CHAPTER XXIX

THE LAST TOUCHDOWN

"Line up! Line up!"

"Come on now, fellows, and don't forget that wing shift signal."

"Pass the ball over here."

"Say, Cap, give me a chance at some end runs."

"Work me through center all you want. I think there's a weak spot in their line."

"Come on, now, everybody line up!"

It was the Riverview football team at warm-up practice on the grounds of their rivals, just prior to the big game. I say big game, for the Racer boys and their chums so regarded it from their standpoint, though, it must be confessed that Waterside expected to win easily, and only gave their opponents a game in order to prove how badly they could beat them.

But Frank and his chums were full of confidence. They knew they could play well, and they were in the pink of condition. Of course there might be a slump, and a fumble is likely to occur in any game, to make or break it.

On the other side of the fine big gridiron the Waterside lads were at practice.

"They're beefy," said Captain Jack, a bit dubiously.

"Theyarea bit heavier than we are," admitted Andy, "but we have more speed. Look how slowly they worked that forward pass."

"They may be doing it for a bluff," said Duke Yardly.

"There's no bluff about this gridiron and their grandstands," declared Donald Burgess. "This sure is a peach school."

Nearly every lad contrasted it with Riverview, to the disadvantage of the latter institution.

"Never mind," spoke Frank. "Win this game and we may have a better football field—some day."

Jack Sanderson won the toss and selected the north goal, as that gave him the advantage of a stiff little wind, and he realized that if his team could score first it would put heart into the lads—heart that would more than make up for the extra weight of the Waterside eleven.

Ping! The new yellow ball sailed high into the air, and went rolling well into Riverview's territory. Frank caught it and went back on the run, well protected by interference. But with a rush Waterside was bearing down on him in a bunch, while from thousands of throats came hoarse yells.

"Go on, old man! Go on!" someone implored Frank.

He did try to go on, but now there was a miniature mountain of flesh upon him.

"Down!" he gasped, and then they lined up for the first scrimmage.

It was hot, fierce and fast work. After a couple of tries at the line, Captain Jack saw that it was going to be heavy work, so he began the kicking tactics that had been agreed upon. Here the wind favored Riverview very much, and though Waterside sent the ball back time and again, the net result at the end of five minutes' play was decidedly with our heroes.

"Now we've got to rush it over for a touchdown!" said Frank, as they lined up two yards from the Waterside goal line. It was a desperate try, but it was successful, and Andy was shoved over the necessary distance.

"Touchdown! Touchdown!" yelled the frantic and enthusiastic supporters of Riverview. "Now get another!"

The goal was kicked, and then began the fierce playing again. It was more than a mere game. Riverview was actually fighting for life—or at least recognition among her fellows. With grim despair her boys hugged the ball when they had it, and dashed into the line like young battering rams. And when it came their turn to stop a rush they did it with such fierceness that several of the Waterside players were put out temporarily.

In good stead did the grueling practice our heroes had had on their rough gridiron stand them now. Of course the game went against them at times, and once, just before the end of the second quarter, it looked as if Waterside would get another touchdown in addition to the one she had already made, which would have put her well ahead. But Frank saved the day by a brilliant tackle almost on the goal line and the welcome whistle blew. So far the score was a tie.

There was no let up in the fierce playing when the third period started. Frank, Andy, Jack and Ward were "playing their heads off," as the coach said. But it was needed.

For Waterside was smarting at the manner in which her players were being hurled back.

"We've justgotto win!" said Frank fiercely.

In the third period neither side scored, though Riverview came close to it, and would have done so but for a most unfair decision. There was a howl of protest, but Captain Jack silenced it among his lads.

"We'll win anyhow," he said calmly.

The time was almost up. There had been an exchange of kicks, some fierce line-bucking, and several trick plays tried. Waterside had been forced back until once more the line-up was not far from the fatal white line on which the two posts stood.

"Over she goes now, boys!" called Andy, who was at quarter. This was the prearranged signal for a sequence of plays—that is, several, one after the other, without further instructions being given.

Donald Burgess hurled himself at the line, hoping to get through, but he only made a yard. Then came the turn of Duke Yardly, and he was able only to tear off about four feet.

"Now, Frank, it's up to you!" whispered his brother desperately. Frank set his teeth grimly, and when the pigskin came back to him he threw himself into an opening that was torn for him between tackle and guard on the left. Forward he went, worming his way. He felt hands clutching at him, he felt feet kicking him. His head swam, his eyes saw black. His breath seemed leaving him, and there was a tremendous pressure on his chest, but he got through, and when he found himself flat on his face, with the ball under him, he looked to see that he was beyond the chalk mark. Riverview had made the last touchdown and won the game!

Oh, what a pandemonium broke loose then! How the little contingent of Riverview boys, as compared with the big crowd of their rivals, yelled and shouted.

After the first stupefying knowledge that they had been beaten, and by a despised rival, Waterside remembered her manners and cheered her opponents. And the gridiron was quickly covered with a mass of spectators who insisted on carrying on their shoulders the lads who had won.

"Oh, cut it out!" implored Frank and the others, but it was not to be.

"It was great! Glorious! Fine! Oh, I can't find words enough for it!" cried Gertrude Morton a little later, as she insisted on shaking hands with Frank, even though his palms were covered with mud and grass stains.

"Oh, I'm so glad you've won!" cried Grace Knox, as she approached the blushing Andy.

"You're coming right along! You'll be the champions of the Interscholastic League," said one admirer of our heroes.

"We're not in the League, but we may be if we can beat Milton," spoke Frank grimly. "We want their scalps next."

"Are you going to challenge them again?" asked Andy.

"Sure. It's the only thing to do. Why, the championship is between us now, and I guess Milton won't back down."

And she did not. A few days after the memorable victory of Riverview, Frank's second challenge to Milton Academy was accepted.

"We will have to play on your grounds," the letter stated, "as our gridiron is going to be used by the freshman team that day."

"Our grounds!" exclaimed Frank. "Well, they're pretty punk, compared to theirs, but they'll have to do. And we can play better at home."

"What if we should win?" cried Andy, capering about.

"Did you sayif?" asked Frank. "Of course we're going to win. Now come on, we've got to do something more to those grandstands, and I'd like to see the gridiron in a little better shape."

Between times at practice the lads worked on the grounds until they were in fairly good condition. There was an early indication that a goodly crowd would be present, as the championship of the football season practically lay between Riverview and Milton.

It was the day before the big game—the game on which our heroes counted more than on the previous one. The members of the eleven were just returning from practice when a notice on one of the bulletin boards caught Frank's eye.

"What's this?" he asked, stopping to read it. The others crowded around him.

"Owing to financial difficulties," the notice stated, "it will be impossible for the trustees further to conduct Riverview Hall. The term will come to a close to-morrow and the pupils may return to their homes. Arrangements about returning the unused part of the tuition fees will be made with students' parents."

Dr. Doolittle's name was signed to the notice, and the boys could not but help observing that the characters were very shaky, as if the good doctor's hand had trembled very much.

"Riverview Hall going to close!" gasped Andy.

"And just when we've got her in good running shape!" cried Frank. "This sureistough luck!"

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