well. And, my boy, if you get that ball again, and of course you will,
_don't let it go_! Give up your twenty yards if necessary, only hang on
to the leather!"

Then he thumped him encouragingly on the back and sped him forward.
Crozier, the deposed quarter-back, was being led off by Professor Beck.
The boy was pale of face and trembling with weariness, and one foot
dragged itself after the other limply. But he was protesting with tears
in his eyes against being laid off, and even the hearty cheers for him
that thundered from the stand did not comfort him. Then the game went
on, the tide of battle flowing slowly, steadily, toward the
Crimson's goal.

"If only they don't score again!" said Gardiner.

"That's the best we can hope for," said Professor Beck.

"Yes; it's turned out worse than I expected."

"Well, you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that they've played
as plucky a game against odds as I ever expect to see," answered the
other. "And we won't say die yet; there's still"--he looked at his
watch--there's still eight minutes."

"That's good; I hope Decker will remember what I told him about runs
outside right tackle," muttered Gardiner anxiously. Then he relighted
his pipe and, with stolid face, watched events.

St. Eustace was still hammering Hillton's line at the wings. Time and
again the Blue's big full-back plunged through between guard and