第2章

Butcloseuponhim，andgainingateveryfoot，isTheDon，thefleetestmaninthe’Varsityteam。ForhalfaseconditlooksasifBunchmustmaketheline，butwithinthreeyardsofthegoal，andjustasheisabouttothrowhimselftowardit，Balfourshootsouthisarm，graspshisenemybythebackoftheneck，andturninground，hurlshimbackwithterrificforcetothegroundandclambersontopofhim。Itisafiercetackle，givinggreatsatisfactiontoallthe’Varsitysupporters，buttononemorethantoMrs。

Macgregor，who，assheseestheunfortunateBunchhurledtoearth，exclaimswithquietsatisfaction，"Thatwillbedoingforye，I’mthinking。"

"Isn’tsheagreatoldwarrior？"saysLloydaside，totheyoungladies。

"TheDon！TheDon！"crythe’Varsitycontingent。"We—like—Don！We—

like—Don！"theychant，surgingacrossthecornerofthefieldinthewildestenthusiasm。

"Keepback！Keepback！Givehimair。"Thereferee，andthecaptainswiththeirteams，pushthecrowdback，forBunchislyingmotionlessupontheground。"It’ssimplyacaseofwind，"sayslittleCarroll，theMcGillquarter，lightly。

"Thewantofit，youmean，"saysbigMooney，haulingCarrollbackbytheneck。

Inafewminutes，however，thepluckyMcGillhalfbackisupagain，andoncemorethescrimmageisformed。

GraduallyitgrowsmoreevidentthatMcGillisheavierinthescrimmage，butthisadvantageisoffsetbytheremarkableboringqualityofthe’Varsitycaptain，who，uponthebreakupofascrimmage，generallysucceedsinmakingafewfeet，frequentlyoverShock’shugebody。AsforShock，beapparentlyenjoysbeingwalkeduponbyhiscaptain，andemergesfromeachsuccessivescrimmagewithhisyellowhairfiercelyerect，hisfacecoveredwithblood，andalwayswreathedinsmiles。Noamountofhackingandscragginginascrimmagecandamphisardourorruffletheserenityofhistemper。

"Isn’theghastly？"exclaimsLloydtotheyoungladiesathisside。

"Perfectlylovely！"criesBettyinreturn。

"Ah，theoldstoryofthebloodthirstysex，"repliesLloyd。"Hello，theregoeshalftime，"headds，"andnoscoreyet。Thisistrulyagreatgame。"Eagerlythemenaretakenchargeofbytheirrespectiveattendants，stripped，rubbed，slapped，andsponged。

UpcomeShockandBrown。ThebloodonShock’sfacegiveshimaterrifyingappearance。

"Oh！"criesHelenanxiously，"youarehurt。"

"Notabit，"herepliescheerily，glancinginsurpriseather。

"Howdoyoulikeit，MrsMacgregor？"inquiresBrown。

"Man，laddie，theyareagrandteam，anditwillbenoeasymattertowheepthem。"

"Don’tyouthinknowthatShockisalittletoogentlewiththem？"

asksBrownwickedly。

"Well，itwillnotdotoallowthemtohavetheirownwayaltogether，"sherepliescautiously。"Butrunaway，Hamish，andgetyourselfputright。Thereismuchbeforeyouyet。"

"Say，oldman，"saysBrownastheytrotoff，"it’snocredittoyoutobeagreatcentre。You’ddisgraceyourbloodifyouwereanythingelse。"

Intothe’VarsitydressingroomstrollsoldBlack，thegreatestcaptainofthegreatestteam’Varsityhaseverseen。

"Well，oldchap，"hecallsoutcheerfullytoCampbell，"howgoesit？"

"Allright，"saysCampbell。"Theyareagreatteam，butIthinkweareholdingthem。"

"TheyarethegreatestteamMcGilleversenthere，"repliesBlack。

"Oh，thanks，awfully，"saysCampbell，"buttheyarehardlyuptotheteamoffouryearsago。"

"Quite，Iassureyou，andyouareholdingthemdown。"

"Doyouthinkso？"Therewasnoanxietyinthecaptain’stone，buttherewasaseriousearnestnessthatsomehowcaughttheearofallthemenintheroom。

Blacknoticedit。

"Yes，youareholdingthemsofar，withoutadoubt。Theirweighttellsinthescrimmage，andofcoursewedonotknowtheirbackplayyet，andthatfellowBunchCameronisawonder。"

"That’swhat！"singsoutlittleBrown。"Butwhat’sthematterwithTheDon？"

Immediatelytheroarcomesback，"He’s——all——right！"

"Yes，"repliesBlackquietly，"Balfourisswifter，andharderintackle。"

"Haveyouanythingtosuggest？"asksCampbell，withareverencewhichamaninthestrugglefeelsforonewhohasachieved。Themenareallquiet，listening。ButBlackknowshisplace。

"Notintheleast。Youhaveagreatteam，andyouarehandlingthemperfectly。"

"Hearthatnow，willyou？"crieslittleBrown"We’reIt！"

"Doyouthinkwehadbetteropenupalittle？"ButBlackisagentlemanandknowsbetterthantoofferadvice。

"Ireallycannotofferanopinion。YouknowyourmenbetterthanI。

Besides，itisbettertofindoutyourenemy’stacticsthantobetoostuckonyourown。Remember，thosefellowsaredoingsomethinkingatthisblessedminute。Ofcourse，"hewentonhesitatingly，"iftheykeepplayingthesameclosegame——well——youmighttry——thatis——youhavegotagreatdefence，youknow，andTheDoncanrunawayfromanyofthem。"

"Allright，"saidthecaptain。"We’llfeel’emfirst，boys。Keepattheoldgame。Closeandsteadytillwegetinsidetheirheads。Watchtheirquarters。They’relightninginapass。"

ItturnsoutthatoldBlackisright。TheMcGillshavebeendoingsomethinking。Fromthekick—offtheyabandontheclosescrimmageforatime，playinganopen，dribbling，puntinggame，andtheyareplayingitsuperbly。Whiletheyaresureintheircatchingandfierceintheirtackle，theirspecialtyispuntingandfollowingup。

Inthistheyareexceedinglydangerous。Forthefirsttenminutesthe’Varsitymenareforcedwithintheirowntwenty—fiveyardlineandareputupontheirdefence。Thequartersandforwardsbeginto"back，"asuresignofcomingdoom。

"Whatinthunderareyoudoingbackhere！"roarsMartintolittleBrown。"Doyouseeanythingwrongwiththisline？"

Nothingsomaddensahalfbackastoseetheforwardlinefallbackintodefence。LittleBrown，acceptinghisrebukewithextraordinarymeekness，abandonsthedefenceandwiththeotherquartersandforwards，whohadbeenfallingback，goesupwhereCampbellandShockaredoingtheirbesttobreakthepuntinggameandarewaitingtheirchanceforarun。

Everymomentisdangerous;fortheMcGillshavethespiritofvictorystronguponthem，andfromtheirsupportersonthesidelinesthetriumphantandexasperatingrefrainisrising:

"Got’emgoing，going，going，Got’emgoinghome。"

Andindeedforafewminutesitlookslikeit。AgainandagaintheMcGillforwardline，fedcarefullyandjudiciouslybytheirdefence，rushtotheattack，anditisallCampbellcandotoholdhismeninplace。Seizingtheopportunityofathrow—infor’Varsity，hepassesthewordtohishalvesandquarters，"Don’tgiveawaytheball。Holdandrun。Don’tpass，"andsoonhehastheteamsteadyagainandreadyforaggressivework。Beforelong，byresolutelyrefusingtokickorpassandbyclose，hardtackling，’VarsityforcesMcGilltoabandonopenplay，andoncemorethegamesettlesdownintotheold，terrible，grindingscrimmage。

"Oh，whydon’ttheyletTheDonhaveit？"exclaimsBetty。"Iamsurehecouldgetthrough。"

Thecrowdseemtoholdthesameopinion，fortheybegintocallout，"Letitout，Alec。LetTheDonhaveit。"

ButCampbellstillplayscautiouslyaclosegame。Hismenarestayingwell，andheisconsciousofareserveinhisbacklinethathecancalluponatthefittingmoment。Forthatmoment，however，hewaitsanxiously，forwhilehisscrimisplayingwithbulldoggrititislosingsnap。True，Shockcomesoutofeverytusslebloody，serene，andsmilingasusual，buttheothermenareshowingthepunishmentofthelasthour’sterriblescrimmage。TheextraweightoftheMcGilllineisbeginningsurelytotell。Itisananxiousmomentforthe’Varsitycaptain，foranyseriousweakeningofthescrimmagelineisdisastroustothemoralsofateam。

"Youareholdingthemallright，oldchap，"saysoldBlack，takingadvantageofapauseintheplaywhilelittleBrown’slegisbeingrubbedintosuppleness。

"I’dliketoopenout，butI’mafraidtodoit，"repliesCampbell。

"Well，Ithinkyourbacklineissafeenough。Theirscrimmageisgainingonyou。Ialmostthinkyoumightventuretotryapassgame。"

ItisuponthepassingofhisbacklinethatCampbellhasinpreviousmatchesdependedforwinning，andwithordinaryopponentshewouldhaveadoptedlongagothisstyleofplay，buttheseMcGillmenaresohardupontheball，sodeadlyintackling，andsosureintheircatchthathehesitatestogivethemtheopportunitiesthatopenplayaffords。ButhehaseveryconfidenceinTheDon，hisgreathalfback;hehasneverplayedhiminanymatchwherehehasnotprovedhimselfsuperiortoeverythinginthefield，andheresolvestogivehimachance。

Atthismomentsomethinghappens，nooneknowshow。Ahighpuntfrombehindsendstheballfarupintothe’Varsityterritory，andfarbeforeallothersBunch，whoseemstohaveakindofuncannyinstinctforwhatisgoingtohappen，catchestheballontheboundandmakesforthe’Varsitylinewithacomparativelyopenfieldbeforehim。FifteenyardsfromthelineheistackledbyMartin，buterehefallspassestoHuntingdon，hiscaptain，who，catchingneatlyanddodgingbetweenCampbellandanother’Varsityman，hurlshishugeweightuponPepper，whoiswaitingforhim，crouchedlowafterhisusualstyle。

Thefullbackcatcheshimfairlyandthrowshimoverhisshoulder。

Asbothcomeheavilytothegroundthereisasickeningcrackheardoverthefield。TheMcGillcaptain，withPepperhangingdesperatelytohiships，dragshimselfoverthelineandsecuresatouchdownforMcGill。

AtoncethererisesawildtumultoftriumphfromtheMcGillcontingent，butafteraminuteortwothenoiseisfollowedbyananxioushush，andwhenthecrowdabouttheprostrateplayersisdispersedPepperisseenlyingonhisfacetearingupthegrass。Twoorthreedoctorsrushinfromthecrowd，andbeforelongPepperiscarriedoffthefield。Hislegisbroken。

Anumberofpeoplebegintoleavethefield。

"Oh，isn’tithorrible，"groansBetty，turningverypale。"Shallwegohome，Mrs。Macgregor？"

Helenlooksattheoldladyanxiously。

"HereisHamish，"sherepliesquickly。"Wewillwait。"

Shockrunsup，muchdisturbed。

"Awful，isitnot？"hesaystoHelen，whoisthefirsttomeethim。

"Iamsorry，mother，youarehere。"

"Willtheybestopping，thinkyou，Hamish？"askshismother。Thereisashadeofanxietyinhervoice。

"No，mother，wemustplayitout。"

"ThenIwilljustbewaitingfortheend，"saystheoldladycalmly。

"Poorladdie——buthewasbravelydefendinghispost。Andyoumustjustbegoing，Hamishman。"

AsShockmovedofftheyoungladiesandLloydlookedatherinamazement。Itwasinsomesuchspiritthatshehadsentherhusbandtohislastfighttwentyyearsago。

Acloudofgriefandforebodingsettlesdownuponthe’Varsityteam，forPepperisnotonlyagreatfavouritewiththem，butasafullbacktheyhavelearnedtodependuponhim。Huntingdonisfullofregrets，andatonceoffersCampbellandtherefereetoforegothetouchdown，andtoscrimmageatthepointoftackle。

"Hewouldhaveheldme，Iknow，bartheaccident，"hesays。

Therefereeiswilling，butCampbellwillnothearofit。

"Putoffaman，"hesaysshortly，"andgoonwiththegame。"

Bateismovedfromhalftofull，amanistakenfromthescrimmagetosupplyhisplace，McGillmakesasimilarshift，andthegameproceeds。

Huntingdonfailstoconvertthetouchdownintoagoal。Batekicksbackintotouch，andwithdesperatedetermination’Varsitygoesintoeventhescore。

Campbellresolvesnowtoabandontheclosegame。Hehaseverythingtowin，andtolosebyfourpointsisasmuchalossasbyadozen。

"Playtoyourhalveseverytime，"heordersthequarters，andnosoonerisplaybegunthanthewisdomoftheplanisseen。Withabrilliantseriesofpassesthe’VarsityquartersandhalvesworktheballthroughtheMcGilltwenty—fiveline，andbyfollowinghardahighpunt，forcetheenemytoasafetytouch。NosoonerhastheMcGillcaptainkickedoffthantheballisreturnedandagainMcGillisforcedtorouge。

ThescorenowstandsfourtotwoinfavourofMcGill，butthe’Varsitymenhavecometotheirstrongestandareplayingwithanaggressivenessthatcannotbedenied。Againandagaintheypresstheiropponentsbehindtheirtwenty—fiveline。

"Oh，"exclaimsBetty，"ifthereisonlytimetheycanwinyet。Dofindout，"shesaystoLloyd，"whattimethereisleft。"AndLloydcomesbacktoannouncethatthereareonlysixminutestoplay。

"Hamishwillbetellingmethatagameisoftenwoninthelastminute，"remarkstheoldladyencouragingly。

AsCampbellperceiveshisdesperatecase，hebeginstoswearlow，fierceoathsathisquarters。Inalltheirexperienceoftheircaptainthe’Varsitymenhaveneverheardhimswear，andtheyawaketothefactthattheyarefacetofacewithasituationentirelyunparalleledintheirhistoryasateam。Theyarebeingdefeated，andabouttolosetheironechanceoftheprouddistinctionofholdingthechampionshipofCanada。

FrommantomanCampbellgoesashefindsopportunityhisfacewhite，hiseyesablaze，adjuring，urging，entreating，commanding，inawayquiteunusualwithhim。

Anewspiritseizesthemen。Savagelytheypresstheenemy。Theyareneverofftheball，butfollowitashoundsahare，andtheyflingthemselvessofiercelyattheirfoethatineverytackleaMcGillmangoesdowntoearth。

ButtryastheymayitseemsimpossibletogettheballtoTheDon。

TheMcGillmenhaverealisedtheirdangerandhavemenspeciallydetailedtoblockthegreat’Varsityhalf。AgainandagainTheDonreceivestheball;butbeforehecangetawaythesemenareuponhim。

Atlength，however，theopportunitycomes。Byalow，swiftpassfromBrown，MartinreceivestheballandimmediatelytransfersittoTheDon。StraightintothemidstofacrowdofMcGillmenheplunges，knockingoffthehandsreachingforhim，slippingthroughimpossibleapertures，tillheemergesattheMcGilllinewithlittleCarrollhangingontohisshoulders，andstaggeringacrossfallsfairlyintothearmsofbigMooney。

Downtheygoallthreetogether，withhandsontheball。

"Whatisit？Oh，whatisit？"shrieksBetty，springinguponthebox。

"Iamthinkingitiswhattheywillbecallingamaulingoal，anditisapeetywecannotbeseeingit，"repliesthedauntlessoldlady。

"Oh，it’sTheDon，"exclaimsBettyanxiously。"Whataretheydoingtohim？Run，oh，runandsee！"andLloydrunsoff。

"It’samaulsureenough。TwoofthemhaveTheDondown，"heannounces，"buthe’llholdallright，"headdsquickly，glancingkeenlyatBetty。

"Letmego，"criedBetty。"Imustgo。"

"Betty，"saysHelen，inalowvoice，"bequiet。"

"Oh，Idon’tcare，"criesBettypassionately。"Iwanttogo。"

"He’llholdallright，"saysLloydconfidently，andBettygrowssuddenlyquiet。

"Ay，thathewill，yonchap，"agreesMrs。Macgregor，standingupandtryingtoseewhatisgoingon。

"IfTheDoncanholdforthreeminutesitwillcounttwoforhisside;ifMooneyandCarrollcangettheballawayitwillonlycountone，"explainedLloyd。

Aboutthethreeplayersstrugglingonthegroundthecrowdpoursitself，yelling，urging，imploring，shriekingdirections。CampbellstoopsdownoverTheDonandshoutsintohisear。"Holdon，Don。Itmeansthegame，"andTheDon，lyingonhisback，windshisarmsroundtheballandsetshimselftoresisttheeffortsofMooneyandCarrolltogetitaway。

Invainthepoliceandfieldcensorstrytokeepbackthecrowd。

Theyareswepthelplessintothecentre。Madderandwildergrowsthetumult，whiletherefereestands，watchinhand，overthestrugglingthree。

"Stopthatchoking，Carroll，"saysShocktothelittlequarter，whoisgrippingTheDonhardaboutthethroat。

"Getoff，Mooney，"criesCampbell。"Getoffhischestwithyourknees。Getoff，Isay，orI’llknockyourheadoff。"

ButMooneypersistsinboringintoTheDon’sstomachwithhisknees，tuggingviciouslyattheball。WithacurseCampbellspringsathim。

Butashespringsadozenhandsreachforhim。Thereisawildrushoftwentymenforeachother’sthroats。Tooclosetostriketheycanonlychokeandscragandhackeachotherfiercely。Thepolicemenpushin，threateningwiththeirbatons，andthereisaprospectofageneralfightwhenthereferee’swhistlegoes。Timeisup。TheMAUL

isover。’Varsityhasitstwopoints。Thescorenowstandeven，fourtofour，withtwominutestoplay。

TheyliftTheDonfromtheground。Hisbreathiscomingingaspsandheistremblingwiththetremendousexertionsofthelastthreeminutes。

"Timethere！"callsoutShock，whohasBalfourinhisarms。

ThesmileisallgonefromShock’sface。AshewatchesTheDonstrugglingindeepgaspstorecoverhisbreath，forthefirsttimeinhisfootballlifeheloseshimself。Hehandshisfriendtoacoupleofmenstandingnear，stridesovertoMooney，andcatchinghimbythethroatbeginstoshovehimbackthroughthecrowd。

"Youbrute，you！"heroars。"Whatkindofagamedoyoucallthat！

Jumpingonamanwhenheisdown，withyourknees！Forverylittle，"

hecontinues，strugglingtogethisarmfreefromthemenwhoarehangingonit，"Iwouldknockyourfaceoff。"

MenfrombothsidesthrowthemselvesuponShockandhisfoeandtearthemapart。

"That’sallright，Shock，"criesTheDon，laughingbetweenhisgasps，andShock，suddenlycomingtohimself，slinksshamefacedlyintothecrowd。

"ItisnotoftenHamishforgetshimselfinyonfashion，"sayshismother，shakingherhead。"Hemustbesorelytriedindeed，"sheaddsconfidently。

"Iamquitesureofit，"repliesHelen。"Healwayscomesoutsmiling。"Andtheoldladylooksatherapprovinglyamoment，andsays，"Indeed，andyouareright，lassie。"

InafewminutesTheDonisasfitasever，andslappingShockonthebacksayspleasantly，"Come，along，oldfire—eater。We’vegottowinthisgameyet，"andShockgoesoffwithhim，stilllookingmuchashamed。

McGillkicksfromthetwenty—fiveline，butbeforethescrimmagethatfollowsisovertimeiscalled，withanevenscore。

Thecrowdstreamsonthefieldtumultuouslyenthusiasticoveragamesuchashasneverbeenseenonthatcampus。Bothsidesareeagertogoon，anditisarrangedthatthetimebeextendedhalfanhour。

OldBlackgetsCampbellasideandurges，"Taketenminutesoffandgetyourmenintoquarters。"Campbelltakeshisadviceandtherubbersgetvigorouslytoworkatlegsandloins，rubbing，sponging，slapping，untilthemendeclarethemselvesfreshasever。

"Nothurt，Don？"inquiresCampbellanxiously。

"Notabit，"saysTheDon。"Itdidn’tbothermeatall。Iwaswinded，yousee，beforeIfell。"

"Well，"saysCampbell，"we’regoingtogiveyouachancenow。

There’sonlyonethingtodo，men。Rush’em。Theyplaybestinattack，andourdefenceissafeenough。Whatdoyousay，Black？"

"Ientirelyagree。Butbeginsteady。Ishoulduseyourwholehalfbackline，however，forawhile。TheywilllayforBalfourthere。"

"That’sright，"saysthecaptain。"BeginsteadyandpasstoMartinandMcLarenforthefirstwhile，andtheneveryonegiveTheDonachance。"

"AndShock，"callsoutlittleBrown，"don’tbeafool，andstopfighting，"atwhicheverybodyroarsexceptShockhimself，who，ashamedofhisrecentdisplayoftemper，hurriesofftothefield。

Oncemorethecampusiscleared。Batteredandbloodyastofeatures，tornanddishevelledastoattire，butalleagerandresolved，theteamsagainlineup，knowingwellthattheyhavebeforethemahalfhoursuchastheyhaveneveryetfacedinalltheirfootballcareer。

Itis’Varsity’skick。Campbelltakesitcarefully，andplacesitintouchwellwithintheMcGilltwenty—five。Afterthethrowin，theteamssettledowntoscrimmageassteadyasatthefirst，withthisdifference，however，that’Varsityshowsperceptiblyweaker。Backstepbysteptheirscrimmageisforcedtowardthecentre，theretreatcounterbalancedsomewhatbythesplendidindividualboringofCampbellandShock。Butbothteamsarealertandswiftatthequarters，fierceintackleandplayingwithamazingsteadiness。

SuddenlyCarrollnipsuptheballandpasseshardandswifttothehalfbackimmediatelybehindhim，whointurnpassesfarouttoBunchontheleftwing。WithabeautifulcatchBunch，neverslackingspeed，runsroundthecrowd，dodgesthequarters，knocksoffMartin，andwithacrowdofmenofbothteamscloseuponhisheels，makesfortheline。

BeforehimstandsBatealone。Fromhistall，lankmakeonemighteasilythinkhimnonetoosecureonhislegs。Bunchdeterminestocharge，andlikealittlebullrushesfullathim。

ButBate’swholefootballlifehasbeenonelongseriesofdeceptions，andsoheisquitepreparedforthiskindofattack。AsBunchcomesathimhestepslightlyaside，catchesthehalfbackabouttheneck，swingshimroundandlandshimpronewithsuchterrificimpactthattheballfliesoutofhisgrasp。

ImmediatelylittleBrownhasit，passestoMartin，whoonbeingtackledpassestoTheDon。Thefieldbeforehimisfulloftheenemy，butTheDonneverhesitates。Doubling，twisting，knockingof，heeludesmanafterman，whilethecrowdsonthelinegrowmoreandmorefrantic，andatlength，clearingthemainbody，hesetsoffacrossthefieldtomoreopencountryonthe’Varsityleft。BehindhimcomeCampbell，Shock，Martinandothers，followinghard;beforehimstandthreeoftheMcGilldefence。Dorion，McDonnell，andMooney。Hehasalreadymadeagreatrun，anditlooksasifhecannotpossiblymakethrough。

FirstDorionspringsathim，butTheDon’sopenhandattheendofarigidarmcatcheshimfullintheneck，andDoriongoesdownlikeastick。

BigMcDonnellbearsswiftlydownuponhimandleapshighathim，butTheDonlowershisshoulder，catchesMcDonnellbelowthewindandslideshimoverhisback;butbeforehecangetupspeedagainlittleCarrollisclutchingathiships，andMooney，theMcGillfullback，comesrushingathim。Swinginground，TheDonshakesCarrollpartlyoff，andwiththatfiercedownwardcutofhisarmwhichishisspecialtrick，sendsthelittlequarterflying，andjustasMooneytackles，passestheballoverhisshouldertoShock，whoisimmediatelypounceduponbyhalfadozenMcGillmen，butwho，ereheisheld，passestoCampbell，whointurnworksforwardafewyards，andagainonbeingtackled，passestoTheDon。Itisamagnificentbitofplay。

Thespectatorshavelongsincepassedallboundsofcontrol，andarepouringonthefield，yellinglikemadpeople。Eventheimperturbableoldladyloseshercalmforamoment，andgripingHelen’sarmexclaims，"Lookatthat，now！Man，man，yonisagrandladdie。"

ThereisnochanceforTheDontorun，foraswarmoftheMcGillmenstandbetweenhimandthelineonlyafewyardsoff。Thenhedoestheonlypossiblething。Puttinghisheaddownheplungesintothecrowdinfrontofhim。

"Comeon，Shock，"yellsCampbell。Instantlyadozen’VarsitymenrespondtothecryandfallinbehindCampbellandShock，who，lockingarmsaboutTheDon，areshovinghimthroughfordearlife。

Therearetwominutesoffiercestruggle。Twentymeninamass，kicking，scragging，fighting，butslowlymovingtowardtheMcGillline，whilebehindthemandaroundthemtheexcitedspectatorswildly，madlyyelling，leaping，imploring，adjuringbyallkindsofweirdoathsto"shove"orto"hold。"InvaintheMcGillmenthrowthemselvesinthewayoftheadvancingmass。Steadily，irresistiblythemovementgoeson。Theyarebeingbeatenandtheyknowit。

"Down！down！"yellsbigHuntingdon，droppingonhiskneesonthelineinfrontofthetramping，kicking’Varsityphalanx。

Amoment’spause，andthereisamassofminglingarms，legs，headsandbodies，piledonthegoalline。

"Held！held！"yelltheMcGillmenandtheirsupporters。

ButbeforetherefereecanrespondShockseizesTheDonbelowthewaist，liftshimclearofthemob，andtramplingonfriendandfoealike，projectshimoverthestrugglingmassbeyondtheenemy’sline，whereheisimmediatelyburiedbeneathaswarmofMcGillmen，whosavagelyjumpuponhimandjamhisheadandbodyintotheturf。

"He’sin！he’sin！"shrieksBetty，wildlywavingherhand。

"Willitbeawin，thinkye？"anxiouslyinquiresShock’smother。"Itwillhardlybethat，Idoubt。But，eh——h，yon’sthelad。"

"Down！down！"criesthe’Varsitycaptain。"Getofftheman！Getofftheman！Lethimup，there！"

ButtheMcGillmenareslowtomove。

"Getup！"roarsShock，pickingthemoffandhurlingthemaside。

"Getup，men！Getup！Thatballisdown，"yellstherefereethroughthedin，intotheearsofthosewhoareholdingTheDoninadeathgrip。

Withdifficultytheyarepersuadedtoallowhimtorise。Whenhestandsup，breathless，bleedingatthemouth，butotherwisesound，thecrowdof’Varsityadmirersgointoariotofrapture，throwingupcaps，huggingeachotherinecstaticwardances，whiletheteamwalkquietlyaboutrecoveringtheirwind，andresistingtheeffortsoftheirfriendstoelevatethem。

"Quitit！"growlsCampbell。"Getoffthefield！Getback，youhoodlums！"

MeantimeHuntingdonisprotestingtothereferee。

"Iclaimthatballwasfairlyheld，backthere。Balfourwasbroughttoadeadstand。"

"Howdoyouknow，Huntingdon？"returnsCampbell。"Yourheadwasdowninthescrim。"

"Icouldseehislegs。Iknowhisboots。"

ItistruethatTheDonhasapeculiartoeonhisboots。

"Oh，"jeersCampbellscornfully，"that’sallrot，youknow，Huntingdon。"

"Lookhere，Campbell，listentowhatIsay。IwantyoutorememberI

amspeakingthetruth。"

Huntingdon’squiettonehasitseffect。

"Iwouldneverthinkofchallengingyourword，"repliesCampbell，"butIthinkitisquiteimpossiblethatyoucouldabsolutelyknowthatTheDoncametoadeadstand。"

"Irepeat，IcanpickoutBalfour’sbootsfromawholecrowd，andI

knowhewasbroughttoastand。Iampreparedtoswearthat。Cananymansweartothecontrary？"

"Why，certainly，"criesCampbell，"halfadozenmencan。There’sShock，whowasrightbehindhim。"

ButShockthusappealedto，hesitates。Hehasanunfortunateconscience。

"Ican’tsayforsure，"hesays，lookingpiteously，athiscaptain。

"Weren’tyoumovingallthetime，Shock？"

"Well，Iwasshovingallthetime。"

"Butholdon，"saysHuntingdon。"WillyousaythatBalfourwasneverbroughttoastand？Willyouswearthat？"

"Well，Icannotsayforsure，"repliesShockingreatdistress。"Itwasnotverylong，anyway。"

YellsoftriumphantlaughterbreakfromtheMcGillcrowd。