> + +<p> +She looked at him with a smile. +</p> + +<p> +"Why not? I'm just as fond of singing as ever. I hope you don't +mean to stay away for any reason, Frank?" came her quick reply. +</p> + +<p> +That decided Frank. Any hesitation on the part of his sister, and +he meant to remain at home; for, somehow, he felt that he hardly +cared to mingle with the crowd, where Minnie must assuredly be, +since she was one of the leading singers. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, sure. I guess a little relaxation from the strain will do +all of the team good. Some of the other fellows are going to come +in a bunch, with Ralph and Bones." +</p> + +<p> +"What is that for?" asked Helen, who could see from the smile that +crossed his face that there was a reason. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, it's just like the class spreads, where they want to break +the jollification up by kidnapping the president; some fellows are +after our two new recruits, that's all," he replied. +</p> + +<p> +"But this is different. Why should any Columbia boy want to kidnap +Ralph? It would spoil the game to-morrow, and perhaps defeat our +school." +</p> + +<p> +"And that's just what these fellows would like to see. A case of +sour grapes with them. But we're going to protect our men to the +limit," declared Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"How mean and contemptible of them! They ought to be ashamed of +themselves." +</p> + +<p> +"Well," said Frank, soothingly, as he saw how the indignant girl +took it to heart in connection with Ralph, "Never mind now, but go +and get your things on. We might as well make a start now. You +know, we don't practice to-night at the school, because they're +fixing the ceiling in the assembly room. It's to be at Dyckman's +Hall." +</p> + +<p> +"I promised that we would drop around and take Flo with us," +remarked Helen, with a quick look upward, and a little smile. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, well, it doesn't matter; that is, it won't take us much out +of our way," returned Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"No, it isn't so far as the Cuthbert's," and with this parting +shot, Helen ran upstairs, leaving Frank to ponder over her +meaning. +</p> + +<p> +The glee club usually met in the hall at the high school. It was +connected with the educational department, in that the school +authorities encouraged its existence, for the study of music was +along the lines of the ordinary duties of the classes. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, when fifty or more young people come together of an +evening, they are bound to make merry. Consequently there was +always an air of jollity connected with these weekly singing +society meetings throughout the winter months. +</p> + +<p> +Both Bones Shadduck and Ralph West were present. They showed up +with a bunch of others, and secretly Ralph reported to Frank that +they had seen no sign of the enemy while on the way thither. +</p> + +<p> +"But don't let that make you careless," retorted the other, "for +these chaps are as cunning as Indians, who always attack, they +say, just before dawn, when the men on guard are apt to be sleepy. +Watch out, Ralph. We need you too much to have you taking +chances." +</p> + +<p> +But the evening passed quickly, with the customary songs and +merriment. Minnie was, of course, present. She had come with +Dottie Warren, and once, when it chanced that she and Frank met +face to face, she looked annoyed because she had to speak. +However, Frank's nod was just as cold as her own. +</p> + +<p> +He sang with even more vim than customary, just to show her that +he was not caring in the least. Still, there were curious eyes +that noted the breach, and more than one group of girls commented +on the fact. +</p> + +<p> +"They've certainly had a falling out," said Emily Dodsworth, the +primp, and she tried to look horrified, even while secretly +pleased, because she was herself very fond of Frank. "Isn't it +dreadful, girls? But then I thought their friendship was too +sudden to last long. Perhaps Frank may understand now that 'old +friends are sure, old ties endure.'" +</p> + +<p> +It was nearly ten o'clock, when the singing school was supposed to +close. Frank found himself wishing that it were over with. +Somehow, he felt very tired, though suspecting that his weariness +might be more of the mind than the body. Still, with that great +game to be won on the morrow, he believed that he ought to get +between the sheets as soon as possible now. +</p> + +<p> +It was just at this time he saw Lanky Wallace heading toward him. +Lanky was not in the least a diplomat. Whenever he had anything +worrying him, the fact seemed to stick out all over his face, +bringing wrinkles to his usually placid brow. +</p> + +<p> +It was so now. Immediately Frank began to scent trouble, though, +for the life of him, he could not understand just how it could +come while the boys were still at the singing school. Surely, none +of those schemers would dare sneak into the hall and kidnap either +of the two new recruits. +</p> + +<p> +He hastily glanced around and heaved a sigh of relief when his +eyes fell on the figure of Ralph close by, as he chatted with +Helen and Flo. At least it could not be him. +</p> + +<p> +"What's ailing you, Lanky?" he demanded, as the other rushed up to +him. +</p> + +<p> +"It's Bones—they can't find him anywhere, and I guess he's been +carried off by some of those disgruntled chaps!" exclaimed the +other, with a look of dismay. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER VII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE ABDUCTION OF "BONES" +</h3> + +<p> +"What's that?" demanded Buster Billings, who happened to be +nearby. +</p> + +<p> +"Goodness, they are saying poor Bones Shadduck has been +kidnapped!" exclaimed a shuddering girl, and the news was flashed +all through the several groups. +</p> + +<p> +The singing for the evening was done. The Columbia High School +Glee Club had never before been so well attended. Time was when it +consisted of a baker's dozen of students, but there were an +unusually large number of good voices in the various classes this +year. +</p> + +<p> +Frank was, of course, much worried by the news. +</p> + +<p> +"Are you sure, Lanky? Perhaps he's just stepped out to saunter +around with one of the girls, like some of the others have done," +he observed. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, we thought of that, and hunted high and low. Why, even +Allie Sawyer, who generally takes up so much of his time, hasn't +seen him for ten minutes." +</p> + +<p> +"So long as that?" answered Frank, with a smile; "but we must get +busy, and learn if any one saw Bones go out." +</p> + +<p> +"I did!" spoke up a girl just then. +</p> + +<p> +"When was this?" asked Frank, turning on her quickly. +</p> + +<p> +"Not more than seven or eight minutes ago. I was standing in the +doorway, and had to move aside for him. And he spoke to me, too," +came the reply. "And what did he say?" continued the other. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, you know Bones has a dog?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, a bulldog named Kaiser." +</p> + +<p> +"He brought him along to the hall to-night," continued the girl. +</p> + +<p> +"That's a fact, Frank; for the ugly brute came near taking a hunk +out of my leg when, by the merest chance in the world, I happened +to rub up against him!" declared Tom Budd, the boy gymnast, who +was constantly doing stunts, as though possessed of an insatiable +desire to stand on his head, walk on his hands, or throw +somersaults. +</p> + +<p> +"The dog was howling, oh, so mournfully," continued the girl. "I +heard him, and it really got on my nerves. Well, I guess it acted +the same way with Bones, for he said that he was going out and +remonstrate with Kaiser." +</p> + +<p> +Frank and Lanky exchanged glances. +</p> + +<p> +"Told you so!" declared the latter, triumphantly. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, it certainly looks as though there might be something in +it. Bones must have forgotten the warning, in his sudden desire to +stop the howling of the dog. He went out, and as he hasn't come +back, we'd better be looking after him. Come along, some of you +fellows. If they've carried him off, it's up to us to rescue our +right guard!" +</p> + +<p> +There was an immediate rush made for the door of the hall. +Dyckman's was situated just on the outskirts of the town. It had +once been some sort of church, and was now used for a variety of +purposes connected with the life of the community, from political +meetings to dancing classes. +</p> + +<p> +As the stream of boys poured out of the building, the howling of +the bulldog nearby became more furious than ever. It immediately +attracted the attention of the observant Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Hark!" he said, holding up his hand to indicate that silence +would be necessary if they hoped to succeed in accomplishing +anything worth while. +</p> + +<p> +"What is it?" demanded Lanky, eagerly; "do you see Bones, or did +you hear him shout for help?" +</p> + +<p> +"Neither. I was thinking of his dog," was the reply. +</p> + +<p> +"What of old Kaiser, Frank? How does he come in this game?" asked +Buster. +</p> + +<p> +"You can tell from the way he's acting that Bones has never been +near him. More than that, I believe the smart dog knows that +something has happened to his master, for he's just wild to get +free!" declared Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure as you live! Just listen to him growl and bark. I never +heard a bulldog do that before!" cried Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Kaiser is only a half-breed mongrel, but looks like a full-blooded +bull. But an idea just occurred to me, fellows." +</p> + +<p> +"Then let's have it, Frank. We're short of ideas at present, just +as we are of a bully good football player needed in to-morrow's +game. What is it?" asked Molly Manners, unduly excited by these +strange occurrences. +</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps the dog might lead us to where Bones is!" said Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Say, now, that's just a crackerjack suggestion. Of course, he +will, if someone could only hold him in by his leash!" exclaimed +Lanky, with the light of anticipation shining on his face. +</p> + +<p> +"Come on, let's try it!" shouted another fellow. +</p> + +<p> +"But who's going to unfasten Kaiser, and hold him?" asked Frank, +always practical, even at such moments as this. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's Buster, he knows the dog better than anyone else," said +Jack Eastwick, pushing the fat boy forward. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, yes, I've had an intimate acquaintance with him. He's tasted +of me three different times," declared the unwilling candidate for +honors. +</p> + +<p> +"Still, he knows you?" said Jack, in a wheedling voice. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, and I think he likes me, which shows Kaiser has good taste. +But I'm willing to be the victim, if you'll all promise to see +that my remains are gathered up and given a fitting burial. +Everyone who likes a good show, this way, now. The only and +original dog-tamer is about to give an exhibition of how not to do +it." +</p> + +<p> +Kaiser was acting in a very ugly way, as they approached the spot +where he had been tied up by his master, upon reaching the hall. +He jumped up and out in a furious manner, always in the one +direction, Frank noticed. +</p> + +<p> +"You see, fellows, he pays no attention to us. His growls are for +someone else, and he is trying to break loose, in order that he +may chase after them. I shouldn't be surprised if we had some +success, after all. Do it, Buster. The whole world is looking to +you now as the hero of the occasion." +</p> + +<p> +Buster gave Frank a plaintive look, as he bent down, and began to +speak soothingly to the furious dog. +</p> + +<p> +"Listen to his soft soap talk, would you!" +</p> + +<p> +"Buster knows how to lay it on; he's kissed the blarney stone!" +</p> + +<p> +"Pat him, why don't you, old fellow; he likes the taste of you all +right!" +</p> + +<p> +But to none of these suggestions did Buster pay the least heed. He +was working with the end of the rope all the time he talked so +soothingly to the brute. Frank suspected what might happen if this +suddenly came free when the dog was making one of his frantic +plunges. Consequently, he made sure to be ready to seize hold, so +as to assist the fat boy. +</p> + +<p> +It was just as he thought. Only for the quick clutch he made, the +dog must have sped away like the wind, and they would have been as +badly off as before. But with the weight of the two boys on the +rope, even the powerful Kaiser was not able to go faster than the +crowd could follow. +</p> + +<p> +"Ralph, keep close beside me!" called out Frank, who did not want +a second disaster to overtake them while trying to remedy the +first. +</p> + +<p> +It was really a curious sight to see that crowd of boys rushing +over the territory adjoining Dyckman's Hall, following the pair +who pooled their strength in order to restrain the wildly eager +dog. +</p> + +<p> +Frank quickly took note of a certain fact. +</p> + +<p> +"We're heading for the water, fellows!" he exclaimed, as well as +he was able, while being tugged along by the erratic rushes of +Kaiser. +</p> + +<p> +Nearly everyone knew what he meant. It was that the abductors of +Bones meant to duck him in the river, and treat him so harshly that +he would be in no condition to play in the morrow's game. +</p> + +<p> +Still, that did not surprise anyone. They might easily have +expected just such an ending to the affair, knowing as they did +what conscienceless scamps were in all probability engineering the +kidnapping affair. +</p> + +<p> +The dog had led them in almost a bee line for the river. Several +hundred yards had already been covered, without the least sign +being seen of those whom they fully believed must be ahead +somewhere. +</p> + +<p> +"Ain't this fierce?" gasped Buster, as he held on to the rope +with a desperate clutch; indeed, but for the sustaining hand of +the more agile Frank, the fat boy must have fallen flat on his +face more than once as he tripped over obstacles in the way. +</p> + +<p> +"Kaiser'll eat 'em alive if he gets half a chance! Listen to him +growl, will you? Don't let him loose, Frank, on your life, or +he'll just murder some of them!" exclaimed Jack Eastwick, who was +running alongside the two who gripped the leash. +</p> + +<p> +"If Buster ever falls flat I'll never be able to hold on alone. Be +ready, somebody, to take hold!" was what Frank cried in return, as +he was dragged along by the furious rush of the dog, more eager +now than before. +</p> + +<p> +But no one appeared to be particularly anxious to extend a helping +hand. The appearance of Kaiser was not at all reassuring, and +none of the boys fancied being "liked," as Buster admitted he was. +</p> + +<p> +"Listen!" called Molly Manners, suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +Everyone strained his ears. It required some effort to catch any +sound from beyond. Kaiser was making such terrible noises as he +ran, and the rush of many feet over the ground rather deadened +anything else. Still, between times they caught what seemed to be +boisterous laughter, accompanied by a loud splashing, as of +somebody being cast into the river, to be hauled out again, only +to have the operation repeated. +</p> + +<p> +"They're ducking Bones, that's what!" coughed Buster, in real +indignation. +</p> + +<p> +Just then he struck some sort of obstacle that caused him to fall +flat on his stomach with a fierce grunt. Of course, the rope was +torn from his hands. And as the shock was too much for Frank to +stand, he, too, was compelled to release his clutch in order to +save himself from a bad tumble. +</p> + +<p> +There was a furious burst of savage satisfaction from the tugging +dog at the end of the leash, and then he vanished from their +sight, running like mad! +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER VIII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LINE-UP WITH CLIFFORD +</h3> + +<p> +"Oh, won't they get it now!" cried Jack Eastwick. +</p> + +<p> +"Keep on running, fellows. Some of them may be half killed, if +that dog gets hold of them! Faster, boys; faster!" +</p> + +<p> +Frank himself increased his speed. He had no love for the +miserable cowards who, in order to gratify their private spite, +would cripple their school team until the enemy must have an easy +victory on the morrow. And yet he did not like to imagine what +terrible things might follow if Kaiser got in among the boys who +were treating his master so shamefully. +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps they deserved whatever befell them; but Frank was himself +a boy, and in a position to understand the true meaning of such a +prank as was now being pulled off. +</p> + +<p> +There had come a decided change in the racket ahead. No longer was +it hilarious shouting and jeering, such as indicated sport for +the boys, but something else to the human frog. True, the sounds +had even grown in volume, but they were of a more serious nature. +</p> + +<p> +"Listen to 'em howl, would you?" cried Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +"The shoe's on the other foot, now. Wow! ain't they getting nipped +hard, though?" shouted Herman Hooker, hardly knowing whether to be +pleased or frightened. +</p> + +<p> +"Faster!" gritted Frank, between his teeth, for he did not like +those shouts. +</p> + +<p> +Possibly the boys had picked up clubs, and were trying to beat +Kaiser off, in order to continue their cruel sport of tossing poor +Bones into the water, and pulling him out again by means of a rope +fastened around his ankles. +</p> + +<p> +Now the runners were close upon the spot. +</p> + +<p> +"They're scattering!" called Lanky, as the shouts appeared to come +from various localities. +</p> + +<p> +"And I think Bones has got hold of the dog. I can hear someone +speaking to him, and trying to quiet the brute!" gasped Paul Bird, +who was also a keen runner, able to "keep up with the procession" +as well as the next fellow. +</p> + +<p> +"That's true. Hold on to him, Bones, old fellow!" Frank managed to +shout. +</p> + +<p> +A dozen seconds later, and they came upon the river bank. The half +moon up in the western sky gave enough light to show them how +matters stood. +</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah! Kaiser cleared the decks! The last of the pirate horde +has fled!" cried Amiel Tucker, whose reading was always along the +old-time romances. +</p> + +<p> +"And there's our friend Bones, all to the good, fondling that +bristly terror! I say, three Bones for cheers!" shouted Red +Huggins, known among his mates also as "Sorreltop," and who, when +greatly excited, often became twisted in his mode of speech. +</p> + +<p> +They clustered around, while Kaiser growled deeply, and licked the +face of his young master. Jones was soaked to the skin, and +already shivering, though possibly more from the nervous strain +than the cold. +</p> + +<p> +Frank immediately took off his own coat, and threw it over the +shoulders of the boy who had been ducked again and again. +</p> + +<p> +"What happened to you, Bones?" asked Lanky, who always wanted to +know the full particulars, for he expected some day to branch out +as a shining light in the legal profession, and believed he ought +to practice while young. +</p> + +<p> +"They jumped me, that's all," chattered the other, trying to +laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"When you went out to quiet your dog?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yep. I hadn't gone half way when they pounced on me. Couldn't let +out more'n a little peep when they covered my head with some sort +of old horse blanket, and grabbed hold of me. After that it was +all over. I heard good old Kaiser carrying on to beat the band. +Oh, how I did wish he could break loose! Wouldn't he have +scattered the bunch, though!" observed Bones, as he calmly +accepted a second coat offered by another sympathizer. +</p> + +<p> +"Which he did in the end, anyway. Say, what did he do to those +sharks?" demanded Buster, coming panting up at this moment. +</p> + +<p> +"You missed the sight of your life. They were having a grand good +time dousing me in the drink, you see, when, all of a sudden, +Kaiser burst among them. Such whooping and howling I never heard +in all my life! You'd sure thought a lunatic asylum had broken +loose, boys," and Bones laughed as well as he could between +shivers. +</p> + +<p> +"And then what?" persisted Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, they scooted like fun. Some went one way and others tumbled +into the river, they were so badly scared. I think Kaiser nipped a +few of the bunch before he ran over to lick my face, and I got a +cinch hold on his collar. Only for that, he'd have gone back +again, and mauled a few that couldn't run fast enough. But how did +you come to think of putting him on the scent, fellows?" +</p> + +<p> +"Give Frank here the credit for the bright thought," said Paul. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, he's all to the good when it comes to a question of doing +something in an emergency. The balance of us were jumping around +like so many chickens with their heads off, when he suggested that +Kaiser would lead us to the place where you were. It was a grand +idea, and it worked, too," remarked Lanky, warmly. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, piffle! Cut that out. If I hadn't thought of it, somebody +else would have, in about a second. I just happened to get in +first, that's all. But we must rush Bones home in a hurry, before +he takes cold. A chill just now would knock him out of the game +to-morrow, and hurt our chances of a win," with which Frank +assisted the wet victim of the kidnappers to his feet. +</p> + +<p> +Bones protested, but they would not listen to him. He was rubbed +down with many willing hands, and patted and pounded in a way to +start his circulation going at fever heat. +</p> + +<p> +Kaiser hardly knew what to think of all this good-natured +tussling, and many times growled his disapprobation, so that a +word from his master was needed to influence him not to sink those +gleaming teeth in the limbs of Buster or Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +All the while they were making for town. Fortunately, Bones did +not live a great distance off, and by making haste, they presently +reached his house. +</p> + +<p> +Buster volunteered to remain over with him and see that he was +properly looked after. +</p> + +<p> +"Somebody explain to Mattie King just why I can't get back!" he +called out. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, don't bother yourself about that, Buster," remarked Jack +Eastwick, coolly, "for I'd already made up my mind to see her +home." +</p> + +<p> +"You have? I've got half a notion—but, no, this once won't count. +It isn't often you get a show, Jack, so improve the shining +opportunity," answered Buster, from the stoop of the Shadduck +home. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, as the crowd wended its way back to the hall where the +glee club had met for this one occasion, while the assembly room +in high school was being repaired, the talk was wholly upon the +late "unpleasantness." +</p> + +<p> +"It certainly was that to those chumps," laughed Lanky. "Oh, how +much we missed in not being on the spot! All Buster's faults for +stumbling when he did, and letting go of the rope. Why under the +sun didn't he hold on with a death grip?" demanded Tom Budd. +</p> + +<p> +"Hold on? Goodness gracious, that dog would have dragged him over +every rock and stump for a mile. A pretty sight he'd have been +after that. I think Buster showed the finest judgment of his life +in knowing when to <i>let go</i>!" said Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, that's so. They say a stitch in time saves nine. Think how +many stitches would have been needed to sew Buster up if he needed +mending," spoke up Sorreltop. +</p> + +<p> +When finally they arrived at the hall, the girls, and those among +the boys who had failed to join in the hunt, were, of course, just +wild to hear about what had happened. +</p> + +<p> +Everything else was, for the time being, forgotten, as they +clustered around and excitedly demanded that the facts be given. +</p> + +<p> +One told a portion, and another took up the recital. In this +fashion, by degrees, the entire story was made known. Nor were the +boys at all backward about giving the credit for the ingenious +thought to Frank, who laughingly tried to declare that he deserved +no more applause than the balance of the flock. +</p> + +<p> +"They're all good fellows, every one, and as much deserving of +your praise. We are of the opinion that there will be several +limps noticeable at the game to-morrow, so if you happen to +observe any fellow making a face as he walks, just whisper one +word in his ear in passing. Do you know what that word is?" he +asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Kaiser!" they roared in concert. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, Kaiser, don't you want to buy a dog?" sang Jack Eastwick, and +amid much laughter and merry exchange of talk, the glee club +disbanded for that evening. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph walked home with Frank and Helen. Others among the boys +persisted in hovering near them, greatly to the annoyance of +Ralph, and the amusement of the girl, who thought it something of +a joke. +</p> + +<p> +Frank had Flo Dempsey on his arm, and seemed to be unusually +merry. To tell the truth, though, considerable of this was +assumed. He happened to know that just back of them, Minnie +Cuthbert and her new friend, Dottie Warren, were walking, and +undoubtedly they could hear much that was being said. +</p> + +<p> +That night, when alone in his room, Frank seemed to lose much of +his merry demeanor. His face took on the grave look that had +characterized it of late, ever since that minute when Minnie had +given him the cruel cut direct. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder will I ever know what is the matter?" he mused, as he +undressed, preparatory to tumbling into his inviting bed; "or must +it always remain a deep mystery. I never thought she could treat a +fellow that way, cutting him out without giving him the least +chance to explain. But I'm not going to complain. They say there +are as good fish in the sea as ever yet were caught." +</p> + +<p> +With this philosophical reflection, he jumped into bed. Having a +good control over himself, Frank was able to go to sleep. In this +way, when he awoke in the early morning, he was refreshed and +feeling splendid, so easily does youth recuperate. +</p> + +<p> +"Anyhow, it's going to be a sharp day. That air feels like snow, +only the sky is clear. Great football weather! I wonder how it +will all come out," and hustling into his clothes, he immediately +went out to the place arranged for the secret meeting to practice +signal work. +</p> + +<p> +The others were soon on hand, and under the coaching of the +experienced old Princeton graduate, they went through all their +paces with a cleverness that caused their trainer to nod his head +in satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +"That's enough, boys," he said, warmly. "You've got your work cut +out for you to-day, and it would be poor policy to tire you at +this early hour. Back to the house now, and eat a breakfast such +as I laid out for you; nothing more, mind. Everyone of you must +consider himself at the training table now, until that game with +Bellport is over with on Thanksgiving morning. That's all!" +</p> + +<p> +When, about ten o'clock, Frank reached the athletic grounds, clad +in his soiled suit and with his entire bunch of players along, he +found that a tremendous crowd had swarmed over the big field, +fully equal to any that had witnessed the hard-fought baseball +battles during the preceding Spring and early Summer. +</p> + +<p> +It was an enthusiastic crowd, too, shouting until the sound was +not unlike the roar of a tempest. Thousands of miniature flags +were waving, representing both schools. There were also many from +Bellport present, some to enjoy the game, others to get points +with regard to the playing of the Columbia eleven, against which +their own team expected soon to be pitted. +</p> + +<p> +"Ain't this the greatest sight ever?" asked Lanky, as they came +upon the field, and the waving flags and handkerchiefs made the +grandstand look like a vast flower garden in a strong wind. +</p> + +<p> +"Columbia! <i>Veni! vidi! vici!</i> to-day we swallow the +rooster!" came a concerted shout, as Herman Hooker got his cheer +band in working order. +</p> + +<p> +The emblem of the Clifford school was a rooster, while that of +Columbia, like Princeton, was the tiger. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately the Columbia fellows began booting an old ball about, +and falling on it with reckless abandon, just as they had been +taught to do by the coach. +</p> + +<p> +"Look there, will you!" exclaimed a girl close to Minnie Cuthbert +in the grandstand. "How nice and white the suits of Clifford +seem, while our boys are dirty. They ought to be ashamed, I should +think. We have just as good a laundry in Columbia as they have up +above." +</p> + +<p> +But to those who knew more about such things there was an +atmosphere of strictly business about the soiled suits of Frank's +team. They looked as though they were on the field for hard work, +and not to show off, or "play to the gallery." +</p> + +<p> +And the wise ones took stock of this fact. Some of the sporting +men even began to hedge in their bets, and might have tried to +even up all around, only that they happened to know of a secret +upon which they were building great hopes. +</p> + +<p> +And that secret concerned the signal practice of the Columbia +eleven! +</p> + +<p> +The Clifford boys were continually waving their hands to some +people in the crowd they recognized. There was an air of assurance +about them that seemed to loudly proclaim the fact that they +anticipated no great trouble in putting the "Indian sign" on +Columbia. +</p> + +<p> +On the other hand, the home team seemed to notice nothing, save +the fact that the ball was there to be shot around, and tumbled on +heavily. They had a grim look, too, and in vain did the girls try +to attract their attention, for it was rarely that one of the +eleven so much as turned a look toward the spectators. All of +their time was taken up in play, and observing their rivals. +</p> + +<p> +"Just wait, and we'll dirty those sweet white suits some," +chuckled Lanky, as he passed the ball like lightning to Shadduck. +</p> + +<p> +Minnie was watching one player intently. For the first time in a +long while he did not look along the rows of faces until he saw +her waving wildly, and doff his cap, or in this case, wave his +hand, since he had no cap to lift. +</p> + +<p> +She trembled with secret delight as she finally saw Frank raise +his head when the ball was in another quarter. But when he made a +motion with his hand, it was in a different direction entirely, +and looking over, Minnie saw that Helen and Flo Dempsey sat there. +</p> + +<p> +"They're getting ready to line-up. See, the referee has the two +captains over by him. It's going to be a toss for position," cried +one eager spectator. +</p> + +<p> +"Not much choice to-day, though, since the wind is light," +returned another. +</p> + +<p> +"But there always is one side better than the other. The sun will +be in the eyes of the fellows who lose. That may count for +something. And the breeze may grow stronger as the game goes on. +There, Frank has won, for he's taking his men to the lower goal. +But that gives Clifford the kick-off. That looks bad." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I don't know. It will only spur them on to working a little +harder. Wait and see. I've got a hunch that Frank Allen has a +surprise or two up his sleeve for these gay white birds from up +river. I'm not worrying. I've seen that boy on the baseball field, +and on the river in the boat races. He is all there with the +goods, and they're a full yard wide. You hear me!" and the +enthusiast jumped to his feet, to flap his elbows as though they +were wings, while he emitted a shrill crow that caused a laugh to +break out in the immediate vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +"Now we're going to see some fun!" called a fellow who was waving +the colors of Clifford with great vim. +</p> + +<p> +And under the eyes of thousands of eager spectators, the rival +elevens took the places assigned to them to await the signal for +play. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER IX +</h3> + +<h3> +A HARD FOUGHT FIRST HALF +</h3> + +<p> +Although there might be changes at any time during the progress of +a fiercely contested game, the line-up at the start was as +follows: +</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<pre> + <i>COLUMBIA.</i> + + + Comfort. + <i>F.B.</i> + + + Allen, Captain. West. + <i>R.H.B. L.H.B.</i> + + + Wallace. + <i>Q.B.</i> + + +Shadduck. Oakes. Harper. Bird. Daly. Eastwick. Morris. + <i>R.E. R.T. R.G. Center. L.G. L.T. L.E.</i> + + + <i>CLIFFORD.</i> + + +Evans. McQuirk. Roe. Gentle. Ross. Adkins. Smith. + <i>L.E. L.T. L.G. Center. R.G. R.T. R.E.</i> + + + Style. + <i>Q.B.</i> + + + Coots. Wentworth. + <i>L.H.B. R.H.B.</i> + + + Hastings, Captain. + <i>F.B.</i> +</pre> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p> +Clifford was to kick off. +</p> + +<p> +Hastings, the big captain, stood there, poising himself for the +effort, and every eye was glued upon his really fine figure. Hastings +knew it, and purposely lingered just a trifle longer than he would +have done had there been no mass of spectators hedging in the field +on all sides in a solid bank of humanity. +</p> + +<p> +There was a shrill whistle, the referee's signal, and it called +into life the twenty-two motionless figures that stood about the +field. Big Hastings ran forward, glancing sharply about to see +that his men were on the alert, and the next moment his shoe made +a great dent in the side of the new yellow ball. Away it sailed +into the air, far over toward Columbia's territory. +</p> + +<p> +Straight toward Lanky Wallace, the plucky little quarter-back, it +came, and Wallace was right under it. Into his arms, with a +resounding "pung!" the spheroid landed, and, like a flash, the +quarter passed it to Jack Comfort for a return kick. +</p> + +<p> +Comfort's toe found the pigskin as if his shoe belonged there, and +back through space went the twisting oval, in a long spiral curve, +while the cohorts of both teams loosed the yells that had been +long on tap. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, wow!" +</p> + +<p> +"Pretty work!" +</p> + +<p> +"That's the stuff, old man!" +</p> + +<p> +"Fine footwork!" +</p> + +<p> +These cries of encouragement to both sides were soon lost in the +riot of cheers and appeals to the teams to "go in and win!" +</p> + +<p> +Big Hastings once more had the ball, and booted down the field +with a tremendous, smashing kick. Lanky and Oakes ran to get under +it, with good intentions, but with misdirected energy, and +collided forcefully, while the ball bounced from Lanky's shoulder +and rolled along the ground, a prize for whoever could first get it. +</p> + +<p> +"A miss!" +</p> + +<p> +"By jove, our fellows have lost the ball!" +</p> + +<p> +"Get to it, Columbia!" +</p> + +<p> +Exclamations of dismay, and frantic appeals came from a thousand +throats. Like mad the whole twenty-two players darted for the +yellow spheroid. +</p> + +<p> +There was a mixup, a confused mass of struggling forms, an +indiscriminate whirlwind of waving arms and legs, and then, after +the frantic blowing of the referee's whistle, and when, slowly, +player after player crawled off the heap, Frank emerged, somewhat +bruised and dazed, but with the precious ball tucked under his +arm. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, good!" +</p> + +<p> +"Fine, old man!" +</p> + +<p> +"Columbia's ball!" +</p> + +<p> +"Frank's got it, all right! That's the stuff. Did you see him +slide right in front of Ross, their husky right guard, and cover +it? Say, this is a little bit of all right—all right!" cried an +enthusiastic follower of Columbia. +</p> + +<p> +It was on Columbia's twenty-five yard line now, rather closer to +the goal than Captain Frank liked, but he resolved to get right +into the play now, and called for the line-up. There was a +whispered conference between Wallace and Allen, and then the +quarter began calling the signal, emphasizing the first number. A +thrill seemed to run through the Clifford players, and when Paul +Bird snapped back the ball to the captain, instead of to the +quarter, who, all along, had acted as if he meant to take it, +there was a sudden rush on the part of Clifford, but it was too +late. +</p> + +<p> +They had prepared for a play around their left end, but Frank +quickly passed the pigskin to Ralph West, the left half, who +sprang forward on the jump, and tore through a hole made between +the unsuspecting right guard and tackle of Columbia's opponents. +Through Ralph plowed, heaving and plunging his way, aided by a +splendid interference, knocking aside Wentworth, the opposing +right half, and struggling forward for a good gain. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, look at that, would you! Look! Look! He'll get a touchdown!" +</p> + +<p> +"Touchdown nothing!" growled a disgusted Cliffordite, "What's the +matter with our fellows, anyhow, to be fooled like that?" +</p> + +<p> +"Guess they read our signals wrong!" retorted the admirer of +Columbia High, with a chuckle. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, wow! Look at that! Hastings nailed him that time!" +</p> + +<p> +Ralph had gone down under a fierce tackle by the big opposing +captain, but the plucky left half had made a good gain, and, as he +rose and held his hand on the ball until Bird came up to take it, +there was an outburst of cheers that warmed his heart. +</p> + +<p> +"Good work, old man!" whispered Frank, as he ran up. "We fooled +'em that time!" +</p> + +<p> +Herman Hooker led his gallant band of shouters in an impromptu +war-dance back of the grandstand, their frenzied shouts of joy at +the splendid play sounding loud above the other yells. +</p> + +<p> +Then came quiet, while the players again lined up, and the calling +of the signals could plainly be heard across the gridiron. It was +useless for Clifford to listen, if, perchance, she had sneakingly +obtained a line on the play system of Columbia, for Lanky was +using the changed code, and only he and his men knew it. Slowly +he called off. It was an indication for Frank to take the ball, on +a try around right end. +</p> + +<p> +Back came the oval with a clean snap, and the next moment Frank, +with it firmly tucked under his arm, was circling around Evans, +while Oakes, Harper and Shadduck had gotten into play on the jump, +and had successfully pocketed their opposing end tackle and guard. +</p> + +<p> +Forward leaped Frank, with Shadduck and Oakes forming splendid +interference for him. Down the line they sprinted, while once more +the frenzied shouts broke forth: +</p> + +<p> +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" +</p> + +<p> +"Go it, old man! Go it!" +</p> + +<p> +It began to look as if Frank would score, for big Hastings was the +only man available to tackle him, as the other two backs had +played in so far that they were now hopelessly in the mixup of +tangled figures. +</p> + +<p> +"Go on! Go on!" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes he will! Wait until Hastings tackles him!" this from a +boastful Clifford player. +</p> + +<p> +Hastings was waiting for the man with the ball, but Frank was +running behind Shadduck and Oakes now, and they were on the alert. +Hastings made a dive between them, seeking to come at Frank, and +for one fearful moment there was fear in the hearts of his friends +that the plucky right half would be downed. But Oakes fairly threw +himself at the big opposing captain, and the two went tumbling in +a heap, thus ending any chance Hastings had of tackling the man +with the ball. +</p> + +<p> +Amid such yells as were seldom heard on the gridiron, Frank, +accompanied by Shadduck, whose interfering services were no longer +needed, touched the ball down exactly in the middle of the line, +behind the two posts, while the straggling Clifford players +straggled madly down the field, but too late. Behind them came +their leaping, dancing and exulting opponents. +</p> + +<p> +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, you, Allen!" +</p> + +<p> +"Great work, old man! Great work!" And indeed it was a splendid +run. +</p> + +<p> +Such shouting and yelling as there was! Herman Hooker and his band +of "Indians" were hoarse with their efforts thus early in the +game, but gallantly they kept at it. There was a little silence +while the Clifford players lined up back of their goal posts, and +then Ralph West kicked goal, the ball sailing true between the +posts, and making the score six to nothing in favor of Columbia. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the stuff! That's going some! Keep it up, you Columbia +Tigers, we're all proud of you!" hoarsely called a big man, +stamping about and waving his cane adorned with Columbia colors. +He had graduated from the old school twenty years before, and he +had never lost his love for it, nor for her sons of the gridiron. +</p> + +<p> +There was an exchange of punts on the next kick-off, and when that +sort of playing was over, Clifford had the pigskin on Columbia's +thirty-yard line. +</p> + +<p> +"Now, fellows, go through 'em!" grimly called Hastings, and Style +began to give the signals in a snappy voice. In another instant +Wentworth, the Clifford right half, hit the line with a tremendous +smash, going for a hole between Eastwick and Daly. Their mates +rallied to their support, but there was smashing energy in the +attack of Columbia's opponents, and hold as Frank and his players +desperately tried to, they were shoved back, and Wentworth had +gained four yards. +</p> + +<p> +"Another like that!" called Hastings. "Go to 'em, now! Eat 'em +up!" +</p> + +<p> +Once more a smashing attack, and three yards more were reeled off +around Shadduck's end. +</p> + +<p> +"This won't do, fellows!" said Allen, seriously. "We've got to +hold 'em!" +</p> + +<p> +"How's that? Guess we're going some now, eh?" demanded a Clifford +admirer, who sat next to Mr. Allen. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, you have a good team," was the answer. "But our boys are +only letting you do this for encouragement." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, ho! They are, eh? Just watch." +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, it looked a little dubious for Columbia. Her players were +being shoved back for loss with heart-stilling regularity. There +was no need for Clifford to kick, and all of Frank's frantic appeals +to his men to hold seemed of no avail. +</p> + +<p> +There was somewhat of a bitter feeling when, after some tremendous +line-smashing, Coots, the left half, was shoved over the line for +a touchdown, and that gave the cohorts of Clifford a chance to +break loose. They did not kick the goal, however, and that was +some encouragement for Columbia, since it left them one point to +the good. +</p> + +<p> +Once more came the kick-off, and then, when Columbia had the ball, +and had lined up, she went at her opponents with such smash-bang +tactics, such hammer-and-tongs work, that she tore big gaps in the +wall of defense, and shoved player after player through. Frank was +sent over for a seven-yard gain, then came a fine run on the part +of Ralph, netting eighteen yards, while the crowd went wild. There +was grim silence on the part of the Clifford adherents as the +line-up came on the ten-yard mark, and then, amid a great silence, +Comfort smashed through for another touchdown. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, wow! How's that? Going some, I guess, yes!" howled the big +man, who had been a player in his youth. "Oh, pretty work!" +</p> + +<p> +The goal was missed, for the ball had been touched down at a bad +angle, but the score was now eleven to five in favor of Columbia, +and there were still several minutes of play left in the first +half. +</p> + +<p> +There was only a chance for an exchange of kicks however, ere the +referee's whistle blew, signifying that time was up, and the +players, who were just ready for a scrimmage, with the ball in +Clifford's possession on her opponent's fifteen-yard line, +dissolved, and raced for their dressing rooms. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER X +</h3> + +<h3> +A SCENE NOT DOWN ON THE BILLS +</h3> + +<p> +Columbia enthusiasm broke out louder than ever when the +intermission between the two halves was called. Their boys had +thus far not only held their own, but scored more than twice as +heavily as the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Still, the Clifford enthusiasts did not appear to be downcast. +</p> + +<p> +"Wait," they kept saying mysteriously on all sides, while shouts +of encouragement went out to Hastings and his doughty warriors. +</p> + +<p> +"What do they mean by that?" asked Mr. Allen, of the man from +above, who sat near him on the bench of the grandstand. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, Clifford is a slow team to get started. They always do +better in the second half of a game. That with Bellport was a +fake, because their signals had been given away. They learned this +when the first half had been played. It made them savage. The +result was Bellport didn't score again, and Clifford made a few +points before the end came. They'll wake up presently!" was the +confident reply. +</p> + +<p> +Among the most enthusiastic of the vast crowd was Minnie Cuthbert. +She waved her little banner and joined her voice in the general +clamor, for the mad excitement had seized girls as well as boys +and men. +</p> + +<p> +And yet all the while she seemed to have eyes for no one but the +agile captain of the Columbia team. Wherever he happened to be, +her gaze was either openly or covertly upon him. +</p> + +<p> +Again she saw Frank wave his hand cheerily, and looking in the +direction where his attention seemed to be directed, she +discovered that Helen and Flo Dempsey were flourishing bouquets of +flowers made up of purple and gold, to illustrate the school +emblem. +</p> + +<p> +And, moreover, Minnie understood full well that these had +undoubtedly come from the conservatory of the Allens. Somehow, it +pained her to know it. From that time on she resolutely set her +eyes toward anyone on the field, so long as it was not Frank. +</p> + +<p> +There was much consultation during the rest spell. Coaches and +captains had their heads together, trying to ascertain if it were +possible to strengthen their teams by bringing in a fresh man as +substitute. +</p> + +<p> +Several had been more or less injured in the fierce mass plays, +and were showing it, despite their efforts to appear natural. Not +for worlds would anyone of them express a desire to be taken out +of the game. If the captain decided against their continuing, well +and good, for he was the sole judge of a man's fitness; but each +fellow believed he could still carry himself to the end. +</p> + +<p> +The general excitement was such that a man might be seriously hurt +and not be aware of it, buoyed up, as he was, with the wild desire +to accomplish glorious things for the school he loved. +</p> + +<p> +"How are you feeling, Bones? Any bad result from your immersion in +the cool drink last night," asked Lanky, as he and the right guard +came together. +</p> + +<p> +"Not an atom, glad to say. You fellows saved me by your prompt +action, and the general rubbing down I had after the rescue. True, +my left wing feels sore to the touch after that slamming I got +when I went down with the ball over their fifteen-yard line, and a +dozen fellows piled on top; but I don't think it's broken, and I +haven't said anything to Frank, because I'm afraid he'd yank me +out." +</p> + +<p> +Lanky carefully massaged the arm in question, eliciting a few +grunts from the stoical player under the process. +</p> + +<p> +"Only bruised, old fellow. By the way, have you noticed any +limpers around this morning—among the spectators, I mean?" he +remarked, whimsically. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure, two of them, Jay Tweedle and Bill Klemm," laughed the other +immediately. "They hustled away when they saw me looking, and it +was all they could do to keep the agony off their faces. But it +would have to be more than a mere dog bite to keep any fellow with +red blood in his veins away from a scrap on the gridiron like +this, though I reckon both of them are hoping to see Clifford win, +hands down." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, there's another poor chap limping somewhere around the +grounds—Asa Barnes. Good old Kaiser must have put his teeth in +his calf pretty sound, for you can see the tear in his trousers' +leg. That was a great time, and I envy you the privilege of having +seen it. What a scattering of the boasters, and all on account of +one dog!" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Lanky, but <i>such</i> a dog! He thinks the world of me. +Why, I could hardly tear myself away from him this morning, he +wanted to come with me so bad. After this you needn't ever think +of giving me a guard; Kaiser can fill that position up to the +limit," said Bones, proudly, as became the owner of such a +wonderful canine. +</p> + +<p> +"Time's nearly up. Are we going to bring any new horse out of the +stable? Did any fellow make serious blunders? Is anyone hurt?" +asked Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +"If they are, they keep it to themselves. But there's Shay coming +out, while Eastwick goes to the seats. I was a little afraid that +Jack might prove too light as a tackler. Why, twice he failed to +bring his man down, and was carried more than a few yards before +another fellow caught on. Shay ought to be an improvement." +</p> + +<p> +"What do you think, so far, Bones?" +</p> + +<p> +"We've about held our own, that's comforting," was the reply. +</p> + +<p> +"But the score isn't as big as I hoped it would be," expostulated +Lanky. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but we owe that first touchdown and goal to the fact that +Clifford was confused with the signals you called. They thought +they meant the old version, and rushed to meet the play. That gave +us almost a clear field." +</p> + +<p> +"I guess you're right," returned Lanky, thoughtfully. +</p> + +<p> +"Now, see where we stand. They got a clear touchdown, and were +over our fifteen-yard line when play was called. I tell you, we're +going to have our work cut out to score again, and you can see +that every fellow of the opposition is out for blood. To be licked +by Bellport hurt; a second drubbing is next to unthinkable with +them. Mark my words, they'll die hard!" +</p> + +<p> +"Bones, you're right. We've got to do our level best in the +second half. Once let us develop a weak spot, and they'll aim for +that every rush. There's Frank calling to me again. Five minutes +more, and we'll be at it, hammer and tongs," and Lanky hurried +away to where the captain stood, with the very last word in the +way of orders. +</p> + +<p> +The line of play had been decided on long before. This had been +arranged in accordance with what they knew about Clifford's line-up. +Just as Lanky had declared, once let a weak place show, and from +that minute on the opposition bends every effort toward pushing +the ball in that quarter, until, finally, the defense gives way, +and the oval is carried triumphantly across the line. +</p> + +<p> +Gradually the players began to take their places again. Clifford, +too, showed a new face; Hollingsworth being substituted in place +of Evans, as right end, the other having been injured in a +scrimmage, thought not enough to get out at the time. +</p> + +<p> +It was Columbia's kick-off this time, and Jack Comfort was the one +to do the honors which would inaugurate the second half of the +game. Just as he stood there ready to make the first move, the +picture was one that would never be forgotten by the thousands who +witnessed it. +</p> + +<p> +Every breath seemed hushed. A mighty silence hung over the wide +field, as eyes were riveted on the crouching figures, whose faces, +so far as seen, because of the disfiguring head harness, showed +the earnestness that possessed each soul. +</p> + +<p> +It was at this critical moment that suddenly loud shouts arose. +They seemed to come from behind the grandstand, and quickly +swelled in volume, until it was a deafening roar that broke forth. +Frank called out something, and the referee instantly blew his +whistle, to signify that delay was imperative until the cause of +all this row could be ascertained and the noise quelled. It was +simply impossible to continue the game while so much racket held, +as the players would be wholly unable to hear the signals. +</p> + +<p> +But now the tenor of the wild cries began to be understood. +Players looked at each other in blank dismay. Never before had +they heard of a football game having been interrupted by such a +strange and terrible cause. +</p> + +<p> +"Mad dog! Mad dog!" +</p> + +<p> +That was what the people were shrieking over and over. The entire +mass of spectators seemed to be writhing as they leaped to their +feet. Faces grew white with sudden fear. Women and children cried +and shrieked, and hands were wrung in the abandon of despair. +</p> + +<p> +It was easy to discover the immediate scene of the disturbance, +for there the lines swayed more violently than elsewhere. People +crushed back against each other, forgetting all else in the frenzy +of fear that possessed them. What could be more terrifying than +the coming of a mad dog in the midst of such an assemblage of +merrymakers, out for a grand holiday? +</p> + +<p> +"Run, you fellows; he's heading out on the field! Get a move on +you!" roared a voice through a big megaphone. +</p> + +<p> +It was, of course, the wonderful cheer captain, Herman Hooker, +who thus gave warning of the coming peril. Indeed, his cry was +hardly needed, for the two elevens could mark the passage of the +terror by the swaying back of the lines upon lines of spectators, +all of whom seemed to be possessed of a wild desire to climb up +on the highest seats, so that the panic was fierce. +</p> + +<p> +Then through the mass came the running beast, with his head close +to the ground, and trailing a chain behind him. His actions were +certainly queer, and well calculated to strike terror into the +timid hearts of the helpless ones gathered there to witness the +spectacle of a football contest, and not a mad dog hunt. +</p> + +<p> +And running valiantly after the brute came Officer Whalen, +doubtless intending to attempt to shoot the animal when once he +found a chance. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly the raging brute uttered a series of fearful sounds, and +started directly for one of the players on the field, as though +intending to attack him first. The vast crowd shrieked all manner +of imploring directions, and unable to render assistance, just +stood there and looked and prayed. +</p> + +<p> +But Frank Allen neither started to run nor moved to the aid of the +threatened player for he had discovered that the one who stood +there was Bones Shadduck, and in the leaping dog he had recognized +the persistent Kaiser! +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XI +</h3> + +<h3> +CLIFFORD'S LAST HOPE +</h3> + +<p> +"Why doesn't the fool run?" cried one man, quivering with +suspense. +</p> + +<p> +"It's too late now! See, he's going to tackle the brute! He's got +his hands out ready! Gee! what nerve!" bellowed another, this time +from Clifford. +</p> + +<p> +A third laughed harshly, for the strain had been beat on everyone. +</p> + +<p> +"Its all off, fellows. That's <i>his</i> dog!" he shouted. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I'll be hanged! Look at him jumping up to lick the boy's +face, will you? Did you ever? This takes the cake!" +</p> + +<p> +The crowd had by this time discovered that it was a false alarm, +and by degrees the hysterical feeling wore off, though there were +many who would not soon forget the awful sense of fear that had +almost paralyzed their systems. +</p> + +<p> +Kaiser had apparently broken loose long after Bones had left home, +and determined to find his beloved master, had trailed him to the +football field. +</p> + +<p> +Possibly the faithful animal believed that there might be further +need of his services, and that there were more fellows in need of +trimming. +</p> + +<p> +Of course the game had to be delayed until Bones could lead Kaiser +away, and secure him in a little room under the grandstand. The +crowd howled and cheered as he went by, and Shadduck grinned in +his usual happy fashion, feeling that for once at least he was in +the exact limelight—thanks to Kaiser! +</p> + +<p> +Once more the two opposing teams faced each other on the field. +The rushers were crouched, ready to spring forward as soon as the +ball had been put into play. Comfort prepared to send in his best +kick, after which the whole field would be in motion in the mad +endeavor to urge the ball toward the goal of the opposing side. +</p> + +<p> +Jack was a famous punter and also a gilt-edged drop-kicker. He had +a peculiar spiral kick that was calculated to be exceedingly +puzzling to the enemy. And since much depended upon how far he +sent the oval into the enemy's territory, all eyes were eagerly +glued upon him now. +</p> + +<p> +"Plunk!" +</p> + +<p> +Away sailed the ball with the most erratic motion the Clifford men +had ever seen in all their experience. Some ran this way, and then +suddenly changed their course, as they realized the deceiving +nature of the ball's aerial flight. But the Columbia ends knew +just how the full-back would send the ball, and they shot for the +spot, determined to reach there almost as soon as the enemy, and +cut short his advantage for a run. +</p> + +<p> +Coots managed to catch the ball, and darted back with it, but was +downed, almost in his tracks, by a fierce tackle on the part of +Shadduck, who had slipped through the interference. +</p> + +<p> +"Down!" howled Coots, after he had recovered his wind. The players +lined up, while Style began calling off the signals. The Columbia +players braced for the attack they knew would soon come. And come +it did. Their line tottered and wavered under the smashing impact, +but it held, and Wentworth was hurled back for a slight loss. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the way to do it!" cried Frank, in delight. "Hold 'em +again, fellows, and they'll have to kick!" +</p> + +<p> +Once more Clifford, in desperation, for she wanted to keep the +ball, tried for another advance, this time around her opponent's +left end. But Morris and Shay were on hand, and nailed the player +before he had gone two yards. +</p> + +<p> +"They've got to kick!" came the cry, and indeed that was the only +play left for Clifford. Still, it might be a fake one, and Frank +signalled this to his men, so that they might be on the alert. But +Comfort ran away back, and it was well that he did, for the ball +was booted well into the Columbia territory. +</p> + +<p> +The full-back caught it and managed to rush back fifteen yards +before he was fiercely downed. +</p> + +<p> +"Now's our chance, fellows!" called Frank, while Paul Bird came +up, took the pigskin and waited for Lanky to give the signal. +</p> + +<p> +"I-m-p-o-r-t-a-n-c-e!" spelled out the quarter. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly after the last letter was given, there was a sudden +movement. The center had flashed the ball to Allen, who started +furiously around the outside of the Clifford line. West was +running diagonally, and passed him. Many did not notice that as +they crossed Frank dexterously passed the ball to Ralph, but kept +on running and dodging as though he still held it. +</p> + +<p> +The trick was not a new one by any means, but when well done it +was apt to deceive at least a portion of the rattled opposition; +so that several of the Clifford players were, for the instant, +really in doubt as to which of the two half-backs carried the +ball. +</p> + +<p> +Thus in the beginning the force of pursuers was divided. Ralph was +a sprinter, and could avoid interference in a manner that was +simply marvelous. He had the entire bunch against him, trying to +block his play, but with wonderful skill managed to dodge each in +turn, until when finally brought down he had reached the enemy's +ten-yard line! +</p> + +<p> +A burst of applause from the eager spectators; then again +absolute silence, for once more the heavily breathing players had +gathered in battle array. Again came a hot scrimmage. The ball was +over the side lines now, and out of bounds. So it had to be +brought in. Clifford had it for a change, but the conditions were +desperate with them now, with their home goal close behind. Let a +Columbia player once get his hands on the oval, and the chances +were he could carry it over the line for a touchdown. +</p> + +<p> +The man who did the thinking in this emergency knew his business. +When the next scrimmage was on, many of the spectators were +astonished to see a Clifford player jump away from the melee with +the ball in his grasp, and hurl himself deliberately across his +own line. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately the crowd gave expression to their feelings. Some +cheered, while others groaned, as the play was understood best. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, that man is a traitor to his team!" exclaimed one indignant +fellow. +</p> + +<p> +A Columbia graduate, who happened to be sitting next to the +speaker, gave him a look of contempt, as he remarked: +</p> + +<p> +"On the contrary he proved to have an exceedingly clever head on +him. Stop and think for just a minute. They were close up to +Clifford's goal. The chances were ten to one in that scrimmage +that Columbia would get the ball, and with the next play carry it +across the line. That meant a touchdown. Then if they could kick a +goal, as is likely, they would count six. As it is now, Columbia +gets only two because that quick-witted fellow put it over his own +line. More than that, the next play is back at the twenty-five +yard line; so you see how easily Clifford gets out of a bad +corner." +</p> + +<p> +As little time as possible was lost getting in position again. So +eager were both sides to accomplish things that they begrudged the +fleeting seconds. +</p> + +<p> +The tide of battle surged back and forth. Dozens of plays were +pulled off that it would take many chapters to describe. But what +cheered the enthusiasts of the home team was the fact that most of +the work was being done on hostile territory! +</p> + +<p> +In between times when there was no need of silence the raucous +voice of Herman Hooker could be heard, as he led his band around +back of the crowd, and shouted again and again in unison the +thrilling yell of Columbia, with the intention of stirring the +blood in the veins of each player, and investing him with renewed +pluck and zeal. +</p> + +<p> +As if it were needed, when each one of those sturdy champions had +already been keyed up to top-notch speed. Time was slipping away, +and despite the almost superhuman efforts of Clifford they could +not seem to get the ball over that strenuously defended line of +their opponents. +</p> + +<p> +In vain did the rooters urge them on to renewed efforts. Columbia +seemed to have thrown up a stone wall in front of her goal lines, +and no matter what strenuous plays were called off they were met +with a stubborn tenacity that robbed them of results. +</p> + +<p> +Only seven more minutes remained of the second half. Columbia +adherents were jubilant. They already began to discount a victory, +and were winding up preparatory to making the air ring with their +shouts. +</p> + +<p> +The wise ones kept close watch of the play. They had known +occasions just like this when the winning team became over +confident, and the last few minutes witnessed their utter rout. +</p> + +<p> +Would it happen so in this case? Clifford was exerting every +effort to bring about such a happy condition of affairs. Frank had +warned his men against the slightest slackening of speed or +vigilance. No game is won until the referee's signal announces +that the end has come. +</p> + +<p> +Now the determined Clifford hosts had carried the ball over into +the territory of their rivals. Columbia was visibly weakening +before these fearful plunges, and it seemed as though flesh and +bone could not hold out against them. Seconds counted now. How +desperately Frank and his backers fought to ward off the +threatening evil. Every lawful tactic that would bring about delay +was brought into bearing. Twice had the ball gone out of bounds, +which necessitated a new alignment, and consequent passage of +those precious seconds. +</p> + +<p> +Columbia was on the defensive; but it was a splendid exhibition of +harrying play they put up, thanks to the instructions of Coach +Willoughby. On their fifteen-yard line they faced the Clifford +crew for the last struggle. Despite the prediction of the man who +had declared them a great second-half team, Clifford had failed to +add to their score during the half hour that had elapsed, that +lone touchdown standing to their credit. +</p> + +<p> +"Boys, we want a bigger score than this!" called Captain Allen +eagerly, when time was taken out to enable some wind to be pumped +back into Style. "We've got thirteen points, and they have five. +It's too close a margin. We've got time enough to make another +touchdown." +</p> + +<p> +"If we can get the ball," added West. +</p> + +<p> +"We've <i>got</i> to get it!" cried the captain. "It's the first +down. Hold 'em, and throw the man with the ball for a loss if you +can. They may kick on the second down instead of waiting for the +third. Then we'll have 'em." +</p> + +<p> +The whistle blew and Style came slowly back into the line. He was +pale and weak, as the manner in which he gave the signals showed. +There were anxious looks on the faces of his mates, and glances +of eager expectation on those of his opponents. +</p> + +<p> +Wentworth came smashing for a hole he expected would be opened up +between Daly and Shay, but Shay was ready and did more than his +partner to block off the play. Wentworth was hurled back, and +there was a net loss of two yards to Clifford. +</p> + +<p> +"Look out for a kick!" warned Frank. +</p> + +<p> +It came, for Clifford was desperately afraid, and Comfort got the +ball. Tucking it under his arm, with head down, he started for the +goal line, well protected. The enraged Clifford players managed to +get at him, however, and he was downed after he had covered +fifteen yards. But it was a good run back, and Columbia had the +ball, and there were still several more minutes to play. +</p> + +<p> +"At 'em now, fellows! Tear 'em apart!" cried Lanky Wallace. +</p> + +<p> +He called for Ralph West to take the ball around Smith, as the +quarter had noticed the weak defense the right end was putting up. +</p> + +<p> +Around circled West, and he made a good gain before he was downed. +Again came smashing plays—several of them, Columbia keeping +possession of the ball. In vain did Clifford brace and hold. It +was useless. She was being shoved right up the field. Her men were +exhausted and discouraged. Columbia's were eager and triumphant. +</p> + +<p> +"Touchdown! Touchdown!" came the insisting cries from the +spectators. The ball was on Clifford's fifteen-yard line. +</p> + +<p> +"Touchdown it is!" declared Wallace grimly. +</p> + +<p> +He called his signal with snap and vim. Frank got the ball and +made a desperate dive for a big gap that was opened up between Roe +and McQuirk. Forward he staggered while Shadduck and Oakes managed +to circle around to form interference for him. +</p> + +<p> +"He's through! He's through!" came the cry, and indeed the captain +was through the Clifford line, and legging it toward the goal. +Hastings started after him, but slipped and fell. Then, like a +flash, Wentworth emerged from the tangle of players and set off +after Allen. He came on like the wind, and managed to slip past +Shadduck, but Oakes was on the alert and tackled off the plucky +Clifford right-half. +</p> + +<p> +Then it was all over but the shouting. With the fall of Wentworth +ended Clifford's hopes of preventing another touchdown, while as +for her own hopes of making one they had vanished some time ago. +Allen touched down the ball. Amid frenzied cheers the goal was +kicked, making the score nineteen to five in favor of Columbia. +There was preparation for another kick-off, but before it could be +made the whistle blew; and the game had passed into history. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XII +</h3> + +<h3> +DR. SHADDUCK FEARS AN EPIDEMIC +</h3> + +<p> +"There he is!" +</p> + +<p> +"Cut him off; he's trying to dodge us!" +</p> + +<p> +"No you don't, Frank; we're just bound to give you a ride around. +These things don't happen every day. Up with him, fellows!" +</p> + +<p> +Fully fifty wild Columbia students had gathered around the +captain, effectually blocking his escape from the field. Frank, +suspecting some such design, had tried his best to slip off +unobserved; but hundreds of eyes were on him, and even his fellow +players showed treachery, handing him over to the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +He was immediately hoisted upon the shoulders of several brawny +chaps, and with a motley crowd following, after they set out to +parade the field, shouting the battle cry of the school, and +singing the famous song that always thrilled the hearts of +Columbia's patriotic sons and daughters. +</p> + +<p> +Those who had remained in the grandstand cheered as the procession +swept past, and among these was Minnie Cuthbert. Frank never +looked that way once, she noted, and yet there had been a time, +not so very far back, when he would have thought of her the first +thing. +</p> + +<p> +And yet Frank was perfectly conscious that she was standing there, +leaning over the railing, and watching the fun with eagerness. +Sometimes it is possible to see without looking direct. +</p> + +<p> +When he could escape Frank hurried home. He was of course +overjoyed to realize that his team had won the game; but the +strain of those last ten minutes had been simply terrific. What +would it be with the Bellport eleven, every member of which had +undoubtedly been present, picking up points that would be useful +in the big Thanksgiving Day game? +</p> + +<p> +Of course there must a celebration that night. Victory deserved +something of the sort, and the boys were bound to make the fact +known to every citizen of the town. Fires would be blazing, horns +tooting, firecrackers exploding, and a general hurrah taking +place, with crowds of students, roaming around, and ringing the +various college songs they loved so well. +</p> + +<p> +Frank found a warm welcome at his home. His father declared he was +proud of the fact that he had a boy so well able to manage affairs +of great moment. It was a great day at the Allen house, and Helen, +for the time being, even forgot her grief in connection with the +unexplained desertion of her once fondly loved chum, Minnie +Cuthbert. +</p> + +<p> +Just after lunch Frank was called to the telephone. Ralph had +dropped in to talk over matters connected with the game, which, of +course, must be the one important topic of conversation among the +Columbia students until the concluding meeting came about that +would settle the championship. +</p> + +<p> +"Hello! who's this?" Frank asked, as he picked up the receiver, +and placed it at his ear. +</p> + +<p> +A laugh was the first sound he heard. +</p> + +<p> +"That you, Bones?" he demanded, thinking he recognized a +peculiarity about this chuckle that stamped the identity of the +one who seemed so merry. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure; that you, Frank? Say, it's an epidemic that's struck us!" +called the one at the other end of the wire. +</p> + +<p> +"What do you mean. Make it plainer; I'm all up in the air," +answered Frank, who knew Bones was a great fellow for joking, and +wondered what he had in hand now. +</p> + +<p> +"They had my dad guessing some, I tell you. He began to think it +was his duty to warn the town authorities so that they could take +proper precautions; for honest now, it did look like the whole +place was overrun with frisky canines, snapping at every one they +met!" +</p> + +<p> +"What's that you say?" asked Frank, pricking up his ears at the +mention of dogs; for the memory of several recent experiences was +fresh in his mind. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, you see, every one's getting bitten. It's the latest fad. My +dad had just three come to him early this morning to have wounds +cauterized to make sure!" +</p> + +<p> +"Good gracious! you don't say?" ejaculated Frank, waiting for +further explanations, which he knew would not be long in coming. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and the funny part of it is all of them were boys. The dogs +seem to have taken a great fancy for the breed. Guess you could +give a close hazard about who they were. Perhaps you know their +limp, for they showed it plain enough at the game," went on Bones, +with another series of chuckles. +</p> + +<p> +"I saw Bill Klemm rubbing his calf and talking to Jay Tweedle; +yes, and when they walked off I thought each of them seemed to +have a stiff leg. How about that; were they to see the doctor?" +asked the captain of the football team, eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure as you live, and Asa Barnes ditto. Asa said he was passing +an empty lot last night when a brindle cur just deliberately +jumped out and nabbed him. Of course he kicked the beast away, +and it ran off howling; but his father, on being told the +circumstances this morning, thought he ought to have a little +caustic applied so as to take no chances. Think of it—a brindle cur, +and that sneak kicked him! Oh! my!" +</p> + +<p> +"And where did Bill say he got his dose from?" +</p> + +<p> +"He's got a little bit of a poodle, you know. Well, he had the +nerve to declare the baby beast bit him! Dad said he found it hard +to believe, for judging from the marks of the teeth it was a jaw +three times as big as Tiny's that did the business. Dad knows +better now." +</p> + +<p> +"Then you told him all about Kaiser's work last night?" +</p> + +<p> +"Sure; I had to. He was for putting off to warn the town police to +look out for all brindle dogs, and shoot 'em on the spot—which +spot I don't know. But you see, somebody had told him about Kaiser +acting that way at the field, and he was ready to order him +massacred before he went mad too. So I had to relate the dreadful +story of how Bill and Asa and Jay got their little tattoo marks." +</p> + +<p> +"What did he say then?" asked Frank, greatly amused. +</p> + +<p> +"Nearly took a fit laughing over it. Instead of being chloroformed +or otherwise exterminated Kaiser is going to get a new collar now, +dad's especial gift. Hurrah for Kaiser! He's the whole circus +every time!" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said Frank, quickly, "he came near getting his finish +though to-day. Old Officer Whalen was on his trail and meant to +fill him full of holes, if he could ever get close enough. It was +a narrow escape for Kaiser." +</p> + +<p> +"A narrower one for the crowd. Did you ever see Officer Whalen +practice firing at a mark? Well, I have. The man couldn't hit a +barn door thirty feet off. Can't you come over, Frank? I've got +something to propose to you. The afternoon is too fine and bracing +to stay cooped up in the house. We'll soon have to hibernate, you +know. Come along!" called Bones. +</p> + +<p> +"Ralph is with me." +</p> + +<p> +"All right. Bring him along. Glad to have him." +</p> + +<p> +"Look for us soon then. I've got something I want to ask you +anyway. Good-bye," and Frank turned from the phone to explain to +the wondering Ralph just why he had been so overcome with +merriment. +</p> + +<p> +Of course Ralph thought the joke a good one when he too heard the +particulars of the sudden run upon the good doctor's supply of +liquid caustic. +</p> + +<p> +"No wonder they limped after all that; the remedy was worse than +the disease, I reckon. I don't suppose anything serious will come +out of those bites now?" he said, after he had stopped laughing. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! hardly. Thousands are bitten every year by angry dogs, and +how few cases of hydrophobia you hear about. They'll limp around a +little while and then forget all about it But Bones wants us to +come over to his house, so if you have no objections we'll just +saunter across lots and see what he's got going." +</p> + +<p> +"Just as you say." remarked Ralph, rising immediately; "though +unless you object I thought of dropping in at the post-office on +the way. There's a mail in, and possibly a letter might come for +me that I could get before the carrier came around." +</p> + +<p> +Frank looked at him with pity in his eyes. He knew how secretly +Ralph was suffering all the pangs that can come with hope long +deferred; and that each day seemed like an eternity to the boy who +was yearning to feel the loving arms of a mother about his neck, a +mother whom he had never known. +</p> + +<p> +"Certainly; that's only a step out of the way. But be careful as +you go, and if you see a brindle pup in a vacant lot run for your +life! They're mighty dangerous, I'm told," at which both boys +laughed again, and the cloud passed from Ralph's rather pale face. +</p> + +<p> +As chance would have it, as they issued from the front door a +vehicle passed the house, and in it were seated Minnie Cuthbert +and Lef Seller, the fellow whom she had more than once declared +she never meant to speak to again. It was Lef's rig, and the +object he had in view in thus deliberately passing Frank's home +was obvious. +</p> + +<p> +Frank, after that one start, was prepared. He immediately doffed +his cap with the most excruciating politeness. Minnie turned +white, then red. She hardly knew what to do under the circumstances; +but found herself nodding her head as though she could not help +it, even after cutting Frank on the preceding day. +</p> + +<p> +Frank saw the grin of triumph on the face of his rival, but though +his blood was fairly boiling with indignation at his coming out of +the way to let him see their renewal of friendship, he simply +looked after the vehicle and smiled. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph was chuckling as if amused. +</p> + +<p> +"Sometimes girls' friendships are so quickly changed they make me +think of that wonderful Finnegan and his report of the accident on +his section of the railroad. You know how his boss had taken him +to task because he stretched things out so. When the old train had +another wreck he just wrote out his report: 'Off again, on again, +gone again, Finnegan.' Yesterday it was you, to-day Lef, and +tomorrow—well, tomorrow hasn't come yet, so we won't anticipate. +Come along, Frank," and linking his arm in that of his chum, Ralph +drew him away. +</p> + +<p> +And in the lively talk that followed Frank soon forgot his bitter +feeling at the strange actions of the pretty girl he had once +thought so charming. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap13"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XIII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE GREAT MARSH +</h3> + +<p> +"Glad to see you, fellows! Say, by the way, I hear that Clifford +won the great football match against Columbia!" was the way the +way Bones Shadduck greeted them as they reached his door and rang +the bell. +</p> + +<p> +"You don't tell me," said Frank, with a smile; "when did it +happen?" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! last night some time. It was a great victory. I'm told they +nearly painted the town red over it," responded the other. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, for my part I prefer to do the celebrating after the thing +is over to shouting before hand. Perhaps they celebrated too hard, +and that might account for several fool plays that were made. I +had an idea that several of Clifford's best players looked rather +red-eyed, as though they didn't get much sleep," remarked Frank, +as they entered. +</p> + +<p> +"And I shouldn't be surprised if you were right. I was told they +had a dance and it was all hours of the morning when they went +home," echoed Bones. +</p> + +<p> +"But what did you want us over for in particular?" asked Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Something to show you and then a proposal to make. I had a +birthday to-day, and my dad's been mighty good to me. What do you +think of that?" +</p> + +<p> +Bones whipped out a beautiful shotgun from behind a case and +handed it over to the others to admire. +</p> + +<p> +"Looks like a dandy, all right. And I wager she'll do some good +work when you get to looking over the sights. Handles great, too. +Although I think I like my own gun a little the better, still +that's only a matter of prejudice. You're lucky to have such a +dad, Bones," remarked Frank, as he drew an imaginary bead on some +object seen out of the window. +</p> + +<p> +"And now for my proposal. I'm just wild to try the new gun, and I +had word from father's farmer, Benson, that the ducks were in the +old swamp that adjoins our big patch of ground over Wheaten way. I +can get our horse and the three of us might take a spin over to +see what we can do," suggested Bones, eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"But I thought duck shooting was always done in the early +morning?" ventured Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"It usually is; but in some localities there is apt to be a good +evening flight. That happens to be the case over at the swamp. +I've seen them come in there to spend the night by twos and +dozens, until the air was thick with them. And I've had the best +sport of my life in knocking them over on a runway, or rather +flyway. Say you'll go, Frank?" pleaded the enthusiastic sportsman. +</p> + +<p> +"Well," answered the one addressed, "it always appeals to me, and +in this case I'd just as soon be away from town to-night, because +the boys are going to do stunts, and they hinted that they might +get hold of me to ride me around, something I object to seriously, +on general principles. So far as I'm concerned I'll be delighted +to go along, Bones." +</p> + +<p> +"Ditto here," exclaimed Ralph; "only I shall have to go to be the +pick-up, for I haven't got a gun. I used to handle an old one of +Mr. West's, but, of course, didn't bring it along with me." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! that's easily fixed. If you don't mind you can use my old +one. She's a steady shooter. If you cover your bird you get him +every time. And I've got plenty of shells. Suppose you chase back +and get your double-barrel, Frank, while I see about the rig. +Ralph will stay with me and help, I know." +</p> + +<p> +It was speedily arranged and Frank, on returning with his gun, +found the others ready to make a start. Just as he had said the +arrangement pleased him first-rate, for he really did want to get +out of town until a late hour that night. It was not at all to the +liking of the football captain to be carried around on show, just +as if he were a hero on exhibition; especially when he avowed that +he deserved not one whit more honor for the victory than each +other member of the team. +</p> + +<p> +"I hope they get Lanky, and trot him around some to see how he +likes it. He was scolding me for not behaving right to the boys +to-day, when they grabbed me on the field after the game. I'd give +something to see him wallowing around on a platform and made to +bow to the right and to the left, over and over again." +</p> + +<p> +All of them laughed heartily at the picture Frank conjured up. +Then they clambered into the vehicle and the start was made. +</p> + +<p> +They had been wise enough to hide the guns, so that while some of +the boys who were on the streets saw them ride off, they had no +suspicion that the one bright particular star of the intended +celebration intended to be far away at the time. +</p> + +<p> +It was a ride of more than ten miles. The horse, while not a fast +animal, could keep up a steady pace, and in good time they arrived +at the farm which Doctor Shadduck owned. +</p> + +<p> +As the afternoon was passing, and night comes early after the +middle of November, the three young sportsmen hastened to head for +the swamp where they anticipated having an hour or so of pleasure +before dark actually shut in. +</p> + +<p> +Bones had often come up here on a similar errand, though this was +his first visit this year. Still, he kept things in such shape +that there was little time wasted making the necessary arrangements. +</p> + +<p> +He had a few painted decoys that had seen much service and these +they carried along with them from the house. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing Frank curiously examining one of the stools he carried, +Bones broke out into a hearty laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"Wondering what peppered that wooden decoy so, eh, Frank? I'll +tell you, though you'll never enjoy the story as much as I did the +actual thing. I had a cousin up here last winter. He was from New +York City, and had never shot at real game, though he was a deadly +marksman when it came to the trap, and could break bats and clay +pigeons right along." +</p> + +<p> +"I've seen the breed," commented Frank, with a grin. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, when we came crawling out here I forgot that I had asked +Benson to put my little flock of decoys out for me. The first +thing I knew I heard a bang close to my ear, and then a second +shot, after which Cousin Hal jumped up shouting that he had +knocked over the entire bunch. He had, but you ought to have seen +his look when I sent him wading out to retrieve the game. Still, +he laughed himself at the joke, and begged me not to tell it till +after he left." +</p> + +<p> +"I guess they'll float about as well as ever, even if weighted +down with shot. Have you got a boat up here, Bones?" asked Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure I have, and a dandy one to shoot out of, being flat-bottomed +and steady as a church floor. But I only use it to retrieve the +game generally; because you see, we can shoot from the land as the +ducks fly over to enter the swamp." +</p> + +<p> +Frank had often heard of this style of shooting, and wanted to try +it; so that he was very glad he had come. After the tremendous +strain of the morning some relaxation of this kind would be a good +thing too, for all of them. +</p> + +<p> +"I told my people not to expect me home to supper; and also that +they might be having game tomorrow for dinner, if we were lucky," +remarked Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"And nobody will bother whether I show up or not," observed Ralph, +with a nervous little laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"Never mind, old chap, I calculate that there's going to come a +decided change in your condition before a great while. You're +showing true grit in bearing up as well as you do. Any day you may +get the letter that tells you the ones you look for are on the way +here. Then your troubles will be all in the past. Hello! how's +this Bones? Have we arrived?" and Frank looked around curiously +when the guide came to a sudden halt. +</p> + +<p> +"Here we are, fellows. You see that abrupt break in the heavy line +of trees. It seems to form a sort of avenue, and the ducks in +flying toward the swamp just naturally drive into it, following +after each other as though it were really a road. In fact, few of +them ever enter the swamp by any other way than this." +</p> + +<p> +"If we're going to shoot over a place like this, as the ducks come +in, why the decoys?" asked Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +Bones laughed as he replied: +</p> + +<p> +"I generally keep them out here during the season, in a little +shelter I have. Nothing like making fellows useful, you know; and +while we were coming I thought three could carry them better than +one! Sort of making you work your passage, see?" +</p> + +<p> +Knowing the ground, and the habits of the waterfowl, Bones quickly +placed his two friends. Then they anxiously awaited the coming of +the first game. +</p> + +<p> +A sort of routine had been arranged. This was to prevent any waste +of ammunition, through two of them shooting at the same quarry. +</p> + +<p> +"Frank, you try the first chap, Ralph the second, and I'll +experiment with my new gun when the next pilgrim spins along. +Don't forget that they are swift customers right here, and the +chances are you'll shoot back of them," said Bones, as they stood +at their posts. +</p> + +<p> +"There, Frank!" exclaimed Ralph, as a couple of dark objects +suddenly burst into view, and sped past them. +</p> + +<p> +But Frank was not taken unawares. He had shot ducks more than once +before, and knew how to properly gauge their flight. Beginning a +little behind the pair he swept his gun forward so as to pass +them; and at just the instant it covered the game in its swinging +movement he pressed the trigger. +</p> + +<p> +One of the ducks fell, stone dead, and the other went on with +diminished speed as though crippled. Almost instantly the second +barrel spoke, and this time down came the second bird. +</p> + +<p> +"Fine!" exclaimed Bones, who had never seen Frank shoot before; +"why, really, I'm ashamed to show my clumsiness before such a +crack shot." +</p> + +<p> +"None of that, now. And don't believe I can do that sort of work +right along. Next time it may be a clean double miss. Ducks are +unreliable things. I've known the best of shots to miss, time and +again. Ralph, step up and toe the mark. You're next on the +docket," laughed Frank, as he hastily replaced the discharged +shells with fresh ones. +</p> + +<p> +"Better retrieve your game while the balance of us keep a lookout. +Otherwise we'll get things mixed, and perhaps lose some of it. +Did you mark the places?" said the host of the little hunt. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! yes, I always do that. It gets to be a habit with any fellow +who hunts much. I think they fell dead, so I oughtn't to have much +trouble," replied Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Beware the oozy spots along the border of the marsh. I've had no +end of trouble getting stuck instead of duck," called out Bones, +as the other moved away, carrying his gun along with him as a wise +hunter always does. +</p> + +<p> +Just as he retrieved the second victim to his accuracy he heard a +single shot, and a heavy body fell not ten feet away. Ralph had +dropped his first duck also. +</p> + +<p> +"There you are," remarked Frank, throwing the three birds down, as +he returned to the rendezvous; "and they do certainly look fine +and plump. Reckon you have quite a few muskrats in this old marsh +of yours, Bones. I saw a lot of houses in the water, made of +sticks and trash?" +</p> + +<p> +"I was told there were. Of course I've seen the little varmints at +times, when I've been hiding in a duck-blind; but they never +trouble me, and I don't go out of my way to interfere with them. +Ah! there!" +</p> + +<p> +He threw up his gun, and a second later two shots rang out in +rapid succession. Quite a bunch of teal had swung into the +avenue, heading for the marsh. They were just everlastingly +hurrying, as Ralph said, and while Bones succeeded in knocking +down a couple, one only wounded, which he never did find, he +declared he ought to be ashamed for not doing better. +</p> + +<p> +"Still, I like the feel of the gun all right. I'll do something +worth while when I get used to the hang of it," he remarked, as he +went off to look for his game. +</p> + +<p> +Then Frank had another chance. Sometimes the ducks were higher up; +then again they came at such speed that it was next to impossible +to make a hit. +</p> + +<p> +So the fun went on for three-quarters of an hour. It was actually +getting dusk, and the flight seemed about over. Ralph had dropped +a single duck, and gone off to try and find it, though Bones said +he doubted whether he would succeed, because of the gathering +gloom. +</p> + +<p> +About five minutes afterwards, as he and Frank were sitting there +on the log, exchanging stories of former hunts, they heard Ralph +calling. +</p> + +<p> +"Hello! what's the matter?" exclaimed Frank, starting up. +</p> + +<p> +"I don't know, but I can give a pretty good guess," remarked +Bones; and then elevating his voice, he shouted: +</p> + +<p> +"What d'ye want, Ralph?" +</p> + +<p> +"Better drop over here, please!" came the reply. +</p> + +<p> +"He's in some sort of trouble," suggested Frank, judging from the +half apologetic tone of his chum. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and I expect stuck in the ooze of the marsh, worse luck!" +grunted Bones. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap14"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XIV +</h3> + +<h3> +THE DANGERS OF THE MUCK HOLE +</h3> + +<p> +"Where are you?" called Bones, as he and Frank pushed forward in +the gathering dusk. +</p> + +<p> +"Here! Be mighty careful, fellows, or you'll get in too!" came the +answer, not far away. +</p> + +<p> +"Told you so," remarked the doctor's son, with a little laugh; +"poor Ralph; I pity him, because I've been there myself. When I +come alone out here I always carry a short rope along. If I get +stuck it helps me out." +</p> + +<p> +"A rope? How under the sun can that help?" demanded a voice close +by; showing that they were very near the boy who was stuck in the +ooze, and also that he was alive to the inconvenience of his +position. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, you see, in most cases there's a limb of a tree hanging +over, and it's dead easy to throw the rope across it. After that, +one can pull out, unless he's allowed himself to sink too deep. +Got a match with you, Frank?" asked Bones. +</p> + +<p> +"Lots. I've found them handy on too many occasions lately to go +without. Here you are, Bones. Going to make a fire, are you?" and +Frank, bending down, commenced to assist in gathering some dead +leaves together. +</p> + +<p> +"Well," replied the other, "we ought to have some light to see how +to work him free. It would be a tough joke if the whole bunch of +us got stuck. I don't hanker after such an experience. Things are +pretty dry up here, so we must be careful not to let the blaze +spread any." +</p> + +<p> +The fire was quickly a positive fact, and being fed with some +small branches it leaped up grandly. In this fashion the entire +neighborhood was illuminated. +</p> + +<p> +Frank looked around. The sight was peculiar, and as the marsh ran +into an actual swamp, he thought he had seldom seen a more weird +effect. Still, what interested him most of all was the picture of +Ralph, up to his knees in the soft slime that lay concealed under +the dead leaves and green scum. +</p> + +<p> +"I've tried all I could to get out, fellows, but the worst of it +is, when I lift one foot the other only goes that much deeper +down. If a fellow could only get hold of enough stuff to make a +sort of mattress he might roll over on it and do the trick that +way. I'd be trying that if I had daylight, and was alone here," +remarked the imprisoned boy, calmly. +</p> + +<p> +"Say, I never thought of that. It's a clever idea, all right. Next +time I get stuck I'm going to see how it works," remarked Bones. +</p> + +<p> +"Why not now, since you haven't your rope along. Here's just the +ticket—some old fence rails lying in a heap. Cheer up, comrade, +we'll have you out of that in a jiffy now," sang out Frank, +seizing one of the long, cast-off rails, and dropping it on the +surface of the muck. +</p> + +<p> +Bones fell to along side, and between them they speedily formed a +regular corduroy road out to where Ralph stood, watching the +building with interest. +</p> + +<p> +One of them got on either side. Then, with the aid of other rails +they pried Ralph loose, so that he could crawl over to the +"mattress," and get secure footing. After that nothing was needed +but to walk ashore. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm a fine sight, mud up to my knees, my hands full, and I tell +you, it isn't just as sweet as it might be," lamented Ralph, as he +started to scrape himself off with a splinter. +</p> + +<p> +"Hold on, we'll play valet to you. Take that leg, while I manage +this one, Frank," observed Bones, who was really enjoying seeing +some other fellow in the same mussy condition that had been his +lot more than once. +</p> + +<p> +They scraped so well that presently Ralph declared he felt quite +presentable once more. +</p> + +<p> +"But I'll make sure to let nobody see me in this condition," he +added; "and this pair of trousers will have to go to the cleaner's +Monday morning, you bet." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, are we off now?" asked Frank, as he started to make sure +that the fire was extinguished to the last spark. +</p> + +<p> +"That's the ticket, Frank," observed Bones, approvingly, "I like a +fire all right, but hate to see it burning up a marsh or a woods. +Had one little experience that I aint going to forget in a hurry. +I guess she'll do now. Let's shoulder our game and make tracks for +the farmhouse. Supper will be ready, I suppose." +</p> + +<p> +"Supper?" echoed Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, sure. You didn't suppose I meant that we'd go hungry when I +invited you to come up here for a little relaxation, after our big +strain this morning? Benson promised to have something for us. +They're only plain country folks, you know, so don't expect much +style, fellows." +</p> + +<p> +"Style!" exclaimed Ralph, with a snort, "do I look like I could +put on a heap, with these mussed-up trousers? All I ask is a +chance to wash my hands and face. But it was mighty good of you +thinking of the grub part, Bones." +</p> + +<p> +"I don't see how. I always eat with Benson when I come up here for +a shoot. It was only a case of selfishness. Say, this is something +of a load—four apiece all around, and they're heavy chaps, too. +This one is so fat he actually burst when he fell." +</p> + +<p> +"But I have no use of any game. Perhaps you'd better give the +farmer my share, for his kindness," suggested Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +"That's nice of you, old fellow. And I'll take you up on it, too. +Benson has no time to shoot, and I don't believe he knows how; but +all the same he does like a taste of game, to sort of change the +bill of fare. Follow me, now, for the house." +</p> + +<p> +Bones led the way, and presently they arrived at the farmhouse, a +low-roofed building, where light gleamed cheerily in the small +windows. Benson had a wife and several small children. The table +was set, country fashion, right at one end of the big kitchen, and +the odors that greeted the hungry and cold boys as they entered +certainly promised an appetizing repast. +</p> + +<p> +Ralph was soon made happy with a tin basin and a bucket of water. +He managed to repair damages pretty well, and was only too willing +to respond to the farmer's hearty invitation to take a chair and +"set-to." +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps it was their sharp-set appetites that made them think the +food tasted unusually fine. No matter, there was a great +abundance, and by the time they got up from the table every fellow +declared he could not eat another mouthful if he were paid for it. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll have your rig at the door in short order," declared Benson, +as he went out with a lantern. +</p> + +<p> +With a ten-mile drive, and a horse far from fresh, Bones had +decided that they would do well to start without any delay. He had +tried out his gun, and was satisfied; while on Frank's part, he +rejoiced in the fact that he would be away from town while all the +glorification was going on. +</p> + +<p> +"Hold on, Mr. Benson, that's enough. Eight is all we want to take +back with us. Ralph here is boarding and has no use for his share. +So he asks you to accept it," called out Bones, as the farmer +started to toss the game in the back part of the doctor's buggy. +"That's kind o' him, and I'm sure much obliged. We don't get any +too much game up here, close as we are to the marsh. I'm too busy, +you see, and then besides, I never was a great hand to shoot. In +summer I pull in quite some fish at odd times, and that's all the +sport I take." +</p> + +<p> +It was about eight o'clock when they finally left the farmhouse. +The good wife and the three children called out good-bye, as Bones +chucked to the horse, and they were off. +</p> + +<p> +"It won't be so awful dark on the road, for there's a half moon +peeping out up yonder behind those clouds," said Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Glad of that," returned Bones, who was doing the driving, +"because you see, the road is pretty rough till we get on the main +one, and if it was pitch dark we might stand for getting tumbled +into a ditch alongside. There are same nasty places I've got to +look out for. I know them pretty well though; ought to, for I've +been in two of 'em." +</p> + +<p> +"We'll help you look out then. I wouldn't hanker after a tumble +into a muddy ditch just now," laughed Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"Think of me, fellows! Why, my lower extremities are still damp +from one trip. That was bad enough, but think of going in head +first! Ugh! excuse me, if you please!" groaned Ralph. +</p> + +<p> +They made out to get along with little or no trouble. The horse +kept the middle of the road as a rule, and three pair of keen eyes +were quite enough to pilot the vehicle along toward the junction +of the two thoroughfares. +</p> + +<p> +When the firmer road was reached Bones declared he was glad. +</p> + +<p> +"Now we needn't worry, boys. Get-up, Strawberry; it's home for you +and another measure of oats. I had the farmer give him only a +small quantity. Keep a horse a bit hungry if you want him to +hustle for home," he remarked. +</p> + +<p> +"Sounds reasonable at any rate, Bones. And Strawberry is doing +pretty good hustling right now, considering the heavy condition of +our weight, in the way of game. My folks will think I'm something +on the shoot, I guess," remarked Frank, humorously. +</p> + +<p> +"You really got seven—" began Ralph, when his friend interrupted. +</p> + +<p> +"Never mind about that. One fellow is always lucky above the rest. +Never knew it to fail. To-day it might be me, to-morrow you. So it +goes. Forget it, both of you." +</p> + +<p> +Ralph said nothing more. He knew the nature of his chum, and that +Frank had not a selfish bone in his body. If there was any sport +going around he wanted every one to have their full share of it, +nor could he rest happy unless this were so. +</p> + +<p> +They had passed over several miles of the main road, and all of +them were somehow feeling a bit drowsy from their unusual +exertions of the day, when, without warning, the horse snorted +and came to a full stop. +</p> + +<p> +"What's this mean?" demanded Bones, in astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +"There's something on the road ahead of us," declared Ralph, +bending forward in order to see the better, for the shadows fell +across the tree-bordered pike. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm not sure," ventured Frank, "but it seems like some sort of +vehicle to me. Perhaps there's been an accident. Wait while I jump +out and go to see!" +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap15"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XV +</h3> + +<h3> +FRANK TURNS CHAUFFEUR +</h3> + +<p> +"Don't you want your gun?" asked Bones, in a low voice, that +showed some trace of excitement; for, truth to tell, Bones was +inclined to be suspicious by nature, and there had been stories +told lately throughout that section, of raids by thieving tramps. +</p> + +<p> +Possibly that may have been one reason why Bones was so desirous +of having company on this little excursion up to the farm to try +his new gun. +</p> + +<p> +"What for?" asked Frank, surprised, as he dropped out of the +vehicle. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! there's no telling. This may be just a trap to stop any +travelers and make them hand over. It's been done before. I'd hate +to lose my double-barrel the first thing." +</p> + +<p> +He was groping under the seat for the aforesaid article at that +very moment, as though he would feel safer with it in his hands. +</p> + +<p> +But Frank laughed scornfully. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't you believe it, Bones. Ten to one this is some vehicle that +has left the road and gone into the ditch. I'm only afraid I may +find the driver badly hurt in being thrown out, that's all." +</p> + +<p> +He left the buggy as he spoke, and walked hastily forward toward +the dark object that seemed to be half on the road and partly +among the trees. "Why, it looks like an automobile," said Frank +to himself, as he came closer; and five seconds later he added +positively, "That's just what it is. I wonder what's happened +now?" +</p> + +<p> +He soon knew. Upon reaching the scene he found that the car must +have suddenly swerved from the road and struck a tree, head on. It +could not have been going at a very rapid pace at the time, for +although some damage had been done to the hood, and one of the +lamps seemed to be smashed, the machine did not appear badly +damaged. +</p> + +<p> +Some one was grunting close by, and as Frank drew near he saw a +figure crawling out from the bushes. +</p> + +<p> +"What's happened here?" he asked, promptly. +</p> + +<p> +The figure of a man started up, and as Frank struck a match he saw +that the other seemed to be decently dressed, although his clothes +were somewhat torn after his headlong flight in among the bushes. +</p> + +<p> +"We had an accident," muttered the man, staring hard at him; and +Frank thought with a look not unlike suspicion on his scratched +face. +</p> + +<p> +"I see you had," returned Frank, at the same time noting almost +unconsciously from the way the machine headed they must have been +coming away from Columbia at the time; "but you speak as if there +might be another party along with you. Did he get tossed out too +when you hit the tree?" +</p> + +<p> +"I don't know. I wasn't seeing anything just then but a million +stars. He don't seem to be in the car, does he?" ventured the +other, who was rubbing himself all over as if trying to ascertain +whether any ribs, or other bones, had been broken in his rough +experience. +</p> + +<p> +"Then he must be in the bushes, the same as you, though it's a +miracle how he went out, being behind the steering wheel; and also +how he missed hitting this tree. Fortunately it happens to be a +small one. Let's look and see." +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke Frank lit another match and started to examine the +bushes alongside the stranded car and beyond. By the time he had +used three matches success rewarded his efforts, for they found +the man. +</p> + +<p> +"He's dead!" exclaimed the stranger, in horrified tones. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! perhaps not. He may only have fainted from the shock," and +lying down, the boy put his head down close to the chest of the +motionless man. +</p> + +<p> +"His heart is beating and that proves he is alive. Take hold here +and we'll carry him to the car. Perhaps he'll come to his senses +when I dash a little water in his face. Lift his heels and I'll +look after his head," and Frank took hold of the broad shoulders +as he spoke. +</p> + +<p> +In this fashion they managed to move the unconscious man to the +road. He was laid down alongside the car. Meanwhile, the other two +boys had come up, Bones urging the frightened horse along with the +whip. +</p> + +<p> +"What is it, Frank?" asked Ralph, jumping out. +</p> + +<p> +"Been an accident; a car rammed a tree. Both passengers thrown +out, and one of them is injured; Anyhow he seems to have been +knocked senseless. I'm going to get a little water in my cap and +try to bring him to," with which Frank darted to the other side of +the road, where his quick ear caught the trickling sound of a +small stream gurgling among mossy stones. +</p> + +<p> +He was back in less than a minute, and immediately started +splashing some of the water in the face of the unconscious man. +</p> + +<p> +"He's coming around," said the other man, watching these +operations with eager eyes; and who several times looked at the +three boys as though wondering what they could be doing there on +that lonely road at such a late hour, for it was now past nine +o'clock. +</p> + +<p> +Frank turned aside to see whether he could not light the +remaining lamp of the car, which did not appear to have been +broken, and had possibly only gone out through the sudden +concussion, as acetyline burners often will. +</p> + +<p> +He found that it was readily made to shed light again, and once +his work here had been done it was only natural for the boy who +delighted in machinery of all kinds to take a hasty look at the +car. +</p> + +<p> +"I think it might run still. Nothing vital seems to be broken, +anyhow," he said aloud, as he came back to the little group. +</p> + +<p> +The second man was recovering, but groaning more or less. +</p> + +<p> +"He ought to be taken to your house, Bones, to let your father +examine him. I'm afraid he may be badly hurt," said Frank; "if you +can help him into the tonneau of the machine I'll try and see if +it will work." +</p> + +<p> +"Say, can you run it?" asked the second man, eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"I know something about cars; enough to drive this one, if it +isn't damaged in its working parts. I couldn't guarantee to patch +it up, though. Wait and let me see." +</p> + +<p> +He bent over the car, and presently gave the crank a couple of +whirls to turn over the engine. Sure enough, there was an +immediate response, and the whirring that followed announced that, +strange to say, the machine had not been vitally injured in the +smashup, though badly damaged with regard to looks. +</p> + +<p> +Frank backed out, and with a few deft manipulations that proved +the truth of his assertion that he could run a car, managed to +head the machine once more toward Columbia. Neither of the men +seemed to notice just what he was doing. The one who had appeared +to Frank first was bending down over his friend, and they were +holding a whispered conversation. +</p> + +<p> +"Put him in; now Ralph," said the new chauffeur, quietly, "you and +Bones come along after, and leave my gun and the ducks at my +house. I'll be home long before you get there, I reckon, unless +this old machine takes a notion to be tricky again and dump us." +</p> + +<p> +Still groaning, the man was lifted into the tonneau. +</p> + +<p> +"How do you feel, sir?" asked Frank, solicitously; although, truth +to tell, he could not say that he liked the looks of either of the +parties, judging from what little he had seen of them by the light +of the lone lamp. +</p> + +<p> +"Pretty bum, boy. The trouble is, my right arm hangs down like it +might be broken; and without it I can't handle the wheel, you see. +My friend here don't know nothing about a machine, the worse luck. +So I don't see but what we've just got to let you do the drivin' +for us. It's nice in you proposin' it, too. Ugh! that hurts some, +I tell you!" +</p> + +<p> +The man accompanied his words with more or less vehement +expressions that did not raise him the slightest in the estimation +of Frank. However, he was evidently in great bodily pain, and that +might in some measure excuse his strong language. +</p> + +<p> +The second traveler got in alongside his friend, as though he +feared he might be needed sooner or later, if the other started to +faint again. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm going to get you to a doctor as soon as possible," remarked +Frank, as he started off. +</p> + +<p> +He heard the calls of his chums and answered back. Then the car +lost the slow-moving buggy on the road. Frank did not dare drive +very fast. He was not familiar with the machine; and besides, +possibly it was acting freakish—at least the man declared that it +had jumped aside straight at that tree without his doing anything. +On his part Frank accepted this version with a grain of allowance; +for he had long since scented liquor around, and could guess the +real reason for the accident. +</p> + +<p> +As he guided the car Frank could hear the two men talking behind +him. The murmur of their voices just reached him, though he could +not make out anything they said. +</p> + +<p> +Once the man who had come out of the mishap in better trim than +his companion seemed to be groping around under the seats as if +searching for something. +</p> + +<p> +"It's here, all right, Jim!" Frank heard him say, in a satisfied +tone. +</p> + +<p> +A minute later he was asking about the road, where it led, and +what the intentions of the boy at the wheel were. Frank repeated +what he had said before, to the effect that he thought the wounded +man ought to see a physician with as little delay as possible, and +therefore he was heading back to Columbia so as to take him to Dr. +Shadduck. +</p> + +<p> +"Who?" exclaimed the wounded man, as the name was mentioned. +</p> + +<p> +"Doctor Shadduck, the father of one of my chums, who was with me +duck shooting," replied Frank, thinking it strange why the man +while apparently suffering so much should care who attended him, +just so long as he could get relief speedily. +</p> + +<p> +Again the two men conferred in low tones. Frank could hear the +wounded one muttering again. Perhaps his arm had commenced to hurt +once more; or, it may have been something else that started him +off. +</p> + +<p> +And even while Frank was wondering who these parties could be +anyway, with their strange actions and apparent unwillingness to +return to Columbia, which place they must have recently left, a +heavy hand was laid on his arm, and a voice said: +</p> + +<p> +"Say, look here, we don't want to go to Columbia, and what's +more, we ain't meaning to let you take us there! Just ahead is a +road that runs off from this. They told us it runs over to +Fayette. Perhaps you don't want to go that way, but forget all +that and turn off, because you've just <i>got</i> to take us! No +words now, but shove us along lively!" +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap16"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XVI +</h3> + +<h3> +AN UNWILLING PILOT +</h3> + +<p> +Frank Allen felt a sudden thrill shoot through his entire body +when the gruff command to change his course was growled into his +ear. +</p> + +<p> +He had not been at all inclined to look upon these two travelers +in a favorable light; but this was the first intimation he +received that they might be even worse than they appeared. +</p> + +<p> +Of course he made no immediate reply. In fact, he was still dazed +by this puzzling turn in the strange little adventure. He had +believed that in helping the luckless victims of the accident he +was furthering his own interests, in that he would reach home long +before his chums. Now it began to look as though he had jumped +from the frying pan into the fire. +</p> + +<p> +He tried to collect his thoughts and reason out the case. Why +should these men so seriously object to returning to the town of +Columbia? Had they been guilty of doing something unlawful that +made the place dangerous to them? +</p> + +<p> +Once before Frank had become mixed up with a clique of men for +whom Chief of Police Hogg had warrants. He remembered the +circumstance clearly, and wondered whether history could be about +to repeat itself again. +</p> + +<p> +And then, why should the mention of Doctor Shadduck's name affect +them both in that strange fashion? Did they know the foremost +physician of Columbia, a man of considerable property interests, +and said to be the wealthiest man in the county? +</p> + +<p> +"The car!" +</p> + +<p> +Frank came near exclaiming these words aloud, so abruptly did they +form in his mind! Now he remembered why the automobile had somehow +seemed familiar to him, and why Bones had shown such interest in +it. +</p> + +<p> +"Bones thought it was an exact duplicate of the new machine his +father bought last week; but I believe it's the doctor's own car! +These men have stolen it for some reason or other," Frank was +thinking, even while he stared ahead at the white road over which +they were moving at a fair rate of speed. +</p> + +<p> +His pulses throbbed with the excitement, even more than when +Clifford threatened Columbia's ten-yard line with an irresistible +forward rush that morning. Hearing the men talking behind him he +strained his ears to try and catch a few words, in the hope that +he might discover what it all meant. +</p> + +<p> +"It's all your fault, Bart," grumbled the injured fellow. +</p> + +<p> +"I don't see how you make that out, Jim?" replied the other, +gloomily. +</p> + +<p> +"I wanted to turn and head for Fayette, but you said the other +road was best," the heavier fellow went on. +</p> + +<p> +"I think so yet, but who'd expect that we'd have such a wreck? I +tell you, man, we're mighty lucky to come out of it as well as we +did," said the other. +</p> + +<p> +"That's easy for you to say, but my arm feels tough. I reckon +she's broke sure enough. That means delay and trouble, just when +things looked so bright. It's a shame, that's what. Sure we didn't +lose it in the accident, are you, Bart?" +</p> + +<p> +The lighter man seemed to again feel down at his feet. +</p> + +<p> +"I tell you it's there safe and sound. Given four hours, and we'll +be where they ain't going to find us. Keep up your nerve, Jim. +Luck's still with us, I know," he went on. +</p> + +<p> +"Is it? Well, I'm beginning to suspect there's been a turn in the +tide. When the machine took the bit in her mouth and slammed us up +against that tree, it looked to me like we had run into bad +weather. But we must be near that road, Bart!" +</p> + +<p> +"Reckon it's just ahead now; I remember that big tree we passed +comin' out," replied the uninjured one of the precious pair. +</p> + +<p> +"All right. Don't let the kid get past. Seems to me he's some +slippery. I seen his face somewhere before," grunted the sufferer. +</p> + +<p> +"Course you did. He was the feller that captained them boys this +morning in the game we watched while waitin' for our chance," said +the other. +</p> + +<p> +"He was, hey? Well, you want to keep your eye on that boy, then, +mark me. They told me some high-colored yarns about him at the +inn." +</p> + +<p> +Frank was not in the least elated over hearing himself praised. In +truth, just then he was wrestling with the puzzling problem +presented by his strange situation. +</p> + +<p> +What "chance" did the man called Bart refer to? Who were these +mysterious men, and what did they have in the bottom of the +tonneau that seemed so precious in the eyes of the fellow who was +badly hurt? He could, for the time being, forget his severe +injuries to make inquiries concerning this package, hence it must +be of considerable value. +</p> + +<p> +Were they thieves? If this was indeed the new machine belonging to +Bones' father, it looked suspicious, to say the least. +</p> + +<p> +What could he do? They wanted him to take them somewhere, and in +a hurry, too; were they in full flight, desirous of getting to a +certain place before the pursuit became too fierce? +</p> + +<p> +If Frank shivered while considering these momentous things, it +could hardly be wondered at. The situation was one to give +concern to the bravest man, and, after all, he was but a boy, +though possessed of more than the average courage for one of his +years. +</p> + +<p> +"There's the road on the left, kid!" suddenly exclaimed Bart. +</p> + +<p> +"I see it, sir," replied the young pilot of the damaged car, +trying to keep his voice as steady as possible, in the hope that +the two men might not suspect that he had guessed their secret. +</p> + +<p> +"Be sure and turn in; and be careful not to upset us," continued +the other. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes," said the wounded fellow, quickly, "one accident is more'n +enough for me, to-night. Hey, that's a good sweep around, +youngster; I see as you know your business all right. Now, are we +headin' straight for Fayette?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sir," replied Frank, readily. +</p> + +<p> +"How far is that away from Columbia?" +</p> + +<p> +"Twelve miles, about, sir, as the road goes," answered the new +chauffeur. +</p> + +<p> +"We strike the railroad at Fayette, don't we?" continued Bart, +eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"There is one there, but not the same that comes to Columbia," and +when he said that Frank was certain that one of the men chuckled; +it must have been Bart, for the wounded fellow was in no mood for +merriment, what with his groans and grunts that signified pain. +</p> + +<p> +"That's right. And we're glad to hear it. Wouldn't give a cent for +a chance to ride back to your slow old town. New York's good +enough for us, hey, Jim." +</p> + +<p> +"It sure is, if I ever live to get there. Wish there happened to +be a doctor on this here road somewhere," said the second +traveler. +</p> + +<p> +"What for?" asked his comrade, quickly. "I'd get him to take a +look at this arm, that's what." +</p> + +<p> +"Huh! dangerous business, Jim. Don't you think of it 'less it's +just positively necessary. Delays might cost us dear. There's +going to be a big hello when our old friend gets out of that +sleep." +</p> + +<p> +Frank realized that the men were apparently getting to that point +where they cared little how much he knew. They evidently meant to +make such use of him as seemed necessary. Once he thought that it +might be a good thing if he pretended to lose control of the car, +just as Jim had evidently done. Then he changed his mind, and for +two very good reasons. +</p> + +<p> +In the first place, there was always the risk of being hurt +himself in the consequent collision with a tree. Frank could not +forget that his duty was to keep himself in good condition, so +long as his school looked to him to lead his team to victory in +the triangular series of football contests. Then, again, he +seemed to feel that it would be cowardly to desert the post into +which a strange accident had thrust him. +</p> + +<p> +Better stick it out until something cropped up whereby he could +make at least a try to defeat the purposes of these two rogues. He +had heard enough to want to know more. Probably they would not +seek to injure him so long as he made no positive move toward +interfering with their game, whatever that might be. +</p> + +<p> +They were talking again. Once more he strained for hearing in the +hope of picking up further clues that would enlighten him with +regard to their aims. +</p> + +<p> +"It's the safest way, Bart. If they can't get word to Fayette +till mornin', we can give 'em the laugh. You've just <i>got</i> +to do it," said the wounded man, with a degree of force that +marked him as the head of the expedition. +</p> + +<p> +"All right, if you say so, Jim. I'd a done it up the other road, +if you hadn't banged us into that tree. Say when," replied the +other, who was moving about as though doing something. +</p> + +<p> +Frank managed to take a swift look over his shoulder. It only +puzzled him the more, for Jim seemed to be fastening something +about the lower part of his legs. What could he want leggings for? +And what could it be that Jim insisted he should do? +</p> + +<p> +"I know of a doctor about two miles further on here," Frank said, +thinking that it might delay matters some if they concluded to +stop over; at least give him a chance to either escape, or render +the machine useless for further flight. +</p> + +<p> +"You do, eh? Well, tell us when we get there, and p'raps I might +make up my mind to hold over a bit. Are you ready, Bart?" said the +heavier man. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes. As well here as anywhere," came the reply. +</p> + +<p> +"Bring her to a stop, kid; here, alongside this telegraph pole. +That's good. Now, Bart, do it!" +</p> + +<p> +Frank felt more than curious to know what the men had in mind. As +soon as the car came to a stand the lighter man, who had not been +hurt in the accident, jumped rather clumsily from the tonneau. +Frank noticed this with surprise, for up to now he had looked upon +the other as rather agile. Could he have been injured after all, +and was just beginning to feel the effect of his headlong plunge +into the bushes? +</p> + +<p> +Judge of his utter amazement when he saw Bart at once seize hold +of the nearby telegraph pole and begin to climb up with a series +of sturdy kicks that apparently glued each foot in succession to +the pole. Frank no longer wondered, for he knew that the man had +been strapping a pair of lineman's climbing spurs to his legs when +bending down in the tonneau of the stolen car! +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap17"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XVII +</h3> + +<h3> +A DESPERATE REMEDY +</h3> + +<p> +"All right, Bart?" called out the man in the car, as the other +seemed to have reached the cross-bars far up the pole, over the +lower of which he threw a leg, after the confident manner of one +accustomed to such antics. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure. It was dead easy," came floating down from above. +</p> + +<p> +"Then get to work, and make a clean job of it. Look here, boy, +don't you be thinkin' of leavin' us in the lurch just now. I ain't +fit to run this shebang, so we need you, and need you bad. I +reckon you know what this is, don't you?" and the fellow showed +something that glistened like steel in the mellow moonlight. +</p> + +<p> +Frank could not help feeling a little chill; still, he, was not +given to showing the white feather easily. +</p> + +<p> +"Of course I do. It isn't the first time I've seen a revolver," he +managed to say, with a nervous little laugh. +</p> + +<p> +"All right, then; don't get gay, and make me ugly, or something +might happen. Hey! Bart, why don't you get busy?" raising his +voice again. +</p> + +<p> +There was a sharp click, and a clear "tang," as of a strained wire +snapping. Frank understood now what was doing. These men had fear +of pursuit, and were cutting the telegraph wires in order to +prevent direct communication between Columbia and Fayette! +</p> + +<p> +A second and a third metallic "pink" announced that the man up +among the cross bars was indeed using his cutters with effect. At +that rate he would have the entire sheaf of wires severed in +another minute or so. +</p> + +<p> +The matter began to assume gigantic proportions to the boy, as he +sat there in the car and listened. Certainly these men must have +desperate need for delay in the pursuit, if they went to such +extremes in order to accomplish it. And they seemed to have +provided against such a contingency, too, which would indicate +that they were now only carrying out a part of a well-laid plan. +</p> + +<p> +What could he do? Half a dozen ideas thronged into his brain, but +they seemed so utterly useless that he discarded them as fast as +they arose. He must in some manner get away from their company +before arriving in the neighborhood of Fayette; because if they +were as desperate as they appeared the chances were they might see +fit to tie him up, and leave him under some farmer's haystack, +where he would not be found for hours. +</p> + +<p> +"That light ahead is the doctor's place," he said, finally. +</p> + +<p> +The man called Bart had apparently severed the last of the wires. +He was even then coming down the pole hastily, as though eager to +be on the move. +</p> + +<p> +"It is, eh?" remarked the other, with a plain sneer, as though he +guessed the sudden hope that had leaped into being in the heart +of the boy; "well, seein' as how we've been held up here so long +I reckon I'll have to let that chance get by me. Seems like I +can move that arm a little. P'raps she aint broke after all." +</p> + +<p> +Bart jumped rather clumsily into the car. +</p> + +<p> +"Hit her up now, kid. We ought to make up some for the time we put +in here. Been a preachin' to him, ain't you, Jim? It's just as +well that he knowed how things lie, 'cause we can't afford to have +any foolin'?" he observed. +</p> + +<p> +"I warned him that we wouldn't put up with any hoss play. If he +tries to run us into the bushes he's goin' to get himself into a +peck o' trouble. Likewise, keep a still tongue in your mouth when +we go past the doctor's house; understand!" +</p> + +<p> +Jim thought it good policy to accompany these last words with a +vigorous prod between Frank's shoulder blades; and there could be +no mistaking the nature of the hard object with which he did this +punching. +</p> + +<p> +To tell the truth Frank had really thought of doing some shouting +just when they were in front of the little house where the country +doctor lived. His plans had been in a sort of chaotic state at +best, for he could not see just how anything of this sort might +avail to divorce him from the unwelcome company of these two +rascals. +</p> + +<p> +"I'm not saying a word," he remarked, with another little nervous +laugh, as the speeding machine passed the home of the medical man, +perched on a little knoll. +</p> + +<p> +While he bent forward and seemed to be scanning the road ahead, so +as to avoid a collision in case they met another vehicle coming +the other way, Frank was again doing his best to conjure up some +wild plan that might promise him the desired chance to escape from +the company of these two desperate men. +</p> + +<p> +He now had not the least doubt but that they were thieves of some +sort. What he had heard them say with reference to some person who +would not be apt to wake up for several hours, made him think +again of Doctor Shadduck. +</p> + +<p> +The gentleman was a rich man, and accustomed to dealing in many +enterprises that necessitated the employment of considerable +means. Possibly these men had managed to hoodwink the capitalist +in some fashion, and when their opportunity came had run away +with something valuable belonging to him. They may even have used +some of the good doctor's chloroform, or other drugs, to put him in +a condition whereby he could not give the alarm or start a pursuit +for some hours. +</p> + +<p> +It was really thrilling; but Frank had no desire to see anything +further of his unwelcome companions. He wished he had the nerve to +turn the car from the road; but the chances of being injured +himself discounted this desire. +</p> + +<p> +Surely there ought to be some other way whereby he could say good-bye +in a hurry. They would not search long for him if he once got away. +Since Jim admitted that his arm was feeling better perhaps he would +try and guide the machine into Fayette. Meanwhile Frank could be +trying in some fashion to warn the authorities. +</p> + +<p> +The sound of their voices just reached him as he sat there +thinking. They were talking low now, as if desirous of not letting +him hear, but Frank possessed keen ears, and could catch certain +words, especially in Jim's heavier tones. +</p> + +<p> +"It's just got to be did sooner or later. He could ruin all our +game if he wanted to. I've risked too much now to take chances. +Don't you go to showing any of your squeamishness, Bart; I won't +have it," he was growling. +</p> + +<p> +They must be referring to the boy who sat at the wheel and guided +the moving car. Bart evidently said something more, for presently +the voice of Jim once more came to the listening ears of the one +so deeply interested. +</p> + +<p> +"He ain't goin' to be hurted, I tell you. But his mouth has got to +be kept closed, unless you want the hull county on our heels. I +seen that feller play, and I know what he's capable of doin'. So +just shut up, Bart, and do what I says, hear?" +</p> + +<p> +Evidently the other finally agreed to abide by the decision of his +leader; for they both relapsed into temporary silence. +</p> + +<p> +"I <i>must</i> find some chance to jump!" Frank said over and over +to himself, after having heard what had passed between the two men +back of him. +</p> + +<p> +To do it then and there invited a dislocated shoulder when he +struck the hard ground. And then again there was that ugly, shiny +thing which Jim had taken such deliberate pains to show him; he +did not fancy being used for a target. +</p> + +<p> +"How far along are we now?" asked Jim, close to his ear. +</p> + +<p> +"About five miles out of Fayette, I think?" replied Frank, who had +frequently come over this some course on his wheel, and knew the +country well. +</p> + +<p> +"Huh! that's encouraging. Keep her going like she is, bub. You +seem to know how to run a machine, all right. Steady! there comes +something ahead. Give 'em the horn, boy, and steer to the right, +d'ye hear! Not a peep as we pass, remember!" +</p> + +<p> +Again came that wicked punch in the small of Frank's back. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll remember," he said, hastily, as he turned as far out as the +nature of the road permitted, and at the same time caused the horn +to give a few croaks. +</p> + +<p> +It was another auto approaching, as the several lights announced. +Frank's heart seemed to be in his throat as the two machines +rapidly approached each other. What would he not have given for a +chance to shout out, and tell the parties who were in the other +car that he was held under duress, and compelled to play the part +of chauffeur to these fugitive rascals; but he dared not, with +that desperate wounded man right at his back. +</p> + +<p> +Judge to his astonishment when he saw that the other car held a +number of Columbia people, among the rest Minnie Cuthbert and her +father. He only had a quick glimpse of them as the two machines +passed; but it was enough to show him a look of sheer astonishment +on the face of the girl, which told that she must have recognized +him. +</p> + +<p> +"Hello! Frank!" came a voice booming after them, as the other car +slowed down suddenly; and he believed that it must be Mr. Cuthbert +who called, possibly influenced by Minnie. +</p> + +<p> +"Silence! not a word, do you hear?" exclaimed Jim, emphasizing his +words with a further display of significant pushes with that hard +object. +</p> + +<p> +"And keep her going, kid, keep her going right along," added the +other man, grimly. +</p> + +<p> +"Are they turning around, Bart?" demanded the stout party, +savagely. +</p> + +<p> +"Naw. Nothing doing this time. There they start up again, and +headin' the other way. It's all right, pard, all right sure." +</p> + +<p> +"Lucky for them it is," grunted Jim; though he sighed in relief +because the peril had passed; "them fellers seemed to know you, +son?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, they are Columbia people," replied Frank, shortly, for he +had experienced a bitter disappointment when he realized that this +sudden little chance had slipped away without helping his forlorn +cause a mite. +</p> + +<p> +Three more miles or so had been passed over when suddenly there +flashed into his mind a brilliant idea that promised results. Just +ahead was a bridge over Juniper Creek, quite a good sized stream +that flowed into Harrapin River above Clifford. +</p> + +<p> +Passing down the incline that led to the bridge, Frank managed to +make the car act wobbly, as though there might be something the +matter. And as it ran on to the boards of the bridge itself, he +brought it to a sudden stand. +</p> + +<p> +"What's wrong here?" demanded Jim, angrily. +</p> + +<p> +The engine had stopped working. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll get out and see," observed Frank, suiting the action to the +word, and opening up the hood of the car. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't you try to run away, son, if you know what's good for you," +said the man, after Frank had used a wrench on the engine. "Try +cranking her again, and see if she refuses to work. There—hold +on, you fool—why, he's crazy, Bart!" for Frank had suddenly +whirled around, and taken a plunge over the side of the wooden +bridge into the cold waters of Juniper Creek! +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +[Illustration: FRANK HAD SUDDENLY PLUNGED OVER THE SIDE OF THE +BRIDGE.] +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap18"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XVIII +</h3> + +<h3> +MATCHING WITS +</h3> + +<p> +"After him, Bart! We mustn't let him get away!" exclaimed the +stout man, as he hurriedly climbed out of the tonneau of the +automobile. +</p> + +<p> +"Not me! I ain't hankering after a cold bath just now," answered +his companion, who had jumped out on the other side, and was +running around. +</p> + +<p> +"Run down to the bank and get hold of him, if you can!" continued +Jim, harshly. +</p> + +<p> +This seemed at least reasonable, and Bart had no objections to +trying to do something along such lines. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't see anything of him here!" he announced a minute later, as +he appeared below, and ran along the bank of the stream. +</p> + +<p> +The moon had gone behind a cloud, as though wishing to favor the +escape of the unwilling chauffeur. +</p> + +<p> +"Hang the luck! Well, come up here then, and we'll put off. P'raps +I might manage with my other arm. We can't hang around here, with +time flying. The town's close by. Hurry up, Bart!" +</p> + +<p> +But when Bart reached his side, he found the other breathing out +threatenings in a fashion that denoted a new difficulty. +</p> + +<p> +"What's wrong now?" asked the slim man, who was panting from his +exertions. +</p> + +<p> +"That clever little scamp has dished us, that's what; carried away +the spark plugs of the machine with him, and without them we might +as well try to move this bridge. I was a fool to trust him one +second. We've just got to find him, Bart, that's all there is to +it! Either that, or walk into Fayette, and perhaps lose that +train. Come on back again. You take one side, and I'll look over +the other. He's there, sure, unless he got drowned, and that I +don't imagine is the case." +</p> + +<p> +Bart was fully awake to the great necessity of finding the boy, +after hearing what Frank had done as he jumped from the car. Each +of them hurried around the approach of the bridge, and slipped +down the bank. +</p> + +<p> +"Any sign of him over there, Jim," called Bart, as he pushed his +way into the bushes and reeds that bordered the creek. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't see none yet, but keep on further down. Like as not as he +just drifted with the current a bit, and then crawled out. Get +him, if you find his tracks, I feel like I could do something to +him for playin' this trick on us. Hello!" +</p> + +<p> +"What's doing, boss?" called the other. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's where he crawled out, all right," replied Jim, excitedly. +</p> + +<p> +"How d'ye know it is?" demanded the other, across the water of the +creek. +</p> + +<p> +"It's all wet. I'll follow it up, and nab him in a dozen winks. He +can't have got far away, I reckon." +</p> + +<p> +"What d'ye want me to do, Jim?" called his companion, after a +wait. +</p> + +<p> +"Go back to the bridge, and cross over here." +</p> + +<p> +"All right. Keep right after him. The moon's going to come out +again right soon. If you see him, give him a shot to make him +stop!" and shouting in this vein, Bart turned to retrace his steps +back to the bridge. +</p> + +<p> +He was somewhat out of wind by the time he had half mounted the +abrupt bank that served as the base for one end of the bridge. All +at once he heard a sound that electrified him. It was the cranking +of the car! +</p> + +<p> +"Hi, Jim! here he is! Come back! He's going to leave us in a +hole! Head him off up the road there! Hurry, Jim, hurry!" +</p> + +<p> +The climbing man could hardly finish shouting, so short was he of +breath; but perhaps it may have been the absolute necessity for +prompt action that forced him to continue the balance of the sheer +ascent. +</p> + +<p> +The answering cries of his companion welled up from somewhere down +along the side of the stream, and the crash of his plunging +footsteps could be heard as an evidence that he understood the +danger menacing them. +</p> + +<p> +As Bart pulled himself up alongside the approach to the bridge he +saw a boyish figure spring into the fore part of the damaged car. +Then came a series of quick pulsations that announced the fact of +the machine working, as if nothing had ever been the matter. +</p> + +<p> +"He's going off with it, Jim! Stop him! He's carrying our stuff +with him! Head him off! Puncture a tire for him! Give him a shot, +Jim!" howled to the thoroughly demoralized Bart, starting to +stagger after the retreating automobile himself, with his hands +extended, as though he would fain seize hold upon it. +</p> + +<p> +"Good-bye, fellows; your cake is dough!" shouted the one who +sprawled in the front seat of the car and guided its destinies. +</p> + +<p> +Frank had purposely thrown on considerable power in making his +start, for he knew what if ever there was need of haste it was +right then and there. Jim was running ahead there, with the +intention of cutting him off, and little though he had seen of +the gentleman, he felt that he had no desire to prolong the +acquaintance further. +</p> + +<p> +Now the friendly moon could no longer hold back behind that +floating black cloud, and with her first appearance Frank turned +an anxious face toward the spot where a violent agitation in the +brush announced the presence of the running Jim. +</p> + +<p> +"Hold up there, boy! Put on the brake, or I'll——" but the rest +was unheard, for Frank had dropped as low as he could in the front +of the car, though still keeping his hands on that guiding wheel. +</p> + +<p> +He heard the sharp discharge of a weapon, thrice repeated. His +heart seemed to come up almost in his throat, for this thing of +being under fire was a new experience for the young athlete. +Perhaps the man had tried to simply puncture the tire, although +this would in the end delay their departure. Frank never knew the +truth in connection with the firing. +</p> + +<p> +Then, in another second or two, he realized that he had passed +beyond the zone of danger, with a clear road ahead of him! +</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah!" +</p> + +<p> +He could not help giving vent to his delight in this one shout. +Just half a mile further on another road branched off from the one +he was flying over. He remembered that by a circuitous way it +would eventually take him to Columbia, passing through first the +village of Stagers, and then a larger place known as Plattville. +</p> + +<p> +His pulses were bounding with triumph as he let the car out notch +by notch. Why, after all, the smash could have done no serious +damage to the machine. What was fifteen miles when in such a +splendid traveler as this new auto of the good doctor's? +</p> + +<p> +He made the turn, and presently dashed into the first village. +Here he stopped at a tavern long enough to make an examination, to +ascertain whether his supply of gasoline might be sufficient to +carry him home. He also wished to impress the fact of his having +been there upon the hotel keeper. In case anyone tried to cast any +doubts upon his story, it might be well to have evidence that he +had visited Stagers that night. +</p> + +<p> +And during his brief stop Frank took occasion to look at the +object lying in the bottom of the tonneau, and which had seemed to +be especially valuable in the eyes of the two unprincipled men. +</p> + +<p> +It was a common variety of grip, made of some good leather. He did +not bother opening the same, thinking that possibly Doctor +Shadduck might be better qualified than himself for that task, but +he placed it at his feet in front. +</p> + +<p> +Once again Frank was on the move. He really hoped that nothing +would interfere with his reaching Columbia safely, now that +fortune had been so kind. +</p> + +<p> +The road was not the best possible for a machine, and often he had +to slow up rather than take unnecessary chances for an accident. +</p> + +<p> +Whenever he thought of the pair of rascals left behind, he +laughed. He felt that he could afford to loosen up a little after +such a strenuous time. But in his wet condition he found rapid +traveling rather unpleasant. True, he had borrowed a heavy coat +from the hotel man, to whom he had explained the case in a few +sentences; but in spite of this protection, he soon began to +shiver. +</p> + +<p> +This compelled him to reduce speed still more. When he reached +Plattville the road would be better, and besides, he might find a +chance to get a drink of warm coffee or tea, if the eating-house +were open at such an hour. +</p> + +<p> +Cheered by this thought, he set his teeth together, resolved to +stick it out to the end. But Frank was not apt to forget that ride +in a hurry. +</p> + +<p> +It was now a quarter to ten. He found this out by striking a match +and looking at his watch, the moon having retired once more behind +the clouds. But Frank was under the impression that he must be +close to the town now. +</p> + +<p> +"I believe I remember that windmill on the left, and the big water +tank on the hill. Yes, Plattville must lie down there in the +valley. Now to slip along the down grade. Just seven miles from +home; but I wish I was there now," he was saying, as he passed +over the crest of the elevation. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, there were many lights in sight, and how they cheered him, +after his lonely ride along the wretched road from Stagers. He +felt like shouting again, so buoyant had his feelings become. What +would Bones say when he learned the truth; and doubtless Doctor +Shadduck would be pleased at getting his new car back, damaged as +it was. +</p> + +<p> +So Frank, running downhill, crossed a bridge, and came into the +town of Plattville. On ordinary nights, doubtless, the place would +be quiet enough at this hour; but Saturday was different. Quite a +number of persons were on the main street, and cast curious +glances at the lone traveler who had entered the town. +</p> + +<p> +Straight to the leading hotel Frank went. He had been here before, +and even taken a dinner once upon a time, when his club came over +to play the Plattville boys. +</p> + +<p> +A small-sized crowd stood around the door of the bar room. Frank +could see that there seemed to be some signs of excitement, though +he did not suspect that it could have anything to do with him. +</p> + +<p> +Hardly had he brought the car to a stop when some of the men +crowded around, and one of them shouted out: +</p> + +<p> +"Hi! sheriff, here's the identical car you was readin' to us about +in that ere dispatch from Columbia. And here's one of the thieves +come right in to give hisself up! Surround the machine, boys; +don't let the feller escape; and look out, for they do say he's a +desprit case! come out here, Sheriff Tucker!" +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap19"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XIX +</h3> + +<h3> +AT THE END OF THE CIRCUIT +</h3> + +<p> +A tall man came running out of the hotel. +</p> + +<p> +"What's that you say, boys?" he was demanding, as he advanced +eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's luck for you—the very car you said was stolen over in +Columbia! See if it ain't, sheriff!" cried the fellow who had done +all the shouting. +</p> + +<p> +"It's the same make car, as sure as you live. I wouldn't be +surprised if it turned out to be Doc. Shadduck's new one," +observed the official, glancing at a yellow paper he gripped in +his hand, and which, as he held it close to the one burning +headlight of the car, proved to be a telegraph dispatch. +</p> + +<p> +"That's right, sheriff; it is Doctor Shadduck's car," said Frank +cheerfully, as he proceeded to alight. +</p> + +<p> +"Hey! he's goin' to try and run for it, sheriff; nab him!" +exclaimed the voice. +</p> + +<p> +"You admit that this is the car stolen from Columbia this very +night do you?" demanded the stern-faced man laying a hand on +Frank's shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +"Of course I do, sheriff; but I'm shivering all over. I've been in +Jumper Creek not long ago. Come in with me while I get a cup of +hot coffee, and I'll tell you the story. You ought to know me, +sheriff; I'm Frank Allen. I've seen you in my father's store more +than once." +</p> + +<p> +"What's that. Well, I declare now if it ain't so! This is getting +mighty interestin', sure. Here, Dobbs, you watch this car until I +come out. Now, my boy, come along with me," said the sheriff. +</p> + +<p> +"All right, sir; just wait a couple of seconds. There's something +here in the car that Jim and Bart seemed to think a heap of, and +so I wouldn't like to lose sight of it just now." +</p> + +<p> +Saying which Frank bent down and took hold of the little leather +bag. He had been surprised before to find it quite heavy, a fact +that had convinced him it must hold something which had been +stolen from the doctor over in Columbia. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately there was hot coffee to be obtained. While it was +coming Frank entertained the kindly sheriff with a rapid account +of what had happened, commencing with the duck hunt, and the +finding of the stranded car on the road home. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I never!" the other kept saying, as he sat there with his +eyes glued on the face of the young speaker, and drinking in his +words. +</p> + +<p> +When Frank told of how he jumped over the railing of the bridge +that spanned Juniper Creek, the sheriff brought his hand down upon +his knee with a resounding slap. +</p> + +<p> +"Beats anything I ever heard, I swan if it don't! And they tell me +that you captained them boys as played the Clifford football team +to a stand this mornin'. I don't wonder at it; they ain't much as +could stand up before such pluck! And so you went souse into the +creek? Ugh! it must a been a cold bath, Frank. Go on," he +exclaimed, enthusiastically. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! that's about all. I crawled out below, and when they came +down to hunt for me, because I'd fixed it so the machine couldn't +be run, I just crawled up the bank, jumped aboard, and was off. +Jim banged away after me a few times, but he was hurt so he had to +use his left hand, and I knew he couldn't hit a barn. That's all. +Here comes my coffee; I only hope I don't take cold." +</p> + +<p> +The elated sheriff watched the youth gulp down the hot drink, +admiration in his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll see to it that you have a big fur coat the rest of the way. +And I'm goin' along with you, boy, to be in at the finish. This is +too good to lose. Ain't had so much excitement in six months. Jim +and Bart is loose on the community. I'll just have word sent +around so they kin be pulled in if they try to get aboard any +train." +</p> + +<p> +Ten minutes later and Frank again jumped into the captured car. He +was now warmly clad in a heavy automobile coat that would defy the +bracing air as they headed for Columbia, just seven miles distant. +</p> + +<p> +"We'll make it in a quarter of an hour, easy," he remarked, as the +sheriff took a seat beside him. +</p> + +<p> +"I reckon we oughter, Frank. I'd sure like to be in your shoes for +this. They'll think more of you in Columbia than ever, I reckon," +remarked the officer, as they made a flying start, amid a few +cheers from the gathered crowd. +</p> + +<p> +"Did you telegraph along the line about those men?" asked Frank, +desirous of seeing justice meted out to Jim and his companion. +</p> + +<p> +"I did, and told the operator at Fayette to pass the good word +along everywhere. There's some reward out for the apprehension of +them fellows, and its enough to make every chief of police keep +busy in hopes of corralin' the same. Now tell me what them men +looked like. That job of cuttin' the wires was a cute one. I +reckon that Bart he's been servin' his time as a telegraph +wireman, and knows all the dodges." +</p> + +<p> +Frank could not decline, although he would have much preferred +keeping silent as he drove the big car onward. The sheriff had +been so kind to him that he felt as though he could not refuse to +aid him in any way possible. So he described both men as nearly as +he could, considering what few glimpses he had had of their faces. +</p> + +<p> +The seven miles proved a short ride. Having more confidence in the +machine now that the road was fine, and that hard object no longer +prodded him in the back, Frank let out quite some speed in places. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder if Bones and Ralph have gotten home yet?" he was +thinking, as the outskirts of Columbia came in sight. +</p> + +<p> +Turning several corners, he arrived in front of Doctor Shadduck's +place. The house he saw was all lighted up. And standing in front +was the vehicle he and his two chums had used in their little +expedition after the ducks of the marsh. +</p> + +<p> +"That tells the story. Bones has arrived ahead of me, after all. +Wonder if its struck him that he saw his father's new car, and me +in it driving those two precious rascals off so cheerfully?" +</p> + +<p> +Frank chuckled at the thought. Just then there came a big shout, +as a figure rushed down the steps of the house. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's the car, dad! And Sheriff Tucker's got one of the thieves +in custody, too! He's carrying your bag. Hey, Ralph, come out and +see the fun!" +</p> + +<p> +Of course it was Bones, and since Frank was bundled up in that +great wolfskin automobile coat, with a hat pulled down over his +eyes in place of the cap he had lost in Juniper Creek, it was not +strange that the other failed to recognize his comrade. +</p> + +<p> +"Halt! hands up, Bones!" cried Frank, throwing the little leather +bag forward menacingly. +</p> + +<p> +"What! great smoke! if it ain't Frank—and he's brought the car +and the bag back home! Ralph said he would, just as soon as he +heard about it; but I was a doubter. I thought they'd just eat you +alive, Frank, old boy. Where'd you get the coat, and how'd the +sheriff happen on you? Did he do the rescue act?" demanded Bones, +throwing his arms around the other, enthusiastically. +</p> + +<p> +"Did he? Not if he knew it, young man," replied the officer +himself, with a shake of the head; "but let's get inside, and the +whole story can be told while Frank warms up again. Your dad must +see to it that the boy don't take cold, for he's been in Juniper +Creek to-night!" +</p> + +<p> +"Wow! now you have excited my curiosity some, Mr. Sheriff. Hurry +in, Frank, and let's hear what happened after you left us. We just +got home five minutes ago, and found the whole place upset. Those +slick scoundrels worked a confidence game on my governor—left him +in a stupor in his private office, after supper, with the door +locked, and skipped out with his new car and some valuables, +including negotiable stocks worth a good many thousands, and all +his expensive new surgical tools that he kept in that glass case, +you remember, in his consulting room." And Bones rattled this off +at a tremendous rate. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! I see," exclaimed the sheriff just then; "so that's who Jim +and Bart are. A couple of smart ones have been going around +visiting doctors upstate this two months past, and stealing their +instruments, to sell again in New York. I reckon we'll try to make +this their last job, all right." +</p> + +<p> +"But your father—surely he couldn't have been lying there all +this time?" observed Frank, wondering how the news could have been +wired or phoned over to Plattville if this were so. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! no; Mr. Willoughby happened to drop over to ask dad something, +and when they couldn't get any answer, he broke in the door of +father's den. They found him just beginning to come out of his +sleep, for, what do you think, those rascals had chloroformed him, +as sure as you live," replied Bones. +</p> + +<p> +"I understand now. Of course a general alarm was sent out for the +thieves. But they couldn't have reached Fayette if they tried," +laughed Frank. +</p> + +<p> +"And why not?" asked Bones, quickly. +</p> + +<p> +"Wires down. Bart, the fellow who wasn't hurt, shinned up a pole, +by the aid of a pair of lineman's spurs he carried with him, and +cut every blessed wire soon after they made me turn into that road +leading to Fayette," replied Frank. +</p> + +<p> +Doctor Shadduck they found pretty much himself. He greeted Frank +warmly, as did also Coach Willoughby. +</p> + +<p> +"He's all wet, dad; he's been in Juniper Creek, the sheriff says. +There's a story back of it, and I'm just dying to hear it," cried +Bones, shoving the other forward. +</p> + +<p> +"First of all, please see if everything is safe here," said Frank, +as he thrust the bag into the hands of the doctor. +</p> + +<p> +"Everything they got, so far as I can see, is here. It's wonderful +how you happened to get hold of them, and the car too," said the +doctor, shaking the boy's hand again warmly. +</p> + +<p> +"There's where you're mistaken, dad; it didn't happen at all, and +I'd wager on it that Frank played a right hot game with those two +rascals, and beat them out in a square deal," declared Bones, +sturdily. +</p> + +<p> +"Bully for you, Bones," remarked the sheriff; "you just bet he +did. Wait till you hear the whole story. It's the greatest ever." +</p> + +<p> +Of course Frank related all that had happened to him; but first of +all the wise physician insisted upon giving him something that +would prevent any ill effects following his cold plunge and +subsequent wild ride. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Frank's father and mother were called over, and the +story had to be told again for their benefit; though Frank tried +to beg off, and declared that after all it had been just good luck +that carried him through. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap20"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XX +</h3> + +<h3> +FRANK'S LUCK +</h3> + +<p> +Perhaps it was just as well that a day of rest followed that +strenuous Saturday. +</p> + +<p> +Frank found himself somewhat stiff and sore when he awoke, and +acting under the advice of his father he remained in seclusion the +better part of the day. But the story had gone around, and the +doorbell of the Allen home was kept busy throughout the whole +afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +Half a dozen of Frank's most intimate chums dropped in to hear the +story, and Frank finally declared he would have to get it set up +in type and copies struck off if the demand kept on. +</p> + +<p> +There were grown people who came also. Among others was Mr. +Cuthbert. Frank found his hand trembling a little nervously when +he saw him, thinking that possibly Minnie had sent a message; but +it seemed that if he had come over at her earnest solicitation the +gentleman had been instructed not to mention that fact. +</p> + +<p> +"We believed it was Frank in that car," he said, as he shook hands +warmly with the boy; "and I even called out, for some of us +thought he looked toward us rather appealingly; but as no answer +came we concluded it must have been a mistake. To think we were so +close to those wretches, and didn't suspect anything wrong. Have +you heard the latest, Mr. Allen, and you Frank?" +</p> + +<p> +"Are they caught?" asked Frank, instantly, jumping at the truth +from the expression he saw on the gentleman's face. "So it is +said; and I was told that Sheriff Tucker was the one who cornered +the pair of rogues after all," replied Mr. Cuthbert. +</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah!" cried Ralph and Paul and the others in a chorus. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I'm glad that it fell to my friend, the sheriff of the next +county. He was mighty good to me and deserves all the reward there +is coming," was the remark of the one who was supposed to be the +most interested. +</p> + +<p> +He was secretly bitterly disappointed because Minnie had not come +over, or asked her father to carry a message. Evidently, whatever +it may have been that had come between Minnie and her former +friends, the Allens, it was proving an insurmountable barrier. +</p> + +<p> +And on Monday when Frank went to school, as usual, he had to +submit to being asked a thousand questions. Often he utterly +refused to answer anything further, he became so weary of hearing +about the matter. +</p> + +<p> +Minnie appeared as distant as ever. But one thing Frank happened +to see that gave him more or less satisfaction; and this was the +utter humiliation of Lef Seller. +</p> + +<p> +Lef had been standing around, listening to what was being said; +and the air of utter unbelief upon his sneering face told that had +he dared he would only too gladly have called the whole story a +freak of the imagination; and that in reality the credit belonged +to Sheriff Tucker, who had only allowed Frank to assume the +laurels because he wanted to get credit at the Allen department +store, where he was known to trade. +</p> + +<p> +Just then Minnie happened to pass in company with her new chum, +Dottie Warren; and thinking to add a drop of bitterness to Frank's +cup of joy, Lef immediately posted after the two. +</p> + +<p> +There were some words between them, during which it seemed as +though Minnie might be accusing Lef of saying something to which +she seriously objected. At any rate she walked on with her head +held high in the air, while Lef shrugged his shoulders, and not +daring to look toward the grinning group of boys, sauntered off. +</p> + +<p> +Still, that new quarrel between the others did not heal the breach +that separated old friends. Frank tried to forget, and laughed as +merrily as though there was not a cloud on the horizon. +</p> + +<p> +Professor Parke even called Frank into his study and requested him +to relate the strange thing that had happened. The head of +Columbia High School had a very tender spot in his heart for Frank +Allen, not alone because he was a bright pupil, but on account of +the clean character he bore among his fellows. +</p> + +<p> +Coach Willoughby was staying over to see the last game of the +season. He declared that while he was losing money every day he +remained away from his law business, he could not find it in his +heart to desert the boys until they had safely landed that +beautiful silver cup in a deciding victory over Bellport. +</p> + +<p> +Truth to tell, the old Princeton graduate was a thorough sport, +and once he had yielded to the call of the game he could not break +away. +</p> + +<p> +"Don't you come out to practice for several days, Frank," he +advised, "on Wednesday perhaps, when we start to go over the +entire thing again and try new signals, it will be time. There are +a few weak spots in the team that need help, and I'm going to +devote two afternoons to them exclusively. Wander around, and +limber up with walks or a bicycle ride. But please don't employ your +spare time rounding up any more rascals, will you?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'll try not to," laughed Frank; "but what's a fellow to do if +they will persist in throwing themselves at your head?" +</p> + +<p> +"That's a fact, they did kidnap you, to be sure. Well, next time +try and see to it that the other fellow goes into Juniper Brook +and not you. That's a dangerous trick at this cold season of the +year; and especially taking a long ride afterward in an open car. +I wonder you didn't come down with pneumonia, Frank," said the +coach, as he threw one arm affectionately across the other's +shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! everybody was so kind. I had the loan of a coat first, and an +old hat; then Sheriff Tucker got me a big shaggy automobile fur +coat, which with the hot coffee helped ward off a cold. Finally +Doctor Shadduck dosed me good and hard. Nothing doing in that line +for me this time," laughed the boy. +</p> + +<p> +It was on Tuesday afternoon that the time began to drag most +heavily on his hands. Paul and Ralph, together with Bones, had +gone to the recreation grounds to talk over matters with the +coach, and try out some new plays. Frank really knew of no one +whom he cared to look up just then. +</p> + +<p> +A reaction seemed to have set in after his recent excitement, and +things were most woefully dull. The weather still held dry and +fair to a degree that was considered extraordinary for November, +usually so dismal with the approach of winter. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder if it wouldn't be worth while to take a spin on the +wheel," he mused as he considered the matter; "the chances are the +weather will change any day now, and then good-bye to wheeling for +the season. Besides, I really believe I'd like to turn down that +road to Fayette, and take another look at that old bridge. There +are a few things I don't quite understand about that affair." +</p> + +<p> +The thought aroused him. Again he felt the blood circulating +through his veins with the old-time vigor; the stagnation had +departed, and it was with considerable elation that he hurried to +get his bicycle. +</p> + +<p> +The fact that the bridge was a matter of ten miles or more away +did not give him cause for worry. He could easily make it in an +hour or less, and be back long before suppertime. +</p> + +<p> +As he passed the school building he waved his hand to old Soggy, +the janitor and custodian, who was busily engaged with his daily +duties. +</p> + +<p> +"Off after another lot, are ye?" laughed the good-natured old +fellow; "well, this time bring 'em in yourself, and don't be +botherin' no poor sheriff to help out. You ought to be ashamed, my +boy!" +</p> + +<p> +Frank knew that old Soggy would have his joke, and he only laughed +in response. That was the one thing objectionable in doing +anything out of the ordinary run; every person thought they had a +right, either to make a hero out of him, or else sneer at the +story as something like the accepted fish yarn. +</p> + +<p> +His wheel was in good shape, as always; the road seemed much +better for a bicycle than it had been for a car, and with the +bracing atmosphere made a combination difficult to surpass. Before +the hour was up he had dropped off at the bridge, and stood there +leaning on the rail looking down. +</p> + +<p> +"H'm! after all, it was a good thing I knew so much about this +same place. If I'd jumped ten feet further along I'd have come +slap down on that ugly looking bunch of rocks that stick their +noses up above the water. Juniper is low, like all the other +streams around here, after this dry fall. But I knew there was a +deep pool right under and below the bridge." +</p> + +<p> +So he mused as in imagination his eye followed his course after +reaching the water. He could see just where he had crawled out, as +Jim discovered later, when the fugitive was already half-way back +to the road again. +</p> + +<p> +"He had to run uphill, and that's one reason why he couldn't head +me off, as Bart wanted him to do. Then that lame arm prevented him +from shooting decently. On the whole, I guess I was mighty lucky," +he concluded. +</p> + +<p> +After lingering around for a short time he once more mounted his +wheel and headed back toward Columbia. There were short-cuts that +he knew from former usage, by means of which several miles might +be saved. Something seemed to beckon him along this course, though +he hardly understood why he should want to shorten his run when he +was out for the exercise and air. +</p> + +<p> +It was while he was traversing a farmer's lane that would bring +him out on the other road, and save two miles around, that Frank +for the first time noticed some one moving across a field, and +heading almost directly toward him. He noted the fact with some +surprise, because he happened to know that the farmer was the +possessor of a very vicious bull, which he often allowed the +freedom of that very pasture, in the summer and fall, for +exercise, so that the boys of Columbia always went around when +making for the old "swimming hole." +</p> + +<p> +He had noticed the animal only a couple of minutes before, +trotting around back of the haystacks that ran along one end of +the field. If he ever caught sight of that feminine figure +crossing his preserves there would surely something be bound to +happen. +</p> + +<p> +Frank, impelled by some sense of coming trouble, came to a stop +and caught hold of the high rail fence to hold himself on his +wheel while he looked. Somehow there seemed something wonderfully +familiar about the figure of the tripping maid; and his heart +seemed to almost stand still as she raised her head to look +around, and he discovered that it was Minnie Cuthbert, evidently +on the way to visit an uncle, who lived a short distance beyond +Farmer Blodgett. +</p> + +<p> +Just as he made this interesting discovery he heard a dull roar +that struck a note of dismay at the door of his heart. The savage +bull, whom every one feared, had discovered the fair trespasser on +his preserves, and was coming on the run! +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap21"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XXI +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LIFTING OF THE CLOUD +</h3> + +<p> +"This way, Minnie! Run as fast as you can!" +</p> + +<p> +The girl had looked back and discovered the advancing bull, which +sight caused her to shriek and became panic-stricken. Fortunately +the animal pursued peculiar tactics while bearing down upon his +expected victim. Running forward for a short distance, he would +stop to bellow furiously and toss up the turf with his short +horns, upon which gilt balls had been fastened by the farmer +owner. +</p> + +<p> +Frank had jumped the fence like a flash, and was already rushing +toward Minnie. She caught sight of him, and naturally changed her +course so as to head in his direction. Perhaps just then she +hardly knew who it was coming to her assistance; but turned to any +port in a storm. +</p> + +<p> +When they met it was at a distance of possibly thirty yards from +the fence. Frank immediately clutched her arm and began to hurry +her toward the haven of safety as rapidly as he could. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! Frank, he is coming faster!" gasped the girl, who had been +constrained to look back over her shoulder toward the threatening +danger. +</p> + +<p> +"Never mind! Run! run!" cried Frank, trying to instill new courage +in her heart. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time he knew full well that they would never be able +to reach the fence and climb over before the enraged animal came +up. Something else must be done. How could he attract the +attention of the bull to himself while Minnie clambered over? +</p> + +<p> +The question was not difficult to solve. She was, by the strangest +accident in the world, wearing a red sweater that buttoned down +the front. In other days they were known as Cardigan jackets, and +Frank could easily remember how charming Minnie had looked many a +time the previous winter in this same garment. +</p> + +<p> +It was this that was adding fuel to the rage of the angry bull, +always attracted by a flaming color. Frank without regard to the +feelings of the astonished girl caught hold of this outer apparel, +and with one effort ripped the buttons loose. It was no time for +courtesy, nor could he waste a precious second in explaining just +why he did this strange thing. +</p> + +<p> +Another effort and the sweater was in his hands. Minnie seemed to +realize by now what he had in his mind, for a weak little smile +appeared on her white face as she looked up at him. +</p> + +<p> +"Run straight to the fence and climb over! I'll follow you, but +never mind me! Quick, Minnie, do as I say!" he exclaimed. +</p> + +<p> +There was unconscious authority in his voice, just as when he +called to his players on the diamond or on the gridiron. Minnie +ran on, obeying his instructions thus far. She undoubtedly +expected that Frank meant to cast the offensive red sweater on the +ground, so as to attract the attention of the beast for a dozen +seconds, time enough to allow of his finding safety beyond the +barrier. +</p> + +<p> +As she neared the high rail fence she turned her head again to +look. To her horror she saw Frank standing there, waving the +scarlet jacket wildly to and fro. He was challenging the oncoming +bull to make a run at him, actually endeavoring to attract the +animal's attention, so as to give Minnie ample time to escape. +</p> + +<p> +Even as she stood there with quaking knees, staring, she saw Frank +suddenly and nimbly jump aside, and avoid the first mad rush of +the bull. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! Frank; run! run! He will kill you!" she shrieked, wringing +her hands hysterically; all the past forgotten in that one minute +of terror. +</p> + +<p> +"Get over the fence! Get over the fence! The longer you delay the +worse for me! Climb over, Minnie!" came back the answering shout, +as Frank poised himself to repeat his former tactics. +</p> + +<p> +Crying, she obeyed, though it seemed as though her half-blinded +eyes could hardly show her how to catch hold of the various bars; +but presently she had succeeded in gaining the outside of the +enclosure, and through the spaces between the rails she looked +again, her heart almost standing still with dread. +</p> + +<p> +Frank was still on his feet, though he had been put to his best +efforts in order to escape those threatening horns. +</p> + +<p> +"Now run, Frank! I'm over the fence!" she cried at the top of her +voice. +</p> + +<p> +"All right! I'm coming!" he replied, as best he could, for his +antagonist just then made another vicious lunge, and it was only +by a shave that the athletic boy managed to escape those golden +balls that surmounted his massive head. +</p> + +<p> +Now that he had accomplished the main object of his labor Frank +could devote his energies toward his own escape. When the bull +passed him he turned and bolted in the direction of the friendly +fence. The distance was too great to think of making it in one +run. As he flew along he expected to hear the pounding of the +bull's hoofs on the hard turf behind him, nor was he mistaken. +</p> + +<p> +"He's coming, Frank! Oh! be careful!" +</p> + +<p> +Minnie was calling this in trembling tones, and yet Frank paid +little or no attention to her warning, for he had to depend upon +his own instincts just then. At the proper instant he whirled +around. Already he had stamped the situation in his mind, and knew +to a fraction just how far away the fence lay. +</p> + +<p> +Again he managed to escape the rush of the beast. Had he been an +experienced Spanish bull-fighter he could hardly have done better. +And again he changed his position. All he wanted was one more +chance, and he knew he could win out. This time the animal, +growing more and more enraged, came within a foot of striking the +boy, who was beginning to get winded with his efforts. +</p> + +<p> +"Now!" cried Minnie, who seemed to recognize the opening when it +appeared. +</p> + +<p> +Already was Frank in full motion, sprinting for the near-by fence +with all his might and main. He reached it even as the bull was +bearing down after him. One tremendous effort and he had mounted +the rails to fall in a heap on the other side—safe! The bull came +to a sudden halt within the enclosure, and vented his fury in more +bellowing and tearing up of the turf. +</p> + +<p> +Minnie was at the side of her champion in a moment. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! Frank, are you hurt?" she exclaimed, as she caught hold of +him in her anxiety; and almost breathless as he was, the boy could +not help feeling a thrill of satisfaction at the prospect of the +breach between them being healed in this wonderful manner. +</p> + +<p> +"Not a bit, Minnie, only short of breath. Here's your sweater, +safe and sound. Excuse me for taking it in that rude way, but you +see there wasn't much time for explanations," he managed to say, +as he started to put it on her again, an operation to which she +submitted with pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +"And now," said Frank, as arm in arm they started to walk away +from the scene of the adventure, he rolling his wheel as he went, +"what was all this trouble about, Minnie? What terrible thing have +I done to make you treat both Helen and myself so? Neither of us +have the least idea, and she's very unhappy over it. Please let me +know." +</p> + +<p> +Minnie looked troubled, and yet a gleam of hope began to appear in +her gray eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh! if you only could explain it away, I'd be so glad, Frank; so +glad," she said. +</p> + +<p> +"Is it anything that Lef Seller has been saying about me?" he +asked, shortly. +</p> + +<p> +"No, no. This is a matter that concerns only you and I. It was +about a letter you wrote, a note rather, that was intended for +Helen, and which—Oh! I don't know what to make of it, I've tried +so hard not to believe you meant it; but every time I look at that +note it stands out so plain, and gives me a shock." +</p> + +<p> +She clung to his arm, and let her head sink as she spoke. Frank +knew that she was crying softly, too, and he was the most +mystified boy that could be found. +</p> + +<p> +"A note that I wrote to Helen, and about you! Why, Minnie, surely +you must be mistaken. I don't ever remember doing anything of the +kind!" he declared. +</p> + +<p> +"But I've got it still, Frank, right here in my little bag. Ten +times I tried to destroy it, and just couldn't," she exclaimed, +looking up at him. +</p> + +<p> +"Let me see it, please," he said, his eyes filled with wonder. +With trembling hands she opened the little bag, to which she had +unconsciously clung through all her recent peril. From this she +took a folded piece of paper, that had apparently been frequently +handled, to judge from the creases. +</p> + +<p> +When Frank examined what was written upon it his face first took +on a look of astonishment, and then amusement. +</p> + +<p> +"I see," he said, slowly, "this is evidently about half of a page, +and torn in a diagonal way. Notice Minnie that it is only a +<i>portion</i> of a note. There is another half, which will give +it an entirely different version! I admit that I wrote this note +to Helen in school one day. Then I changed my mind, and tore it in +half, intending to destroy it. Where did you happen to find this +piece, Minnie?" +</p> + +<p> +"On the floor in the hall. Soggy was sweeping out when I went back +for something I had forgotten. Just by accident I saw your +writing, and unconsciously stooped to pick it up. Oh! Frank, what +a cruel shock it gave me," she said. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, as near as I can remember, I tried to thrust both pieces +into my desk. This one must have fallen to the floor either then +or later, and was swept out. Perhaps the other half may still be +there, Minnie! Will you go with me around to the school now? The +sooner this strange thing is cleared up the better." +</p> + +<p> +"If you say so, I'll be glad to go, Frank. But it's enough for me +to hear you say that it was not intended to warn Helen against +me," she replied, smiling up through her tears. +</p> + +<p> +"Wait and see the proof first," laughed Frank. +</p> + +<p> +They reached the high school building in due time. Soggy, the +janitor, was just about locking up, and upon hearing their request +readily allowed them to enter. Going straight to his desk, Frank +fumbled around inside eagerly, and then with an exclamation of +triumph drew out something. +</p> + +<p> +"There, look!" he exclaimed, as he fitted the ragged edges of the +two pieces of paper together on the top of the desk. "You see they +match perfectly. Now read out loud what I was writing to my sister +that day, and changed my mind, intending to talk with her when we +got home." +</p> + +<p> +And Minnie read this: +</p> + +<pre> +HELEN +Don't believe all you hear. In the first place it's +nonsense to think that you could expect the truth +from one so shallow as Min erva Stone. I never liked her. +She may seem all right as a friend, but I'd advise you to have +little to do with her. She says one thing to your face and +another to your back. I'm afraid she's deceptive, and that's +about the meanest trait any girl can have. Bett er let your +new friendship gradually cool, and drop her altogeth er. Honestly, +to tell the truth, I think Minnie Cuthbert ought to be en ough +chum for you. +FRANK. +</pre> + +<p> +When she finished this she looked up at him with tear-steeped +eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"We're friends again once more, Minnie, are we not." he asked, +smiling. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, good friends; true friends, I hope Frank!" she replied as +they clasped hands, and a pair of happy gray eyes looked up shyly +into the darker orbs of the boy. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap22"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XXII +</h3> + +<h3> +HOW BELLPORT BUCKED THE LINE +</h3> + +<p> +As so frequently happens, Thanksgiving Day was overcast and cold, +the air having a tang as of threatening snow. +</p> + +<p> +"Bully football weather!" shouted the fans, as they crowded into +the great park-like field at Columbia; the toss of a coin during +the week having given Frank's team the privilege of playing on +their home grounds. +</p> + +<p> +There was even a greater crowd present than on the occasion of the +game with Clifford. This struggle was to effectually decide the +ownership of that coveted silver cup, and the championship of the +tri-school league for the season. +</p> + +<p> +Everybody who could possibly get there was present. The grandstand +seemed to be a waving mass of color with the various little flags, +and the gay wraps of the school girls, intensely interested in +this battle of brawn and skill between their brothers. +</p> + +<p> +Naturally those from Clifford gathered together for the most part; +and Bellport had sent an enormous delegation to whoop things up +for her sturdy team. +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, those Bellport players did look like a serious proposition +as they scampered back and forth across the field before the time +for play had arrived. Many a timid heart among Columbia's friends +felt as though the chances were very much against such a victory +as had been won over Clifford. +</p> + +<p> +Such enthusiasm as abounded! Cheers arose everywhere. Bands of +students went about, headed by some valiant cheer captain, and +made all other sounds insignificant beside their clamor, as they +chanted their school yell in common, or sang the favorite songs of +their classes. +</p> + +<p> +"We're going to see a hot old game, anyhow!" cried Buster +Billings, as he sat on the bench in the grandstand, being reckoned +of little account as a football player, however much he might +shine in baseball. +</p> + +<p> +"What's Bellport's line-up? Seems to me nearly every face here is +familiar; and I reckon their entire baseball squad has qualified +for the gridiron," remarked another observer. +</p> + +<p> +"Just as you say, there's not a fellow missing," sighed Buster; +"but then, none of them happens to be gifted with the heft that +fastened its fatal clutches on me at an early age. I'd give the +world to play football, but though they've tried me several times, +it's always back to the scrap heap for poor Buster boy." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, they left me out this time, too; my first half in the game +with Clifford wasn't a howling success. But at any rate I'm a sub, +and if a few of the boys get carried off the field they may call +on me," and Jack Eastwick patted his chest in anticipation of the +slaughter to come. +</p> + +<p> +For the concluding tussle of the High School League the contending +teams presented this line-up: +</p> + +<pre> + <i>COLUMBIA.</i> + + + Comfort + <i>F.B.</i> + + + Allen, Captain. West. + <i>R.H.B. L.H.B.</i> + + + Wallace. + <i>Q.B.</i> + + + Shadduck. Oakes. Harper. Bird. Daly. Shay. Morris. + <i>R.E. R.T. R.G. Center. L.G. L.T. L.E.</i> + + + <i>BELLPORT.</i> + + +Clay. Coddling. Smith, Jr. Lacy. Alpers. Macy. Smith, Sr. + <i>L.E. L.T. L.G. Center. R.G. R.T. R.E.</i> + + + Snodgrass. + <i>Q.B.</i> + + + Banghardt. Bardwell. + <i>L.H.B. R.H.B.</i> + + + Lee, Captain. + <i>F.B.</i> +</pre> + +<p> +The same referee officiated who had managed the game with Clifford +so well. And the coach of each team was busily engaged giving the +last instructions, since the time specified for the opening kick-off +was very near. +</p> + +<p> +Columbia was not boisterous, but there was a look of grim +determination visible on the faces of Frank Allen and his fellows +that counted for much. +</p> + +<p> +"It's better to shout after you're out of the woods, fellows," +said the captain, as he drew his squad around him for a last word +ere going upon the field. +</p> + +<p> +This time Frank was lucky, and won the toss. He immediately +selected the goal from which the cold November wind blew, as that +gave Columbia considerable advantage to start with, though it +would be evened up later when the second half brought about a +change in base. Still, by then the wind might have died out, and +the advantage lost. +</p> + +<p> +Lee opened matters with a beautiful kick, but the oval was +captured, and it came Columbia's turn. +</p> + +<p> +Comfort smashed out a fine one, sending the oval far down the +enemy's territory. And so fast did the other Columbia fellows +chase after it, that when Bellport secured the ball through a +clever catch, they found no chance to do anything more than return +the kick. +</p> + +<p> +After that the fight was on. Columbia sent the ball back into the +territory of the enemy, and at such a bewildering angle, thanks to +the wonderful spiral kick of Jack Comfort, that the player who attempted +to clasp it in his arms allowed it to get away. +</p> + +<p> +"Go it, you tigers!" shrieked many in the crowd, as they saw +several Columbia men making furious efforts to reach the rolling +oval before any of the enemy could throw themselves upon it. +</p> + +<p> +But Coddling was there in time to drop on the ball, though hardly +had he done so than Shadduck landed on his back, together with +various others belonging to both teams. +</p> + +<p> +Now Bellport had the ball, and there was great curiosity to know +what success they would have in bucking the Columbia line. Report +had it that never had Bellport been so strong in her line of +attack; and Clifford enthusiasts had warned their neighbors of +what was in store for them this day. +</p> + +<p> +Bellport rushed into the fray. The artful Lacy, he who had played +such a clever game as shortstop in the baseball tournament the +preceding season, snapped the ball to Snodgrass, who plunged +straight for the middle of the Columbia line backed up by a solid +wedge that seemed capable of carrying the heavy quarter-back +through. +</p> + +<p> +There was a confused mass of struggling players, and a great +cloud of dust, in which figures were to be seen pushing this way +and that. +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +[Illustration: THERE WAS A CONFUSED MASS OF STRUGGLING PLAYERS.] +</p> + +<p> +"He's down!" shouted hundreds as the dust passed off with the +wind, and they could see the situation again. +</p> + +<p> +"But he took several yards with him, and Bellport has the ball. +What d'ye think of that sledgehammer way of carrying things, eh? +Wait till Snodgrass and Banghardt and Bardwell get working +together, and you'll see the Columbia defense crumple up like dead +leaves in a fire!" +</p> + +<p> +Of course it was a Bellport admirer who said this; but those who +heard only laughed and waved their Columbia flags the more +fiercely. They had full confidence in their boys, and knew what +Frank could get out of them in an emergency. +</p> + +<p> +Once more the teams were lined up, watching each other like so +many wild animals, hungry and eager. Lee shouted out some signals +in his sonorous voice. It sounded very like the previous set, but +only those in the secret could know whether the slight difference +meant a new change of action or not. +</p> + +<p> +Then the ball was put in play. Like lightning it passed from +Lacy's hands. Snodgrass made out to receive it, and once more +plunged for the center, as if intending to break through, with +several of his fellows backing him up. The deception was so +complete that the vast majority of the audience really believed +he carried the ball with him. +</p> + +<p> +So a great whoop went up when he was dragged down by one of the +Columbia tacklers. +</p> + +<p> +"But look at Smith, Sr., running! He's got the ball, fellows! He's +after a touchdown, and he won't be happy till he gets it! Wow! +that's going some!" +</p> + +<p> +"He'll never make it! There's West in the way, and Allen bearing +down on him like a pirate ship under full sail! What did I tell +you? That Ralph West is the best tackier in the county! They made +no mistake when they booted Tony Gilpin out and made room for +West. Where is the ball now, fellows?" +</p> + +<p> +"Under Smith, Sr., and on Columbia's twenty-five yard line!" +admitted Buster Billings, unwillingly. +</p> + +<p> +"And Bellport has still another chance to carry it over! If the +wind was favorable Lee could boot the pigskin across your goal, +and not half try. But I guess they'd rather depend on breaking +through, or getting around the ends. Keep your eyes on those boys, +for they're as full of schemes as an egg is of meat." +</p> + +<p> +"That sounds encouraging. I was afraid our fellows might have too +easy a snap, and disappoint their friends by not half trying. Just +wait yourself, Bellport. It was the same thing in baseball last +summer; and yet Columbia flies the banner, all right. You may be +treated to some surprises yourself, old chap," remarked Buster, +condescendingly. +</p> + +<p> +Again the scrimmage was on. The Columbia tigers were so fast on +their feet that Clay, who got the ball this time, was unable to +accomplish much before they pounced upon him and bore him heavily +to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +"How's that?" shouted Buster, "our fellows just eat up such easy +plays. Bring out some of your fancy stunts, and do something, +can't you?" +</p> + +<p> +Three minutes later and the ball came to Columbia. It was time, +for Bellport had, by a series of bull-like rushes, carried it over +the twenty-yard line. +</p> + +<p> +"Now to get back some of that lost ground. There they go! See +Shadduck run, will you? He's Mercury, with wings on his feet! Look +at him dodge that left guard! Say, he's going to make it yet, as +sure as you live he is! Bully boy, Bones! Go it! Go it, you +darling! Oh! what a heart-ache I've got! He's over the line, boys; +over the line! A touchdown for us to start things!" and Buster +danced in his excitement, like a rubber ball. +</p> + +<p> +"No he ain't," snarled a Bellport backer, "they downed him before +he got there! Notice that just three of our fellows are settin' on +his back. He tried mighty hard, but they nailed him a little too +soon!" +</p> + +<p> +"You're mistaken. He held the ball over the line, and it counts +for Columbia, as you can see if you look again," remarked Mr. +Allen, who was sitting near. +</p> + +<p> +"That's so," grumbled the discomfited Bellport man, "and with that +wind it's goin' to be as easy as pie to boot the ball over for a +goal. Shucks! what ails our fellows to-day? They never did sloppy +work like that with Clifford." +</p> + +<p> +"There was a reason, they say. Clifford claims that her signals +were sold to Bellport. Anyhow, there's going to be nothing of that +kind to-day, but clean fighting. There goes Frank to kick goal, +and he'll do it, too," answered Buster. +</p> + +<p> +The goal was made easily, thanks to the favoring wind. Then again +the ball was put into play, and fierce ran the rivalry. Sometimes +the fighting was on Columbia territory, and then again the tide of +battle shifted until it was Bellport's line that was threatened. +</p> + +<p> +Now and then the cheers of the enthusiasts arose and swelled over +that fiercely-contested field like thunder. Back and forth they +swung, both now doggedly determined. A score of plays were made +that brought out cheers from the spectators, regardless of school +affiliations; for they liked clean football, and could applaud +clever work, even on the other side. +</p> + +<p> +When the heart-rending agony was finally relieved by the referee's +whistle announcing the end of the first half, that score of six by +Columbia was the entire counting! +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap23"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIII +</h3> + +<h3> +WON BY FOUR INCHES +</h3> + +<p> +"See 'em getting Hail Columbia from their coach because they made +that fool play! Next time it'll be different," growled the unhappy +Bellport backer. +</p> + +<p> +"I hope so," replied the cheerful and optimistic Buster, +composedly. +</p> + +<p> +Frank, as he came in from the field, dusty and disheveled, looked +eagerly at a certain part of the grandstand where Helen sat +alongside her chum Minnie. Immediately both girls waved their +flags at him, and called out something, which, of course, was +utterly drowned in the furious shouting that arose. +</p> + +<p> +But Frank would ten times rather have heard what they said than to +listen to the cheers of the multitude; for he knew that love and +friendship endure, while the admiration of the crowd is as fickle +as the weather, praising one day and on the next condemning. +</p> + +<p> +Both teams held earnest consultations during the interval between +the halves of the game. New plays were planned whereby advantage +might be taken of some supposed weak spot in the line of the +enemy's defense. And singular to say, not a single change had as +yet been made in the line-up, something remarkable indeed, when in +other days half a dozen casualties must have resulted from those +furious clashes. Doubtless there were those who suffered in +silence, fearing lest they be taken out, if their real condition +were made known; and every man was wild to finish in what promised +to be the most exciting football game that had ever happened in +the tri-school league. +</p> + +<p> +"There they go to take position. Now for another heart-breaking +period of suspense. But they've got the advantage. It's an up-hill +fight for Bellport; six to nothing, and half the time gone. If +they can only keep the others from scoring it isn't necessary to +make any more," said Buster to Jack Eastwick. +</p> + +<p> +"No chance for me to get into this game. That Shay is a sticker. +But I candidly admit he's something of an improvement on myself, +and I hope he holds out. But mark me, Buster, there's going to be +some changes before the game ends," remarked the other, confidentially. +</p> + +<p> +"What makes you say that, Jack?" asked his friend, curiously. +</p> + +<p> +"Because those Bellport bulldogs have got blood in their eyes now. +The coach has been combing them down, and they're just bound to +carry things before them, or die trying. It's going to be hotter +than ever, Buster." +</p> + +<p> +"But Frank has been saying things, too. And our boys have the +benefit of the experience of one who was a terror on the lines of +Princeton, my especial friend, Coach Willoughby," remarked Buster, +proudly. "He's set 'em up a few capers that are going to surprise +our good Bellport friends. I'm game to stack up on Columbia. I +only hope some of those Bellport players like Bardwell and +Banghardt don't try foul tactics on us, like they did in baseball, +that's all." +</p> + +<p> +"The referee has his eye on 'em. He has been warned, and let them +try it at their peril. If those two dangerous half-backs are put +off the team it'll go to pieces in a hurry, mark my words. That's +what I'm expecting it to end in." +</p> + +<p> +But Jack was mistaken. Bellport knew the folly of attempting +anything that had a suspicious look. Brawn and strategy and +agility must carry the day, no matter which side won. +</p> + +<p> +Shrilly blew the whistle, and once more the ball, yellow no +longer, for it had been ground into the dirt, sailed through the +air. There was an exchange of punts that ended when Bellport held +the pigskin on her forty-yard line and the signal came for a play +around Columbia's left end. +</p> + +<p> +"Watch out now, fellows!" warned Frank Allen. "Don't let 'em get +through, or past you." +</p> + +<p> +"Eighteen—twenty-seven—sixty—all together—fourteen!" chanted +Snodgrass, and back the ball was snapped to him. In a flash he +passed it to Bardwell, who started as though to circle Shadduck at +right end. And then that trick, so often worked, so effective when +it comes out right, and so futile when it does not, was tried. +Bardwell passed the ball to Banghardt on the run, and the left-half +started for the end where Morris was. +</p> + +<p> +How it happened none of the Columbia players, not even Morris +himself, could tell, but he was drawn in by the double pass and +his end was free to be circled by Banghardt. Even the Columbia two +half-backs were fooled, and no excuse for it, either, as they +admitted afterward, for they had often worked the play themselves. +Be that as it may, Banghardt was past, and with no one between him +and the goal line but Comfort. +</p> + +<p> +But the full-back was a tower of strength, and with eagerly +outstretched hands he waited the oncoming of the left half. +</p> + +<p> +"Get him, Comfort! Get him!" pleaded the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +Straight at the full-back came Banghardt, and then, with a sudden +shifting, he turned aside, and Comfort grasped only the empty air, +while the man with the ball, amid the wild, excited cries of the +adherents of his school, while the grandstands fairly rocked under +the impact of thousands of stamping feet, touched down the +pigskin. +</p> + +<p> +"Touchdown! Touchdown for Bellport!" howled the enthusiasts, while +the dazed Columbia team crawled out of the scrimmage and wondered +how it had happened. So, too, did some of the Bellport players +themselves wonder, for the play had come like a flash from a clear +sky. +</p> + +<p> +The goal was easily kicked, tying the score, and then the big +crowd sat up and wondered what would come next. +</p> + +<p> +"It's going to be a hot game all right!" was the general verdict. +</p> + +<p> +"Here's where we beat you, Columbia!" called a Bellport supporter, +as he turned to Buster with a grin on his face. "Oh we've got you +in a hole dead sure. We've got your number." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, have you!" retorted Buster. "Wait. Don't count your chickens +until they're out of the woods." +</p> + +<p> +After the kick-off there followed some line smashing tactics on +both sides. Once Bellport was penalized for off-side play, and +once Columbia lost the ball for holding in the line. Bellport was +later penalized ten yards for a second offense in off-side work, +and then the players seemed to realize the importance of being +careful, and they got down to business. +</p> + +<p> +How they ever stood the smashing, banging tactics, the fierce +tackling, the eager runs, the line bucking, the giving and taking, +only one who has played football, and who knows the fierce joy of +the game, can understand. Nervous women cried out in alarm as they +saw the struggling mass and heap of boyish humanity. There were +several times when the play had to be stopped to allow the dashing +of cold water over some unlucky chap, to bring him out of a half +faint, and the number of lads who lost their wind, and had to have +it pumped into them by artificial respiration was many. +</p> + +<p> +But no one was seriously hurt, though Coddling had to leave the +field because of a broken finger and Harper was replaced at the +Columbia right guard because he was so disabled from a fierce +piling-on of players that he was useless in the line. +</p> + +<p> +Ten minutes more to play, and the score tied! Back and forth the +players had surged, up and down the field, now kicking, now +plunging into each other's line, now circling the ends. It was the +most fiercely contested game that had ever been played in the +league. The Columbia-Clifford contest was as nothing to it. +</p> + +<p> +"Hold 'em, Tigers! Don't let 'em score again! Rip out another +touchdown! Go at 'em!" +</p> + +<p> +How the cohorts of Columbia begged and pleaded! No less did the +friends of Bellport. +</p> + +<p> +A touchdown, a field goal, or a safety for either side now would +win the game and the championship. Which would it be? To which +side would it go. A thousand admirers of either team asked those +questions. +</p> + +<p> +Bellport had the ball, and had, by a smashing rush, carried it +three yards through Columbia's line. It was on the latter's +forty-yard line now, but it had been there before, and had not +advanced much farther. That last attack, though, had had power +behind it. +</p> + +<p> +"Look out!" warned Frank. "They may do us!" +</p> + +<p> +The play looked to be another rush on the part of Bellport, and +with fierce and eager eyes her opponents watched for the slightest +advantage. Bardwell came on with the ball like a stone from a +catapult. He hit the line between Shay and Daly, but he did not go +through. With desperate energy, borne of despair, the guard and +tackle held. +</p> + +<p> +And then, wonder of wonders, probably because he was dazed by the +impact with which he hit the line, Bardwell dropped the ball. Like +a flash Daly had fallen on it. +</p> + +<p> +"Our ball!" he fairly howled, and when the crowd knew that they +went wild—that is, the Columbia contingent. +</p> + +<p> +But the time had slipped by. There were but three minutes more of +play. +</p> + +<p> +"Quick now, fellows. Line up! Get a touchdown!" begged Frank. +"Break the tie!" +</p> + +<p> +Into the play plunged the doughty captain himself for a ten-yard +gain, for the shock of surprise at their misfortune still held the +Bellport players spellbound. +</p> + +<p> +"Another like that!" cried the throng. +</p> + +<p> +A fake kick netted eight yards additional, and then followed more +line bucking. +</p> + +<p> +"A goal from the field," suggested Wallace, when time was taken +out to allow Alpers to get back his end. +</p> + +<p> +"No, straight up the field—rush it!" ordered Allen. +</p> + +<p> +Once more he made a slight gain. +</p> + +<p> +"One minute more!" warned the time-keeper. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, can we do it!" panted Wallace. +</p> + +<p> +He called on Ralph West for a straight plunge between guard and +tackle. The plucky left-half drew a long breath, and gathered +himself for the tremendous energy he knew would be needed. They +were but four feet from the goal line. The ball <i>must</i> be +shoved over if human lungs and muscles could stand the terrific +strain a moment longer. +</p> + +<p> +Amid a solemn silence came the signal. Like a shot West plunged +forward, with the ball tightly tucked under his arm. +</p> + +<p> +Into the line he went, smash bang! Oh, what a great hole there was +torn for him by the strenuous Shay and Daly! Through it West went, +and in vain did Lee and Bardwell try to stop him. As well try to +stop a rushing torrent as the Columbia players now. They were +going to have that touchdown or tear up the goal posts. +</p> + +<p> +With the quickness that argued how well he knew the need of haste, +West placed the ball down beyond and over his head after he had +fallen in a fierce tackle. Over the line—over—ah, was it over? +The chalk-mark was obliterated at this point. Was it over? +</p> + +<p> +"Touchdown!" howled the Columbia players madly. +</p> + +<p> +"Never. It's not over!" retorted Bellport's men fiercely. +</p> + +<p> +There was a wild dispute, and in the midst of it the whistle blew, +ending the game. +</p> + +<p> +Who had won? It would take a measurement to decide. The linesmen +came hurrying up, while the crowd chaffed at the delay and did not +know who to cheer. +</p> + +<p> +Anxiously the measure was taken, and while hearts wildly beat the +announcement was made. +</p> + +<p> +"The ball is over by four inches. Columbia wins the touchdown!" +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, wow!" +</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah!" +</p> + +<p> +"We win!" +</p> + +<p> +"Eleven to six!" +</p> + +<p> +"The silver cup is ours!" +</p> + +<p> +And then such a riot of wild cries, such stamping of feet, such +waving of banners and streamers of ribbon! The great championship +game was won by Columbia! Columbia! +</p> + +<p> +"Columbia! Columbia the Gem of the Gridiron!" came the eager +shouts. And the players filed off the field. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><a id="chap24"></a></p> +<h3> +CHAPTER XXIV +</h3> + +<h3> +THE MESSAGE FROM TOKIO.—CONCLUSION +</h3> + +<p> +That Thanksgiving night Columbia went wild. +</p> + +<p> +True, the first snow of the year began sifting down, and the +ground was covered with a white mantle; but such a little thing as +that could not quench the ardor of those happy fellows. And so for +hours the town resounded with cheers and songs, while in several +places great bonfires along the banks of the Harrapin told of the +general rejoicing. +</p> + +<p> +How could they help it when Columbia High had completed the +greatest year in all her history—first there was the winning of +the baseball championship; then came the hotly contested inter-school +rowing races, in which she won new laurels with her young athletes; +and last but not least, both Clifford and Bellport had gone down to +bitter defeat before her gridiron warriors! +</p> + +<p> +Frank would have begged off, but even the girls insisted that it +would be a shame to spoil the fun. So he had to join in the +festivities, and shout with the rest of Columbia's brave sons and +fair daughters, as the gigantic procession wound in and out +through all the town, greeted by answering cheers from the equally +enthusiastic fathers and mothers from the windows. +</p> + +<p> +"There's only one more thing we ought to scoop in this year," said +Paul Bird, as he and Frank stood with the girls and watched the +antics of Herman Hooker and his band of comical players, wherein +the most astonishing stunts were indulged in with amazing +instruments manufactured for the occasion. +</p> + +<p> +"You mean the hockey championship, I suppose?" returned Frank, +smiling. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and from the expression on your face, old fellow, I'm of the +opinion right now that you mean to have a look-in on that later on +when the river is frozen again." +</p> + +<p> +Frank laughed and nodded. +</p> + +<p> +"Some of us have been talking it over. You know Clifford has been +unbeaten in that line for years. They have the best skaters up +there in the State, they claim. If we think to accept their +standing challenge this year it's up to us to put a better team on +the ice than last season," he remarked. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, they did snow you under, for a fact. But experience showed +that there were two fellows on your team who ought never to have +been there. They lost the match through their clumsiness. Isn't that +so, girls?" demanded Paul. +</p> + +<p> +"Everybody said so," declared Helen; and Minnie nodded her heard +to indicate that she was of the same opinion. +</p> + +<p> +"Then it must be so," laughed Frank. "But those fellows are not on +the team this year. We've been keeping quiet about who is going to +play. The committee have selected a certain number of players, and +the best will be chosen in time. Mark my words, Paul, we mean to +try and give Clifford the biggest kind of a fight this winter. +Whether we can win or not depends on many things. Time will tell." +</p> + +<p> +And time did tell, for what manner of hockey was played that +winter on the ice-clad surface of the neighboring Harrapin can be +found recorded in the next volume of this series of High School +sports, entitled: "The Boys of Columbia High on the Ice; or, Out +for the Hockey Championship." +</p> + +<p> +When the first of December came around shortly after that great +Thanksgiving Day game, Ralph West sought out Frank once more. His +face told of excitement, and Frank was consequently ready to +expect some important news. +</p> + +<p> +"Did you get your usual monthly allowance from Uncle Jim's +office?" he asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, yesterday. I suppose he left word before he went that it +should be sent while he was away. But I've heard from him direct," +replied Ralph, his face glowing with the eager light of anticipated +happiness. +</p> + +<p> +"You have? A letter from China or Russia or Siberia, which?" +</p> + +<p> +"You're away off, Frank. This was a cablegram. I just got it at +the office, for I have wandered in there often in hopes of such a +thing, and know the operator. It was from Tokio, and I suppose +your Uncle Jim must have followed Mrs. Langworthy and her brother +Arnold Musgrove there. Perhaps they gave up all hope of getting to +Russia through China. I don't know how that is, but here's what it +says," and he handed a message to Frank, who glanced down at these +words: +</p> + +<p> +"Leave here next steamer for States. Mrs. Langworthy accompanies +me. Keep up a good heart, for there is much joy in store for you. +JAMES DECATUR ALLEN." +</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah! that's glorious news, old fellow! From my heart I +congratulate you! Now, I know Uncle Jim well enough to feel sure +that he'd never cable like that unless he was absolutely positive +of his ground. Like as not, that monster of an Arnold—why wasn't +his name Benedict like the Revolutionary traitor, has confessed; +for you don't notice his name among the expected travelers." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I don't know how I'll ever be able to stand the weeks that +must pass before they get here in Columbia. You must help me, +Frank, you and Helen," declared Ralph, gripping the hand of his +chum almost savagely. +</p> + +<p> +"We will, all right. The time will fly, because you're anticipating +happy news. Just think of the extravagance of Uncle Jim, sending +nearly thirty words in a cablegram. It costs twenty-five cents a +word to London, and goodness knows how many times that from Tokio +here. He knows what he's doing though, and I warrant you it's the +lady's money that pays for that cablegram," whereupon Ralph +impulsively raised the paper to his lips and kissed it, then blushed +like a girl. +</p> + +<p> +With such good and true friends around him, it may be sure that +Ralph was not going to be left alone much of the time. They made +him join in all their sports, and with the coming of winter a +dozen new things presented themselves to the boys and girls of old +Columbia High. +</p> + +<p> +Minnie was happier than ever, since that little shadow was +removed, and her former warm, friendly intercourse with Frank and +Helen renewed. Many times she thought of how valiantly Frank had +stood there, holding the attention of that terrible bull, so as to +allow her time to clamber out of harm's way; and never without a +shudder, as she contemplated what a terrible thing might have +happened had the boy slipped when avoiding those rushes of the +enraged animal. +</p> + +<p> +Never would she allow that old red sweater to leave her possession. +The very sight of it always made her sigh with satisfaction. It +had undoubtedly had much to do with the savage attack of that +animal, whose pasture she so unwittingly invaded; but had that +event not happened, perhaps the mystery of that torn paper would +never have been explained. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing could again cause her to ever doubt the fidelity of Frank +Allen; and to the end of the chapter they must always be, as she +had said that day, "good friends, true friends!" +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="finis"> +THE END. +</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boys of Columbia High on the +Gridiron, by Graham B. 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