CHAPTER VII
THE WEST POINT GAME
In another moment, but for Stonewell's quick action, the ball might havebeen put in play.
All the Naval Academy players instantly realized what Bligh hadintended, and every one was intensely angry.
Gates, who had heard the signal, came running out on the field from theside lines; the Harvard players were tremendously surprised and did notknow what to make of the commotion among the midshipmen, and the umpirewas angrily ordering the midshipmen to play and Gates to get off thefield. Short shrift was given to Bligh; the latter's attemptedexpostulation was cut short, and Stonewell passionately ordered himaway. Blunt took his place as quarter. A place-kick was attempted, butwas blocked, and time was soon called. The game ended with the scoreHarvard 3, Annapolis 0.
The midshipmen players ran to their dressing rooms, and much hot andangry talk followed. Some were for reporting Bligh and having himdismissed. Others were for giving him a physical beating; othersproposed that he be put into complete "coventry."
"None of this will do, fellows," said Stonewell, after listening to alot of angry proposals for Mr. Bligh's discomfiture. "Not one of us herewill ever speak to the man; that goes as a matter of course; but we mustbe very careful to avoid doing anything that will tend to creatediscussion. Bligh's leaving the field was not understood by anybody butour own players. If he be put in 'coventry' or thrashed or reported ordisciplined for what he did to-day the matter might leak out. West Pointscouts were present watching our play, and Harvard plays Yale soon. Theonly thing to do is to keep absolutely mum; in this case the ends ofjustice and of discipline must give way to football necessities. We mustkeep faith with our friends of Yale."
"But is such a hound to be permitted to remain a midshipman?" burst outHarry Blunt. "I've been brought up to believe a midshipman could not doa dishonorable thing and remain a midshipman; is Bligh to do ascoundrelly act and not only go unpunished but also to have the secretof it kept by us who would have been disgraced if he had succeeded inhis purpose?"
"Just so, Blunt," replied Stonewell. "There's nothing else to do. Shouldwe report Bligh it is quite possible the whole thing would come out, andGates' forward pass from a fake kick formation would become a matter ofcommon knowledge. We may win the West Point game through it. Yale playsHarvard the same day we play West Point. Each of us must avoid doing athing in regard to Bligh that will cause comment or discussion. Hisleaving the field at that time and his being put off the squad is boundto cause talk in the brigade. If anybody asks why, just say he didn'tsuit, and change the subject."
"That's right," broke in Professor Danton, who had been an interestedlistener, "but I just want to add one thing; in the many years I've beenhere, there have been at different times bad characters entered asmidshipmen; but they're invariably found out and dismissed. Mark mywords, Mr. Bligh will be no exception--he's undoubtedly a dishonorablecharacter--don't worry about him; he'll not last a year here."
Much discontented grumbling followed, but all realized there was nothingto do except follow Stonewell's directions. As a natural result impotentrage was felt by the midshipmen players against Bligh. In spite ofBligh's dastardly act they were to be powerless to show their contemptfor him or their resentment of his conduct, nor could the midshipmen ofthe brigade be told until after the football season had ended.
"And just think of the brigade giving Bligh the 'four N yell,' fellows,as he left the field," grumbled Harry Blunt.
The members of the team talked of Bligh's conduct rather than of thegame in which they had just been defeated. Before the game they hadhardly dared to hope for victory against Harvard, and all had now asatisfactory feeling that a good battle had been fought, and that noapology was necessary.
Amongst the midshipmen of Bancroft Hall much enthusiasm was felt fortheir team, but great surprise was exhibited when at supper Bligh wasseen to go to his regular seat in the mess hall instead of going to thetraining table. It became instantly known that Bligh was off thefootball squad, and "Why?" was the question asked everywhere.
Bligh was very quiet, and in reply to numerous questions said he couldnot talk about the matter. Then all knew that he had been dismissed fromthe squad.
"Pass the word, Pete," said Glassfell to Peters, "that Stone says thatno questions are to be asked, and Bligh's leaving the football squad isnot to be talked about." It was wonderful how loyally this mandate wasobserved. It soon got to every midshipman of the brigade and in spite ofthe intense curiosity that existed every midshipman felt it a duty tothe team to carry out Stonewell's wishes.
That same Wednesday night, shortly before half-past nine, Bligh appearedin the room occupied by Stonewell and Robert Drake.
"By what authority are you visiting my room in study hours?" demandedStonewell in coldly official tones.
"From the officer-in-charge, sir; I told him it was most important."
"What is it?"
Bligh's reply came in halting, jerky sentences.
"I wish to explain that signal to-day, sir. I was wild for our team towin; we could have won by the play; I gave the signal without thought,sir. It just sprang from my lips--I never once thought about thepromise--and besides, it would be a greater honor to win from Harvardthan from West Point--and probably we would have won by it from WestPoint, too--we have never yet won from Harvard. Don't you see, sir, Iwas working for the Academy? I was carried away at the time; it was atremendous minute and the desire to use a play that would win crowdedall other thoughts out of my mind; it's well enough to think of promiseswhen you have time to do so; it's easy when you're sitting in a chairdoing nothing, but too much outside matter should not be expected of thequarter-back in the middle of a fierce game. I want to go back on thesquad."
"Mr. Bligh, from the very best possible construction of your act, evenif it were agreed that your character is high, that with you a promiseintentionally broken is impossible, your conduct has shown you to beirresponsible, a person in whom trust cannot be reposed. But from yourwords I judge you regard a promise lightly--to be broken easily. Youraction was particularly bad because it might have caused other men, whohave higher regard for their word than you have, to be faithless to apromise. But I'm going to make you one promise, and that is as long asyou are at the Naval Academy you will never play football here again.You may leave my room, sir."
"Do you think I'm going to stand this?" cried Bligh, in passionatetones. "Do you expect me to sit idle while you are ruining myreputation? I'm not powerless, perhaps I know of some way I may injureyou--and some others," and Bligh's eyes glared with savage intelligence.
"I know what you're thinking of, you miserable plebe. You're thinkingyou will write to both West Point and Harvard about the fake kick."
Bligh gave a violent start.
"But let me tell you," continued Stonewell, "those people would spurn acorrespondence with you. If you attempt such a thing as that I willlearn of it, and then I'll make you another promise; if you should do ityou'll be drummed out of this place to the tune of the Rogue's March.Return to the officer-in-charge, sir, and report you have concluded yourimportant matter."
Bligh turned and left the room. Angry feelings dominated him. In hisstatements to Stonewell he had unconsciously expressed his sentiments;honor and truth were in fact not salient characteristics of this youngman, and when giving the signal for the Gates forward pass he had notgiven much thought to the promise he and all of the team were bound by.So he left Stonewell with a sense of injury and resentment, not ofremorse.
Stonewell and Robert lived in the corner room of the ground floor,armory wing. Bligh roomed with Sexton in the main corridor, next door tothe room used as an office by the lieutenant-commander in charge of thefirst division of midshipmen, that officer occupying the room onlyduring the day.
When Bligh returned he found his roommate, who had been off on someunauthorized visiting since supper time, leaving the room again with hisarms full of clothes.
"What's up? Where are you t
aking those things, Sexton?" inquired Bligh.
"I have permission to change my room; I'm not going to room with you anymore."
Sexton was on the football squad, and so knew of what Bligh had done."So you're against me too, are you?" shouted Bligh, now beside himselfwith anger; he then left the room and started down the corridor, and ina moment saw Harry Blunt coming toward him. He did not notice thatBlunt, on seeing him, suddenly clenched his hands and seemed to breathehard. In fact Harry's anger was yet intensely alive, and the sight ofBligh set his nerves on edge.
Bligh's overwrought feelings now left his control; he wanted somebody tohate, and because of his previous troubles with Blunt it was very easyfor him to vent his passion on that young man. So as he passed Harry hesuddenly stopped and said:
"So the Great Stonewell's pet chicken has bootlicked himself intoquarter, has he?"
And then an avalanche struck Mr. Henry Bligh. Before he thought ofdefending himself a steam hammer blow slammed him against the corridorwall and in the space of three or four seconds blow after blow wasrained upon him; blows sent by Harry Blunt, animated by intense personalanimosity and utter detestation. And then Bligh dropped to the floor,covered his face with his hands, acknowledging defeat, and groaning inutter despair. To that overwrought fourth classman it seemed as if theentire world had combined against him.
Stonewell came running down the corridor. "What does this mean?" hedemanded savagely of Blunt.
"He said I was your pet chicken, and had bootlicked myself into quarter.I hit him; I had to, I couldn't help it. I hadn't said a word to himwhen he insulted me."
"Go to your room and keep away from him. Get up, Bligh, and go to yourroom."
After this episode Bligh was very quiet, and kept much to himself. Butwhenever he passed Harry Blunt or Stonewell a peculiar expressioncrossed his face. One would have said that though he never spoke of themyet he thought much about them, and these thoughts evidently were notpleasant ones.
The football season now drew to a close, and finally those ancientfriends but football rivals, Annapolis and West Point, once more facedeach other on Franklin Field, in Philadelphia. It is not the purposehere to depict that glorious struggle; that is a matter of too recenthistory and has been told many times.
The teams seemed about equally matched. In the mighty rushing of oneteam against the other neither side could make much, and but few firstdowns were recorded; end runs were nipped in the bud. All in vain wouldone team hurl itself upon the other, and many tremendous effortsaccomplished nothing. And so before the end of the first half kickingtactics were adopted by both sides. Twice when Annapolis had recoveredthe ball from a punt down the field a place-kick was tried, but eachtime it was blocked by West Point.
Once more, while there was yet ten minutes to play, the midshipmen werewithin striking distance of West Point's goal, and once more Blunt gavethe same signal for an attempt for a goal from the field; a signal theWest Pointers now knew perfectly well. But they did not appreciate adifference in Blunt's manner of giving the signal, something wellunderstood by every midshipman player. Stonewell fell back in his place,the midshipmen braced themselves as usual, and the West Pointersprepared to block the kick.
On the bleachers the mighty host who had been yelling themselves hoarsewere momentarily silent. Harry Blunt now grabbed the snapped ball andthen, with terrific force, West Point plunged into the Annapolis line.The shock was backed by all the strength and pluck and spirit that theWest Pointers possessed. But bewilderment overtook them, for somethingout of the usual had happened, and in awful dismay they were like mengroping in the dark.
Blunt grabbed the ball when it was snapped back and ran seven or eightyards to the right; and at the same instant, with the speed of a deerRobert Drake sped far over to the right. He then turned and caught theball which with unerring skill Blunt had thrown to the point whereRobert was to catch it.
In but a few seconds Robert was lying flat on the ground between thegoal posts. Annapolis had made a touch-down. And now from the Navy sidethere broke out prolonged roars and shouts from fifteen thousandenthusiastic Navy friends, while over on the West Point side there wasnothing but silent dismay.
There was no more scoring, but all Annapolis was wild with delight; forthe first time in four years she had defeated West Point.
But on the midshipman stand, surrounded by excited midshipmen in blue,there was one young man who did not participate in the general delight;for with brooding face and troubled eyes Midshipman Henry Bligh satsilent.