下载辰思小说免费APP
I
ASOCIALIMPOSSIBILITY
ItwasoneofNovember’sraredays。Thekindlyair，vitalwiththebreathofthenorthwindandmellowwiththegenialsun，wasfullofpurplehaze;thegrass，stillvividlygreen，gavenohintofthecomingwinter;thetrees，bonyandbarebutforafewragsofsummerdress，russet—brownandgold，stoodsoftenedofalltheirharshnessinthepurplehazeandslanting，yellowlightoftheautumnafternoon。Natureworeafaceofcontent。Shehadfulfilledhercourseforanotheryear，and，satisfiedwithherachievement，wasobviouslythinkingofsettlingherselfintoherwinter’ssleep。
Itwasagooddaytobealive。Thetingleintheairsomehowgotintotheblood。
SoitfelttoayounggirlwhodancedoutfromunderthetreesonthewestboundaryoftheUniversitycampus。
"Oh！"shecriedtoherstatelier，tallersister，whowithayoungmanfollowedmoresedatelyintotheopen。"Oh，whataday！Whatapicture！"
Shewasabonnymaidjustoutofherteens，and，withherbrowngown，brownhairandeyes，redcheeks，andwholesome，happyface，shefittedwellintothepicturesheherselflookedupon。
"Dearold’Varsity，"saidhersisterinavoicequiet，butthrillingwithintensefeeling。"ThereisnothingsolovelyinallthiscityofToronto。"
"Toronto！"exclaimedtheyoungmanatherside。"Well，Ishouldsay！
Don’tyouknowthatadistinguishedAmericanartcriticdeclaresthisbuildingthemostsymmetrical，themostharmonious，themostperfectlyproportionedbitofarchitectureontheAmericancontinent。Andthatissomething，fromacitizenofthe’biggestnationondryland。’"
Theywalkedslowlyandsilentlyalongtheborderofthematchlessvelvetylawn，notingthemanyfeaturesofbeautyintheoldgreyfaceoftheUniversitybuilding——theharmoniousvarietyoflinesandcurvesincuriousgargoyles，dragons，andgryphonsthatadornedthecornicesandthelintels，pausinglongtoadmirethewonderfulcarvedentrancewithitsmassivetowerabove。
"Great，isn’tit？"saidLloyd。"Thewholething，Imean——park，lawn，andthedearold，greystones。"
Atthismomentsomemeninfootballgarbcamerunningoutofthepillaredportico。
"Oh，here’stheteam！"criedBetty，theyoungersister，ecstatically。"Aretheygoingtoplay？"
"No，Ithinknot，"saidLloyd。"Campbellwouldnotriskanyscrimmagingortacklingthisevening，withMcGillmenevennowintownthirstingfortheirblood。He’sgotthemoutforaruntolimberuptheirwindandthingsforto—morrow。"
Thesisterswerefootballenthusiasts。ForthepastfouryearsthebeautifulRosedalehomeoftheFairbankshadbeentherendezvousforstudents，and，asmanyofthesehadbeenfootballmen，theyoungladieshadbecomeasdevotedtothegameandalmostasexpertinitsfinepointsasanyofitschampions。
"Don’ttheylookwellandfit，"exclaimedBettyasthestringofrunnerswentpast。
"Yes，andfittheyareeveryman，"repliedLloyd。"There’sCampbell！
He’satrulygreatcaptain，knowshismen，andgetsoutofthemallthatispossible。"
"Yes，andthere’sBrown;andMcNab，isn’tit？Aren’ttheythequarters？"askedBettyexcitedly。
Lloydnodded。"Andyondergoes`Shock，’thegreatShock。"
"Oh，where？"criedBetty。"Yes，yes。Now，doyouknowIthinkheisjustasmeanashecanbe。HereIhavebeenbowingandsmilingmybestandsweetestforfouryears，andthoughheknowsalotofthemenweknowheisjustasmuchastrangerasever，"andBettypoutedinamannerthatwouldhavebroughtdeepsatisfactiontoShockhadheseenher。
"Herearethethreehalves，aren’tthey？"inquiredHelen，theeldersister。
"Yes，"repliedLloyd。"There’sMartinandBate。Finefellow，Bate——
and——"
"Oh！"brokeinBetty，"there’sthe’TheDon。’dowishtheywouldlook。Theyneedn’tpretendtheydon’tseeus，thehorridthings。"
"Ofcoursetheyseeyou，"answeredLloyd，"buttheyareengagedinseriousbusiness。Yousurelydon’texpecttodiverttheirattentionfromthepursuitoftheirnobleart。Why，who，orwhatdoyouconceiveyourselftobe？"
ButBettyonlysmiledserenely，andshookhercurlsbacksaucily。
"Oh，Iknow，"repliedLloyd，"Iknowwhatyouaresaying。`Someday，somedaytheywillgrovel。’Alas，onlytoosoon！And，indeed，herecomesTheDononhissecondround。I’llaskhimwhathemeans。"
"Ifyoudare！"criedBetty。
"Mr。Lloyd！"saidHelenhaughtily，andMr。Lloydthoughtbetterofit。
But"TheDon"didnotevenglancetowardthegroup。
"Lookatthat，now，"saidLloyddisgustedly。
"Didanyoneeverseesuchbesotteddevotiontoabarbarousvocation。"
"Hedidnotseeusatall，"insistedBetty。"ButwhyisMr。Balfourcalled’TheDon’？"
"Obviously，Ishouldsay，fromhisDon—likeappearance，bearing，carriage，etc。ButIamnotanauthority。AsklittleBrown，yourspecialslave。HeknowsallaboutbothShockandTheDon。"
"Whatabsurdnamesyouhave，"exclaimedBetty。"Now，whatisthereasonforShock’sname？Isittheshockofhischargeinthescrimmage？"
"Notbad，that。Iratherfear，however，ithastodowithhismoststrikingfeature，iffeatureitbe，for，whenyoupullhimfeetfirstoutofascrimmage，amethodnotinfrequentlyadopted，hisheadisasighttobehold。But，asIsaidbefore，askBrown。"
"Iwillto—night。He’scomingoveraftertea。Youarecoming，too，areyounot？"
Lloydbowed。"Ishallbedelighted"
TruetoherwordBettygreetedBrown，onhisappearanceinthecosy，homelikeparlouroftheFairbanks’thatevening，withthequestion，"Howdid’TheDon’comebyhisnickname？"
"Oh，didyouneverknowthat？Mostfellowsputitdowntohisstyle，butit’snotthat。Hegotitfromhisblood。Youknow，hisfatherwasoneofthoseWestIndia，sea—captainsthatoneusedtofindstrewnthickthroughHalifaxsociety，whomadefortunesinrumandlostthemprettymuchthesameway。Well，theoldcaptainmarriedaSpanishgirl。Ihaveseenherportrait，andshewasabeauty，a`high—bredSpanishlady，’sureenough。Livedsomewhereintheislands。CamehomewiththeCaptain，anddiedinHalifax，leavinghersevenyearoldboyinchargeofanaunt。Fatherdiedsoonafterwards。Grief，Ibelieve，anddrink。Eventhenhispeoplecalledthe’thelittleDon。’Hehadalittlemoneylefthimtostartwith，butthathaslongsincevanished。Atanyrate，forthelastfiveorsixyearshehashadtofendforhimself。"
"Quitearomance，"saidLloyd。
"Isn’tit？"exclaimedBetty。"Andhenevertoldaword。"
"Well，TheDon’snotapublisher。"
"Butthenhetoldyou。"
"Yes，hetoldmeandShockonenight。Helikesus，yousee。"
"’Degustibusnondisputandum，’"murmuredLloyd，andinanswertoBetty’sinquiringlookadded，"astheoldwomansaidwhenshekissedhercow。"
"Nowthen，whataboutShock’sname？"continuedBetty。
"Hair，"saidBrownlaconically。"Youhaveseenhimcomeoutofascrimmagelikeacrab？"
"Yes。Isn’thejustlovelythen？"exclaimedBetty。
"Lovely？Oh，woman，woman！Aghastly，bloody，fearsomespectacle。
Lovely！Butitwaseverthus。’ButcheredtomakeaRomanholiday，’"
repliedLloyd。
"Well，heisratherbloody。Bleedseasily，you;know，butitdoesn’thurtatall，"saidBrown。"Heneverreallyenjoyshimselftillthebloodflows。"
"DisgustingoldBerserker！"exclaimedLloyd。
"ButIthinkheisjustadear，"wentonBettyenthusiastically。
"Thewayheputshisheadrightdownintoacrowdofmen，andletsthemjumponhimandmaulhim！"
"Yes，"repliedhersister，whohadtakenlittlepartintheconversation，"andcomesoutsmiling。ThatiswhatIlike。"
"Andbloody，"addedLloyd。"That’swhatMissBettylikes。"
"Iwanttoknowabouthim，"criedBettyimpatiently。"Whydon’twegettoknowhim？Tellmeabouthim，"sheinsisted。"Wheredoeshelive？Whoarehispeople？"
Brownhesitated。
"Well，yousee，Shock’sshy。DoesnotgoinforthesortofthingthatLloyd，forinstance，revelsandglittersin——teas，functions，socialrouts，andallthat，youknow。Hehasonlyhismother，adearoldHighlandlady，poor，proud，andindependent。ShelivesinaquaintlittlehouseoutontheCommonsawaybehindthecollege，andlivesfor，in，with，by，andaroundShock，andheviceversa。Heshareseverythingwithher，hisworkdowninthemission——"
"Mission！"interruptedBetty。
"Yes。RunsamissiondowninSt。John’sward。Givesherallhisexperienceswiththedenizensofthatprecinct，keepsherintouchwithhiscollegework，andevenwithhisfootball。Yououghttoseehimlayaoutthebigmatchesbeforeherontheteatablewithplates，cups，saltcellars，knives，spoons，andyououghttoseeherexcitementandhearhercriticisms。Oh，she’sagreatsport！"
"Goon，"saidHelen，herfineeyesbeginningtoglow。"Goon。Tellusmoreabouther。"
ButBrownshutupabruptly，asifhehadbeentakingalibertywiththeprivacyofhisfriend’shome。
"Oh，"hesaidlightly，"there’snothingmoretotell。Theyliveaveryquiet，verysimple，but，Ithink，averybeautifullife。"
"Andshe’sfondoffootball？"inquiredBetty。
"Devotedtoit。"
"Andhassheneverseenagame？HassheneverseenShockplay？"
inquiredHelen。
"Never。"
"Wouldshebeafraid？"
"WouldyouinsultthewidowofaSutherlandHighlanderwhosepictureinwarlikeregaliaregardsherdailyfromhercottagewall？"
"Well，Iamgoingtoseeher，"exclaimedBetty。
Brownlookedannoyed。
"Whatfor？"
"Why，Iamgoingtocall。"
Brownlaughedalittlescornfully。"Yes，andbesuretoleavethreecards——isit？——andtellheryourday。"
"Whatdoyoumean？"exclaimedBettyindignantly。"Youarenotverypolite。"
"Oh，Iamsorry，really。ButIimaginedtheoldladylookingatyouandwonderingwhatwasyourparticularbusiness，andthenIthoughtofyourdifficultyinmakingitquitecleartoher。"
"Why！doesshenotcallonanyone？"
"No。Shetakesherknittingandvisits。"
"Well，I’mgoinganyway，somehow。I’llaskShocktotakeme。"
"Oh，Betty，youcouldnotdothat，"saidHelen。"Nomanwouldlikeexhibitinghishome，muchlesshismother。"
ButBettyshookherheaddecidedly，saying，"I’llfindsomeway。
Tellme，whatdoesshelike？"
"Shock。"
"ButImeanwhatamusementandpleasurehasshe？"
"Amusement！Shadesofthemightypast！Why，MissBetty，"Brown’stoneissadandsevere，"inmyyoungdaysyoungpeopleneverthoughtofamusement。Wehadnotimeforsuchfollies。"
"Oh，nonsense！"exclaimedBettyimpatiently。"HasshenootherinterestinlifethanShock？"
"None。Herchurch，——shewouldregardyourprelacywithhorror，——andShock，andShock’sdoingsandgoings——andfootball，ofcourse，asI
havesaid。Shockplays，yousee。"
"ThenIhaveanidea，"criedHelen。"We’ll——"
"Dogoon，"appealedBrown。
"Bettergiveittohim，"saidLloyd。"Anidea，youknow，istosomepeoplearareandvaluableasset。"
"Notnow。PerhapslaterImayimpartit，"saidHelen。
"Itwouldbeagreatkindness，"saidBrownhumbly，"ifyoucouldletmehaveitsoon。"
"Natureabhorsavacuum，youknow，"putinLloyd。
AtthispointthebellrangandTheDoncamein。Hewasayoungmanofstrikingappearance，handsome，dark，wellsetup，withtheeyesofhisSpanishmother，butwiththeheadandjawofhisScotchsea—
captainfather。Withallhiseaseofmannertherewasashy，proudreserveabouthim，andakindofgrandairthatsethimapartfromanycompanyinwhichhemightappear。
Aftersalutingtheyoungladieswithasomewhatformalbow，heannounced，"Iwantyou，Brown。"
"Oh，sitdown，"criedBetty。"Sitdown，Mr。Balfour。Wearenotgoingtoallowyoutocarryoffourvisitorinthisabruptmanner。"
"Yes，takeyourselfoff，"criedBrown。"YouseeIcan’tbespared。"
"Pleasesitdown，"urgedHelen。"Wewanttoaskyouaboutthematch。"
"Ireallycannot，"repliedTheDon。"Iamonduty，yousee。"
"Onduty？"
"Yes。Lookingaftermenwhowouldstayouttoallhours，andregalethemselvesuponcakeandallsortsofindigestiblestuff。Andmorethanthat，Shockisoutsidewaiting。"
"Oh，"criedBetty，"dobringhimin。ForyearsHelenandIhaveknownhim，andyetwedon’tknowhim。Bringhimin。"
"Canyounotpersuadehimtocomein？"urgedHelen。
"IamsureIcannot。Butifyouweretotry——"TheDonpaused，lookingdoubtfullyather。Helenhesitated。
"Oh，he’sawful，Iknow。Hewillhardlyspeaktome，"interruptedBetty。"Butifyou’llcomewithmeI’llhumblemyselfbeforehim。"
Inamomentortwo，sureenough，theyreturned，withShockfollowing。
Hewasabigman，gauntandbony，withamightypairofshoulderstoppedbyasquare，massiveheadonwhichbristledaveritableshockofcoarse，yellowhair。Buthehadastrong，honestface，andgood，deepblueeyes。Heseemedtoobigfortheroom，andaftershakinghandsawkwardlywithHelen，whohadgoneforwardtomeethim，hesubsidedinto，deeparm—chair，strugglingwithhishandsandfeet。
ThecontrastbetweenShockontheonehand，andtheelegantLloydandthehandsomeDonontheother，couldhardlybemorestriking。
Allintheroomwereconsciousofthiscontrastandsoughtinevery，waytominimiseit。Bettyplungedintofootballtalk，towhichShocklistenedforthemostpartsmilinglysilent。
Shewasdeterminedtodrawherunhappyvisitorfromhisshell。Buthermostbrillianteffortswereinvain。PoorShockremainedhopelesslyengagedwithhishandsandfeet，andrepliedatunexpectedplaces，inexplosivemonosyllablesatonceludicrousanddisconcerting。NotevenTheDon，whocametoherassistance，couldrelievetheawkwardnessofthesituation。Shockwastoolargetobeignored，andtoounwieldytobeadjusted。
AfterafewminutesofhopelessendeavourTheDongaveuptheattemptandrosetogo，saying:"Youwillneedtoexcuseus。Wearedueatameetingto—night。Comealong，Brown。"
ThealacritywhichShockdisplayedingettinguponhisfeetgaveabundanttestimonytotheagonyhehadbeensufferingduringthelasthalfhour。
"Yes，wemustbeoff，"saidBrown，farmoreeagertogothanwashiswont。
"Willyounotcomeagain？"saidBettytoShock，assheshookhandswithhim。"Mymotherwouldbegladtoseeyou。"
ButShockcouldonlylookatherblankly，evidentlywonderingwhathermothermightwishtoseehimfor，andwhenBettytriedtoextractapromisefromhimhemutteredsomethingaboutbeing"farbehindinhisworkandverybusy。"
ButBettywasnottobebaulked。
"Ishouldliketocallonyourmother，"shesaid。ButagainShocklookedblank，whileBrownbegantomakefacesatherfrombehindhisback。
"Whenwillyourmotherbein？"shepersisted。
"Oh，she’sineveryday，exceptwhenshegoesoutforawalk，or——"
Brownkeptuphissignalling，andTheDonbegantolookpuzzledandannoyed。
"Well，"saidBettydesperately，"Iwouldliketogoandseehersomeday。"
Shockhesitated，blushed，andthenanswered:"Wehavenofriendsinthecity，andwedonotvisitmuch，and——"
"Oh，I’lltellyou，MissBetty，"burstinBrown。"GetasharpattackoftyphoidandMrs。Macgregorwillthencomeandseeyou。She’sagreatnurse。"
"Thatsheis，"saidShockenthusiastically。"Shewouldbegladtocome。"
"Comealong，Brown，"brokeinTheDon。"Wearelatenow。Comealong，Shock，"andthethreemenwentofftogether，leavingLloydbehind。
"Isn’theawful？"saidBeth。"Anddidn’tIhumiliatemyself？"
"Youcertainlydeservedhumiliation，"saidhersisterindignantly。
"Youmighthaveseenhewasdreadfullyshy，andyououghttohavelefthimalone。Andnowformygreatidea。Iwilltakeyoubothintomyconfidence。IamgoingtodriveMrs。Macgregortothematchto—
morrow。"
"Splendid！"exclaimedBetty。"AndI’llgowithyou。Buthowcanyoupersuadeher？"
"Ihavethoughtaboutthat，"saidHelen。"We’llaskMr。Browntodrivearoundwithusalittlebefore，andI’msureshewillgo。"
"Willyouallowmetojointheparty？"humblyaskedLloyd，"oristheresomeoneelse？"
"Oh，"saidBetty，"wearesuretoneedsomebody，andyouwilldoaswellasanyother。"
InobediencetoaninvitationconveyedbyLloyd，BrownappearedattheFairbankshouseintheearlymorning。Eagerlytheyoungladiespropoundedtheirplan。AtonceBrownenteredheartilyintoit，andcallingwiththemintheafternoonpersuadedtheoldladythatsheoughttoattendthegreatmatch，emphasisingespeciallythefactthatShockwouldbedelightedtoseeherthere，andwouldbestimulatedtodohisverybestbyherpresence。
"Itwilllikelybehislastgame，too，"urgedBrown。
Thisfinallydecidedthematter，andsoitturnedoutthatperhapsthemostenthusiastic，andcertainlythemostpicturesque，ofallthegroupsthatsurroundedthecampusnextdaywasthatwhichfilledtheFairbankscarriage，consistingoftwoyoungladies，anelegantlyattiredyoungman，andaquaint，plainlydressed，butundeniablydignified，oldlady。
II
VARSITYVERSUSMcGILL
Itisagloriousautumnday。Thesmokyairwithjustanipofthecomingfrostinithangsstilloverthetrees，throughwhosebaretopsandinterlacingboughsthegenialsunlightfallsinagoldengloryuponthegrassbelow。Thenipintheair，thegoldenlight，thethrillinguncertaintyofthecomingmatch，themagnitudeoftheissueatstake，combinetoraisetheardouroffootballenthusiaststothehighestpitch。
Therecordofeachteamisunique。Eachhasgonethroughthechampionshipserieswithoutasinglereverse。Perhapsneverintheirhistoryhavebothuniversitiesbeenmoreworthilyrepresentedthanbytheteamsthataretocontestto—daythechampionshipoftheDominion。
TheMcGillmenarethefirsttoappearonthecampus，andarewelcomedwithloudandgenerouscheers，whichare，however，redoubledupontheappearanceofthe’Varsitychampions。
ManyeyesareturnedupontheFairbankscarriage。TheyoungladiesarewellknowninUniversitycircles;butthequaintoldlady，lookingsohandsomeinspiteofherplainblackbonnet，awakensthecuriosityofthecrowd，whichonlyincreaseswhenitbecomesknownthatsheisShock’smother。
"DoyouseeHamish，mydear？"inquirestheoldlady。"TheyaresomuchalikeIcannotdistinguishhim。"
"Goandbringhim，"criesBetty，andLloydreturnsinamomentwithShockandlittleBrown。
"Mother！mother！Thisisawful。Youwon’tlikeitabit。You’llthinkI’mgettingkilledmanyatime。"
Buttheoldladyonlysmilesplacidly。"Indeed，andI’mnotafraidforyou。Runaway，Hamish，andbecarefuloftheladdies。"
"Don’ttellhimthat，Mrs。Macgregor，"pleadsBrown。"He’sfartoogentleasitis。"
Somefewminutesarespentinarrangingforthekick—off。
"Oh，Idowishtheywouldstart，"exclaimsBetty，standingupinthecarriage。"Iftheywouldonlystart！"sherepeats。"Iwanttohaveachancetoshriek。"
"Theretheygo！"exclaimsLloyd。
ItisMcGill’skick。Huntingdon，thebigcaptainandcentreforward，takesitmagnificently，followinguphardwithhiswholeteam。
Pepper，the’Varsityfullback，however，isatthespotandreturnsintotouch。Inthethrow—inMcGillsecurestheball，andbyaswiftrushmakesfifteenortwentyfeet，when，amidthecheersofthespectators，bothteamssettledownintotheirfirstscrimmage。
Thesearethedaysofclosescrimmageplay，whenninemenoneachsideputtheirheadsdownwiththeballbetweenthem，andshovefordearlife。Pickingout，heelingout，orkickingoutisstrictlyforbiddenandpromptlypenalised。
Thefirstscrimmageresultsinadeadball。Oncemoreascrimmageisformed，butagaintheresultisadeadball。Overandoveragainthisplayisrepeatedwithverylittlegainoneitherside。Itgraduallybecomesapparent，however，thatMcGillinascrimmageisslightlyheavier。Footbyfoottheyworktheirwaytowardthe’Varsitygoal。
Thecriesof"Holdthem，’Varsity！Holdthem，’Varsity！"and，"You’vegot’em，McGill！You’vegot’em！"indicatethejudgmentofthespectators。
"Ay，"saystheoldlady，"theyareabitheavyforthem，Idoubt。"
"Who！"inquiresBetty，muchamused。
"TheMontreallads。Butwewillbewaitingameenute。"
Itisaveryslowgameforthecrowdsthatlineeverysideofthefield。Neitherteamwilllettheballout。Againandagainthequartersnipuptheballandpass，butthetacklingissohardandswiftthatthehalvescannotgetaway，andbypassinggroundisalmostalwayslost。
"Keepitin！"istheword。Inchbyinchtowardsthe’VarsitygoaltheMcGillforwardsfighttheirway。
SuddenlytheMcGillscrimmageweakensandbreaksup。Theirquarterseizestheball，passesitlowandswifttoBunch，whoisofflikethewindacrossthefield，dodgesthroughthequarters，knocksoffMartinandBate，andwithTheDoncomingharduponhisflank，setsoffforthe’VarsitylinewithonlyPepperbetweenhimandatouch—
down。
ButPepperiswaitingforhim，coolandsteady。AsBunchnearshimhecroucheslikeacat，creepingslowlytomeethiscomingfoe。TenfeetfromthelinestraightatthefullbackgoesBunch。Attwopacesdistancehechangeshismindandswervestotheleftwiththehopeofdodgingpast。
Buthehasventuredtoofar。Peppertakestwoshortsteps，andlikeatigerspringsathisfoe，windshisarmsroundhishipsanddragshimdown，whileTheDonfromthesideleapsfiercelyonhimandholdstheballsafe，fivefeetfromtheline。
’Varsitygoeswildwithrelief。
"Pepper！Pepper！RedhotPepper！"theychantrapturouslyinenthusiasticgroupshereandthere，asPepper’sredheademergesfromthecrowdpileduponhimandtheprostrateBunch。Againandagainrisesthechant，asthefullbackreturnsataslowtrottohisplacebehindtheline。
"Indeed，itisPepperisthegrandladdie，"saystheoldladyapprovingly。"Many’sthegamehehassaved，Hamishwillbetellingme。"
"Now，McGill！"callsoutaMontrealman，leadinghisfellows。"Stonewall！Stonewall！Shove’emin！Shove’emin！"
Butthe’Varsitycaptainisalivetohisdanger，andgettinghismenlowdownhedeterminestoholdtheenemyfasttillthefuryoftheirattackbesomewhatspent，ortillfortuneshallbringhimaid。
"Getup！Getupthere，’Varsity！"yellstheMcGillcontingent。
"Lookat’emsayingtheirprayers！"shoutsaboy。
"Theyneedto，"answersanother。
"Getup，’Varsity！Getup！Don’tbeafraid！"theyyellderisively。
"Make’emstandup，referee，"aMontrealmaninsists。
AgainandagaintheMcGillcaptainappealstothereferee，whoremonstrates，urges，andfinallyordersthe’Varsitytogetuporbepenalised。
Campbellperceivesthatsomethingmustbedone。HemovesShockfromthecentretotheleftwingofthescrimmageandcallsinMartinandBatefromhalf。
Bythistimeevery’Varsitymanisonhisfeet，forheknowsthatShockisabouttoleadthe"screw"andbeforethescrimmageiswellformedtheMcGillstonewallisbroken，andCampbellisboringthroughitwiththebat，gainingagoodtenfeetandbyaquickre—
formtenmore。
"Man，man，takeheed。Yon’sadangerousgame，I’mthinking，"murmursShock’smotheranxiously，totheamazedamusementofLloyd，whoreplies，"Why，Mrs。Macgregor，youseemtoknowthegameaswellastherestofus。"
"Ay，Hamishhasoftenshowedmetheworkingofthescrew，anditisnottobedependeduponinaplacelikeyon。"
The’Varsityteambreathefreelyagainandgoinwithnewvim，whileMcGillsettlesdownontheballtorecoversteadiness。
Butthe’Varsitycaptainhasseenthescrewworkandresolvestotryitagain。OncemorehemoveShocktothewing，signalstothequarters，andagaintheMontrealstonewallisdemoralised。ButinsteadofCampbellboringovertheprostrateformofhisbigcentrewiththeballtheMcGillcaptain，securingit，passestoCarroll，hisquarter，whodashingoffasafeinttotheright，passesfaracrossthefieldtoBunchontheleft。
Bunchasusualisinhisplace，catchesbeautifullyandisoffdownthefieldlikeawhirlwind，dodgingone，knockingoffanother，runningroundathird，tillbetweenhimandthegoallinehehasonlythehalfback，Martin，andthefull。
TheMcGillpeoplegowildagain。"Bunch！Bunch！"theyyellfrantically，crowdingdownthelineafterhim。"He’sin！He’sin！"
Butnotyet。RedPepperisswiftlybearingdownuponhim，andashecomeswithinreachspringsathim。ButthewilyBunchhaslearnedtomeasurethatlongreach，anddodgingbacksharply，heslipsroundPepperandmakesforthelinetenyardsaway。
Alonggroangoesupfromthe’Varsitysupport，whilefromahundredMcGillthroatsrisesthecryagain——"He’sin！He’sin！Atouch！A
touch！"
