CHAPTER XXII.SIX TO TWO.
A groan of dismay went up from the watching Fardale crowd.
"Oh, what a shame!" came from Zona Desmond.
"What’s happened?" panted Doris, who did not seem to understand the play.
"Viewland’s got the ball again."
"How—how did they get it? I thought Dick had it a moment ago. He was running with it."
"Dick? I presume you mean Mr. Merriwell?" said Hal Darrell, his face flushing. "I didn’t suppose you were well enough acquainted with him to speak of him in such a familiar manner."
"Everybody calls him Dick," she said. "I suppose it’s because he has a brother who is so well known."
"Oh, is that how it happened?" said Darrell, with just the slightest touch of sarcasm in his voice. "Well, I do not call him Dick. He did not have the ball at all. It was Nunn who had the ball. Merriwell was running ahead as an interferer, but a poor fellow he proved for the work that time."
"I don’t see why."
"Because he didn’t keep that Viewland chap from getting to Nunn on the jump."
"Could he have done it?" asked Zona.
"Of course, he could! That’s what he was there for. He should have blocked the tackler. But you will notice that Merriwell does not put himself in much danger unless he is given the ball to advance. He never does much in helping any one else to advance the ball. It’s plain he hankers for all the glory, and I will say that he has a way of getting the biggest part of it. He’s continually thrust forward by his brother and by Nunn till all Fardale is coming to believe him far superior to what he really is."
"Why should you be jealous of him?" asked Doris, suddenly turning on Hal, her eyes flashing.
"I—jealous?" said he, as if astonished.
"Yes, you—jealous. You are not in the game, and——"
"I assure you that you are unjust to me, Doris!" he exclaimed. "I am not jealous of that fellow. I simply spoke the truth. He’s a much overrated chap. I am expecting that this game will show it, too. I am not the only one who thinks this, and——"
"I understand!" panted the girl, her cheeks flushed. "You can’t deceive me that way. But I believe he is all right. I’m sure he’s a perfect gentleman. He never talks about anybody, friend or foe, behind his back."
"I have said nothing here that I should fear to repeat to his face," asserted Hal, who also was very red in the face. "If you mean that I am not a gentleman, Doris——"
"Oh, stop talking that way and watch!" said Zona. "Viewland is going to do something! What are they going to try?"
So Hal and Doris became silent, though the hearts of both were hot within them.
Viewland had learned that Fardale’s center was strong, and so the attack was concentrated on the right wing of the home team. Warne was sent into Stanton, and he made three yards in a desperate charge. Then the ball went back to Young, who followed up Warne’s attack and secured full five yards.
The wind had been knocked out of Stanton, and out came the boy with the bucket and the sponge. A dash of water over Stanton’s face, some squeezed from the sponge into his mouth, and he revived, jumped up, and exclaimed:
"I’m all right! Let her go!"
The whistle gave Viewland privilege to continue its assaults.
Next time Warne was given the ball for a run round Fardale’s right end, and, with a goodly number of interferers to assist him, he cleared the end of the line at top speed, passing Nunn, who was blocked off, and seemed to have a good chance to make a run straight to the cadet’s goal.
The thirty Viewland rooters rose up and howled for joy. But down on Warne with terrible speedcame a flying form. The runner tried to dodge, but Dick Merriwell shot through the air, got Warne by the leg, and stretched him on the turf.
Not more than ten yards had been made, when it seemed that the enemy was due for a touch-down.
"Of course, that was a case of bad playing!" cried Doris Templeton revengefully. "Don’t you think so, Hal?"
Darrell bit his lip, but he had the manhood to say:
"That was a good tackle; I confess it."
But Doris was not to be appeased so easily.
"I presume you might have done better," she said. "Why don’t you go in for football, Hal? You play baseball; you might play football. Are you afraid?"
"Afraid—of what?"
"That Mr. Merriwell will do better at the game than you can. That you may be hurt. That—lots of things."
He was stung by her words and manner.
"I might have played the game if I’d wished!" he said hotly.
"Why don’t you? I don’t believe you could make the team if you tried."
"Perhaps not now; but——"
"I thought so!" she said, in a manner that added to his discomfiture. "That’s why you’re against some other fellow who has made it on the first trial."
Her manner was quite unusual for her, and he felt it keenly. It stirred him to exclaim:
"I see you think I could not get onto the eleven if I tried! I’ll show you! I’ll go out for practise Monday. If I do not get onto the team, it will be the fault of somebody besides myself. I have played football. But perhaps Mr. Dick Merriwell will object to having me on the team. If he does, I won’t get on, no matter how good I may prove to be."
"He’ll never be mean enough to try to keep you off."
While this conversation was taking place Viewland had tried Fardale’s center again, but had been hurled back, with a loss of two feet. That seemed to indicate that, beyond a doubt, the center of the line was really one of the cadets’ strongest points. But Viewland was determined, and it found other spots which seemed weak, so that a succession of gains brought the ball to Fardale’s ten-yard line.
"Touch-down! touch-down!" the visiting rooters were shouting. "Put it over, Warne—put it over!"
Viewland was determined, but, unfortunately for her, Warwick became too excited in an effort to send Jordan round the end. Warwick saw Kent was going to get past and tackle the runner, and he proceeded to grasp Don and hold him.
Instantly the whistle sounded, and the ball was given to Fardale right there.
"A godsend!" breathed Hal Darrell, with a sigh of genuine relief. "But for that I think those chaps must have made a touch-down. If we can get the ball away from the danger-point now, there is a chance that we may brace up a little. It must be a kick."
But it was not. Fardale simply settled down to an effort to get back at Viewland by a series of rushes and mass-plays. The first rush was a failure, but a mass-play followed that carried the ball forward four yards. Then a surprise was sprung in Frank Merriwell’s line-over play, which had been used with good results in the Hudsonville game, and full five yards were secured.
Viewland was surprised by these gains, for it had seemed that Fardale was weakening, and now the cadets proved strong enough to advance smashingly into the enemy’s line. The line-over formation was a new one on Viewland, but the next attempt to work it was spoiled by the quick charge of the visitors, who seemed to go through Fardale’s line like sand through a sieve.
Fardale was quick to see that the line-over formation could not be worked on Viewland except at unexpected moments.
A revolving wedge was tried, and the swinging mass plowed through the visitors for full seven yards. Once more the Fardale spectators were happy. Again the singing struck up. What if all the playing hadbeen in Fardale’s territory? What if the eagerness of the enemy had prevented them from making a touch-down? No score had been secured, and the cadets showed they were not discouraged, or weakening.
Again came the revolving wedge, but this, like the repeated line-over play, was broken up and the object defeated. A tandem-play was attempted, hitting the right wing of the enemy, but this failed.
"They must kick now!"
The speaker was right, and the full-back of the opposing team was seen running back as fast as he could, to be ready for the expected punt. It came. Singleton booted the ball fair and hard, sending it well over into Viewland’s territory.
Kent and Burrows went down the field like wild colts, both finding no trouble in getting away speedily. Kent was waiting for Young to catch the ball, and he had the Viewland full-back by the leg when the oval struck in Young’s hands. Down came Young.
The play was thus transferred into the territory of the visitors, where, thirteen yards from center, the next line-up was made.
Jabez Lynch was sadly disappointed, for his heart had been jumping joyously when the enemy forced Fardale to the ten-yard line. It was his conviction that a touch-down must be made right there. And now Fardale had succeeded in getting the ball over the center line.
By this time it was plain to Lynch that Viewland was not familiar with Fardale’s signals, and this satisfied him that the captain had made no bluff in saying Cranch was missing. Jabez was not happy. He had hoped to see the visitors pile up score upon score in a disheartening manner for Fardale; but once more it was looking like a close and hard-fought game.
Viewland earnestly sought to get the ball back over the center line by rushes, a feat she found herself unable to accomplish, not a little to her dismay. Five yards from center she was compelled to kick.
Merriwell caught the ball and sent it back. Dick’s kick caused the witnessing crowd to shout and rise, for it was a grand effort, the ball going fully to Viewland’s thirty-yard line. Warne got it, but Don Kent was on hand, and Warne was downed promptly, although he managed to roll over and over for almost five yards before being stopped entirely.
On her thirty-five-yard line Viewland again prepared for the onslaught. Things were not going to suit the visitors, and they started in to hustle things. The tackles were placed back of the line, and Purcell was given the ball, while the interference hit Gordan.
Gordan was backed by Shannock and Merriwell, and he managed to stand up to the task of holding the push until Blair got through and brought Purcell to earth.
Fardale was fighting well now, and it began to lookas if the visiting team would find its hands full with the lighter cadets.
Thisefforteffortfailing to get a gain, Warne was given the ball. He went flying across, having several interferers to protect him, and it seemed like an effort to circle Fardale’s right end. Certain it was that the greater part of the Fardale team regarded it as a straight attempt to get round the right end, and there the resistance rushed.
But Warne made a skilful pass to Jordan, who was going in the opposite direction. Dick Merriwell had seen the pass, and he made a leap to get at Jordan when he came round. But Dick was fooled then, for Young was in a position to take the ball from Jordan, who kept right on toward the left end of Fardale’s line, as if still retaining possession of the leather.
These movements had caused Fardale to leave an opening right through her center, and Young went through like a streak.
Dick was on the point of tackling Jordan as the left half-back came round, when he discovered the fellow didn’t have the ball. Then Dick turned and saw Young going for Fardale’s goal-line like the wind.
Without a word, setting his teeth, Merriwell started after Viewland’s full-back. Young was doing his best, but the spectators saw the pursuer gain on him swiftly. Nevertheless, it seemed that Young must make a touch-down before he could be stopped.
"Merriwell!" roared the Fardale crowd. "Merriwell! Merriwell!"
With the leaps of a frightened greyhound, Dick Merriwell bore down on Young. Drawing near, he launched himself at the full-back, clutched him, and dragged him to earth. Then others came piling upon them, and the ball was down three yards from Fardale’s line.
It was a play to set both sides wild, and cheer followed cheer.
But again Fardale’s goal was in great danger, and Viewland was happy.
"Hold ’em!" begged Captain Nunn, as the defenders lined up. "Stick your toes in, everybody! Don’t let them have an inch."
And they obeyed him as far as Viewland’s first effort was concerned, and the visitors had made no gain on that down. But the heavy line told in the next attack, and the ball was jammed to within a foot of Fardale’s line.
Panting, desperate, sweaty, and dirt-stained, the defenders made ready for a last stand.
"Don’t let them do it!" implored Nunn. "Steady, all!"
Then came the pass and the shock. For a few seconds it seemed that Fardale was going to swing the heavy visitors back for a loss; then through that mass of straining humanity somehow wiggledWarne.Warne.How he did it no one seemed able to tell, but hesquirmed through and shoved the ball over Fardale’s line.
It was a touch-down!
When this result became known, Jabez Lynch could scarcely restrain a shout of joy.
Viewland took time in bringing out the ball. The strong wind had to be judged well in kicking for goal, but Young was equal to the occasion, and he sent the oval over the bar in very handsome style.
It was fancied that Fardale would weaken now; but the visitors were surprised to find the cadets stiffer and livelier than ever when play was resumed.
As Viewland had made the first score, it again became Fardale’s duty to kick off, and this time Merriwell was sent in to do the turn. He made a handsome kick, that was almost a duplicate of that with which Singleton opened the game.
Warne got the ball, but he did not advance four yards before Kent had him nailed and stretched on the ground. Then came some swift playing that was almost bewildering to the witnesses. Viewland seemed to think she could make gains by her great weight in charging; but two attempts, with no material gain, set her to thinking something different.
Then came a sudden kick, but Merriwell had anticipated it and dropped back. Getting the ball, Dick dodged tackler after tackler, running with it clean to the ten-yard line before being downed.
Realizing that the half must be drawing toward a close, Fardale went in to rush the ball over in a hurry. The first effort advanced it three yards. Then came two yards. Then four.
The ball was down one yard from Viewland’s goal.
Fardale might have scored, but at this critical juncture Shannock made a bad pass to Nunn, who dropped the ball. Pitman leaped through and dropped on the oval.
Viewland had regained possession of the leather.
Jabez Lynch drew a deep breath of relief, his heart seeming to drop back from his throat, where it had throbbed in a choking way.
Still confident of her ability to make gains by bucking Fardale’s line, Viewland declined to kick in order to get the ball away from this dangerous point.
In this she made a mistake. The ball was passed to Warne, and the star half-back of the visitors let it get away from him and roll along the ground back of the goal-line.
Brad Buckhart came through with a roar, but Jordan saw the danger and fell on the ball.
This was a safety, but it counted two points for Fardale, as Buckhart had pinned Jordan on that spot.
The whistle cut the air.
"Time!" cried a voice.
The first half was over, and the score was: Viewland, 6; Fardale, 2.