CHAPTER XIX
A GREAT STRUGGLE
"Don't worry, he'll be all right presently. No, his leg isn'tbroken--only a slightly sprained ankle. He lost his senses because ofthe collision shock, as much as from the pain. He's coming around allright."
Dick heard these words as if in a dream. He felt a soft hand on hishead--he knew it was that of some girl, but for the life of him he couldnot tell who it was. He was aware of the smell of pungent drugs, andthen he felt some one take hold of his ankle. He uttered a little moanof pain. Then he heard another voice saying, as he opened his eyes:
"Oh, Mildred, he's conscious now."
"Yes, Mabel," answered another girl, and then Dick knew who she waswithout looking up into the face of the young lady who hastily withdrewher hand from his head.
"Miss Hanford," murmured the young millionaire, as he recognized thegirl over whom he and Dutton had so nearly fought a duel in our hero'searly cadet days.
"Oh, I'm so glad you know me!" she exclaimed. "Mildred Adams and I werepassing along the street just when that dreadful automobile crash came.It's a mercy you weren't all killed."
"Indeed it is!" chimed in Miss Adams. "But Mabel kept her nervessplendidly. She lifted your head, and then she sent me for a doctor."
Dick looked around to observe that he was in the rear room of a drugstore, and that a man, evidently a physician, was standing by, regardinghim with a professional air.
"Well, young man, how do you find yourself?" asked the doctor.
"Pretty well, as long as nothing is broken."
"No, you're all right that way. You had a lucky escape."
"How is my uncle?" asked the lad anxiously.
"Only a slight cut. The drug clerk is putting some plaster on it. ShallI call him in?"
"Will I be able to play football Saturday?" There was a querulous notein Dick's voice.
"Humph! That's all you lads care about. As soon as you crawl through aknot hole without getting killed you want to rush off to battle. PlaySaturday? Well----" The doctor paused.
"I've just _got_ to!" cried Dick. "We meet Haskell--it means a lot to myteam. I've got to play!"
"Well, I guess we can fix you up if you wear a leather bandage on thatankle. It might be a good deal worse. I'll take another look at it."
"We'll tell that elderly gentleman--your uncle--that you are all right,and ask him to come in here," said Miss Hanford. "Come, Mildred."
They withdrew, and as the physician was tightening the bandages onDick's ankle Mr. Larabee entered. His appearance was not improved by alarge piece of sticking plaster over his right eye, and he looked moreaggressive than ever.
"I told you how it would be if we rode in one of them automobiles!" heexclaimed. "It's all your fault, Nephew Richard, and you'll have to paythe doctor bills. I shan't, and what's more I shan't pay that drivereither. He ought to be more careful."
"Please don't get excited," begged the doctor, with a regard for Dick'snerves.
"I'm not excited!" cried Uncle Ezra, "but I know my rights and I want'em, too! I'm not excited, but I'll have the law on that murderingvillain of an automobile man! I'll sue 'em both. I'll collect damages.We'll see if there's any justice in this land!" and he smote hisclenched right fist into the open palm of his left hand. "I'll have myrights. I'm not excited, but I'll have justice."
"All right, Uncle Ezra," spoke Dick calmly. "Is the chauffeur hurt?"
"I don't care whether he is or not. I'll have the law----"
"I'm all right--only some bruises. It was that other fellow's fault, hewas on the wrong side of the street. Are you all right, Mr. Hamilton?"asked the chauffeur, at that moment entering the room. He knew Dick,having driven him about many times.
"Glad you're not injured," spoke the lad. "Is your machine in shape torun? I want to get back to the academy. The fellows may hear about thisand think I'm worse hurt than I am. Can you take me back?"
"Sure. Only my front lights, and some of the glass windows were smashed.I'll run you back."
"Nephew Richard, do you mean to say you're going to ride back in thatmiserable man's machine?" demanded Mr. Larabee.
"Why certainly," replied the young millionaire calmly, as he arose fromthe couch on which he had been lying. The doctor assisted him. "Whyshouldn't I go back that way. I don't want to use my ankle more than Ihave to before the game."
"Well, all I've got to say is that you're more foolhardy than I thoughtyou were, and I wash my hands of the whole affair," said Uncle Ezrabitterly. "I'm going back home and report to your father. I'm sorry Icouldn't do anything with Mr. Duncaster, but he is an obstinate man. Andwhat's more, I won't pay hire for that automobile, either."
"Yes, you will!" cried the driver.
"That will be all right," spoke Dick quickly, making the driver aconcealed motion, which the man understood.
"I'm going back to Dankville," went on the crabbed old man, "and I hopeI never have to leave it again. My nerves are all shattered by what I'vegone through, and if I'm a physical wreck as I expect to be after thisaccident I'll sue you for heavy damages," he threatened, to the autodriver.
"Go ahead," was the calm reply. Then, after he had bidden Dick a rathercool good-bye, Uncle Ezra departed. He did not ask for the sandwichesfor his lunch, and Dick wondered at it.
"A strange character--rather strong-willed I should say," observed thephysician, when Uncle Ezra had gone.
"Yes," agreed Dick simply. He rather thought his uncle might haveremained to see that he got to his room safely. But since the attemptedkidnapping affair there had been more coldness than ever between Dickand his aged relative.
"Are you feeling strong enough to be moved?" asked the doctor.
"Oh, yes, and I'm much obliged to you."
"You also have the young ladies to thank," spoke the medical man with asmile.
"Oh, of course," assented our hero. He managed by the help of thechauffeur to limp out to the waiting taxicab. Miss Hanford and MissAdams were in the drug store.
"I can't thank you enough for your first-aid-to-the-injured services,"said Dick with a smile, as he shook hands with the young ladies. "Itwas very good of you."
"Oh, you're not done with us yet," said Miss Hanford gaily. "I'vetelephoned for my cousin Harold, and he's going to go to the academywith you. He'll be here in a few minutes. Here he is now," she added, asa tall, good-looking lad entered the store. Mabel introduced him toDick, and though our hero insisted that he could get along well enoughwith the help of the chauffeur, Harold Johnson insisted on accompanyinghim in the cab.
"Let us know how you are?" called Mabel after them, as they started off,the crowd that had gathered dispersing, now that the excitement wasover.
"Well old man, you certainly had a time of it!" exclaimed Paul Drew,when young Johnson had safely delivered his charge and departed. "Whatare you trying to do, anyhow?"
"I don't know. It all came so suddenly there was no time to do anything.I'm sorry about Mr. Duncaster though. I wish Uncle Ezra had not buttedin, for now it will make it all the harder for me when I try again toget that stock."
"Are you going to try again?"
"Surely. Dad needs it. But I'm not going to worry about that now. We'vegot to devote all our attention to the Haskell game."
"Do you think you can play?"
"I'm going to!" declared Dick fiercely.
He received visits from every member of the eleven and most of thesubstitutes before taps that night, and they were all relieved when theyfound that the young captain's injuries were not as severe as had atfirst been reported.
Dick was not able to practice the next day, but the following one he wason the gridiron, and he was delighted to find that, aside from a littlestiffness, his ankle did not trouble him.
"Fellows, this is your last chance," declared Coach Martin, the dayprevious to the great Haskell game. "Make good now and----"
"To-morrow," put in Mr. Spencer with a smile. "And don't forget thatyou're going to win!"
In spite of
a slight pain in his ankle, Dick never ran the team tobetter advantage than he did in practice that day.
"Oh, for to-morrow!" he exclaimed to Paul in their room that night.
What crowds there were! They overflowed the grandstands and surged uponthe space around the Kentfield gridiron. They stood several deep alongthe ropes stretched to keep them back, and still they poured through theentrance gates to the delight of the cadets.
"We'll make some money all right off this game!" exulted ManagerHatfield. "And we need it, even if we have a millionaire on the team."
"No, we can't expect Dick to do it all," said Paul.
"He's mighty good to hire the coaches," commented George Hall. "Oh,say, if we can only win! Has the Haskell bunch arrived yet?"
"No, but they'll soon be here. Come on, our fellows are going to get inpractice."
Out on the field trotted the Kentfield eleven, with the score ofsubstitutes, wrapped, Indian-like in blankets, squatting on the sidelines, until such time as they would be needed to form some oppositionfor the Varsity.
This soon came, for the coaches, after putting the boys through somerecently evolved formations, called on the scrub. Then the practice washarder.
A roar burst from a thousand throats as the Haskell team trotted out,for they had brought many supporters with them. Then came cheer aftercheer--cheers for Kentfield and for their opponents.
"They're a husky lot all right," observed Dutton grimly, as theKentfield cadets ceased their practice to "size-up" their foes.
"And beefy," added John Stiver.
"Oh, say, don't get heart-disease so soon," advised Dick with a laugh."Wait until you see us walk through 'em."
The preliminaries were soon arranged, and luck was with Dick for he wonthe toss and selected the east goal, with what wind there was in hisfavor. This gave the ball to Haskell to be kicked off, and a few minuteslater, the twenty-two sturdy youths took the field. Dick placed his menwith care, and gave an anxious look all about him, as the Haskell centre"teed" the new yellow ball on a little mound of earth on the middleline.
Shrilly blew the whistle, and a moment later there was a dull "thump!"as the toe of the big centre rush found the pigskin, and sent it wellinto Kentfield's territory. Ray Dutton caught it, and, tucking thespheroid under his arm he sprinted down over the chalkmarks, gatheringspeed at every stride.
"Cover him, fellows! Cover him!" yelled Dick, and the right half-back'ssupporters gathered in front of him as well as they could. But theopposition streamed through. Dutton ran on until in front of him loomedPeters, the gigantic right guard of Haskell, and then the plucky cadetran no more, for he was heavily thrown. But the ball had been carriedback to Kentfield's forty-yard mark.
"Line up, boys!" yelled Dick. "Go through 'em now."
He stooped down behind Jim Watkins, and began calling the signal forStiver to circle Haskell's right wing. Back came the ball, and Stivergot it on the jump, but so fast did the opponents of Kentfield streamaround to meet him that he did not gain more than three yards.
"They're strong!" murmured Dick with a bit of despondency in his voice,for he had seen how in vain his men hurled themselves against thestone-wall-like line of Haskell.
"So much the more credit if we beat them!" whispered Paul.
The captain was half decided on a try around the other end, but amovement in the line told him this was almost suspected so he called fora fake kick with Dutton to take the ball.
The spheroid came back true, and John tucked it against his chest as,with head well down, he hurled himself forward. But the hole was notthere, and once more the enemies of Kentfield got through so that onlytwo yards were made.
"We've got to punt," thought Dick, as he gave the signal.
Straight and true the ball sailed from the toe of Hal Foster's shoe--farinto the territory of Haskell, so far indeed that their full-back had toretreat to gather it in. Back he sprinted, protected by his eager mates.
"Get to him, boys! Get to him!" pleaded Dick, and into the knot ofplayers rushed Beeby, Drew and Hall. Hall was shoved aside and Paul Drewwas put out of business, but Beeby dodged through, and, a moment later,his powerful arms circled his man--the man with the ball. Down they wentin a heap.
A few seconds later the offensive tactics of Haskell were in operation,and powerful they were. First came a smashing attack between left guardand centre that netted five yards. Once more the line was bucked, andthrough left guard and tackle came hurtling the man with the ball.Another gain was netted around right end, and then came a line play onthe other side. Kentfield was being pushed back, and thus far heropponents had found no necessity for kicking.
"Hold 'em! Hold 'em!" pleaded Dick. "Brace!"
His men tried, and with such power on the next play that only one yardwas made.
"That's it!" cried the captain gleefully.
On the side lines the coaches watched the struggle.
"I'm afraid they're too much for 'em," murmured Mr. Martin regretfully.
"Yes, perhaps, but the game is young yet, and it's full of chances.Besides, did you note the brace they took?"
"Yes--it's great--we'll have a fine team before the season is over."
Smash and bang went the attack on Dick's line. He did all that mortalcaptain could do to infuse some of his own strength and courage into hismen, but it seemed that it was not to be. Down the field the ball wasrushed until it was within thirty yards of the Kentfield goal.
"Touchdown! Touchdown!" demanded the crowd in sympathy with Haskell.
"Hold boys, hold!" yelled the Kentfield adherents and they sang cheeringsongs and gave their school war-cries.
"Don't let 'em through!" almost tearfully pleaded Dick, though it seemedthat a score was inevitable. "Brace! Brace!"
Once more a hammer-like attack, and the ball was on Kentfield'stwenty-two yard line. Then it looked as if at the next play either a tryfor goal would be made, or that some lucky player on Haskell would smashthrough and dodge his way to a touchdown.
But something happened. Through some miscalculation when Haskell'squarter got ready to pass the ball on the next play he found his manmissing, through inattention to the signal. Thereupon the quarter ranwith it himself, without having covered the necessary five yards to oneside. This carried with it a penalty which sent the ball back toKentfield's thirty-seven yard line, and Dick breathed easier. The almostinevitable was postponed for a little while.
A forward pass was next attempted by Haskell, but the memory of therecent fizzle must have been on the minds of her players, for the ballwas juggled. Perkins, the left guard fell on it, and then, after ahurried line-up, Matthews, the full-back, tried for a goal from thethirty-five yard line.
The ball rose well, for he was amply protected, and a yell of delightcame from a thousand throats as Haskell's supporters thought they sawtheir side scoring. But Matthews did not have good aim, and the ballstruck the posts and bounded back where Dick got it.
"Our ball!" cried Dick in delight, as the pigskin was brought out tothe Kentfield twenty-five yard line.
"Are you going to kick?" whispered Paul.
"No, we'll buck the line again. I think they're tired."
The captain's judgment was vindicated, for on a wing shift Ray Duttonwent through for ten yards, and at this unexpected breaking up of thepowerful line of Haskell there were roars of delight from the homecrowd.
Again Dick sent a man smashing through with the ball, and the opponentswere tumbled to one side, for the Kentfield guards and tackle werefierce now with the desire for revenge, and they tore great gaps in theranks of the men before them.
A fake kick gained another substantial distance, and then misfortunecame, for there was holding by some of Dick's men, and they lost theball on a penalty. But so far had they advanced it into the territory oftheir enemies that the Haskell captain ordered a kick. Dick saw theirgame now.
"They think to tire us, for, they think I'll begin smashing their lineagain. Then, at the close of the half they'll knock us
all apart," hereasoned as he helped form interference for Foster, who had caught theball.
"Instead of that we'll kick!" instantly decided Dick. "That will keepthe ball in their territory, but if they send it back I'll chance somemore smashes."
He called to the full-back to boot the leather forward, and back it camewith unerring aim. It was somewhat of a surprise to Haskell, and theywere a bit demoralized, for they had not expected such fierce playing,nor such good generalship. Then followed another punt from the Haskellfull-back, and Stiver caught the ball.
"Rush it back!" ordered Dick, his voice scarcely heard above the tumult.
Stiver was shortly downed, but Kentfield had the ball, and once morebegan to smash at the line with all the fierceness of which she wascapable. Haskell was plainly taken by surprise, but they held theiropponents to advantage and in two downs only ten yards were gained. Akick was inevitable, and it came.
This time, after rushing the ball back until downed Haskell tried somenew tactics. They worked a neat forward pass, and an adaptation of thewing shift so that in a few minutes Kentfield's goal was again menaced.
"Now's the time to hold again!" cried Dick, and hold they did, untilStiver was injured and had to leave the game. Ford Endton was called in,and then the smashing went on once more.
Slowly Kentfield was being pushed back, and about all Dick could hopefor was the whistle that would announce the end of the half, for thatwould save being scored on.
Once more fate came to his aid. There was off-side play on the part ofHaskell, and one of her men was detected "slugging". As a resultKentfield got the ball, and her opponent was penalized ten yards. Dickpromptly ordered a kick, and the pigskin was sent whizzing down thefield into Haskell territory.
Haskell at once kicked back, but gained little, and then Dick called forsome more line plays. It was a bad move, as the ball could not beadvanced and Dick had to kick again. Then back at the wearied Kentfieldplayers came burrowing and boring their enemies, until our friends wereshoved back up the field.
Nearer and nearer to their own goal they were pushed, until the ball waswithin five yards of it. Dick begged and pleaded, but it is likely thatnot all the urging in the world could have prevented a touchdown, onlythat the whistle blew, ending the half, and the tired players rushedfrom the field.
"Well, we didn't score," remarked Dick somewhat gloomily to the coacheswho hurried out to him.
"Score? Nobody expected you would against that team!" cried Mr. Martin."But look what you did. You equaled them all around, and they couldn'tscore on you."
"They feel worse than you do!" exclaimed Mr. Spencer. "You boys didnobly. I fancy Blue Hill is trembling at this moment."
"I hope so," said Dick. "But I want to score next half."
The rest, and the words of praise showered on them from all sides at theplucky game they had put up, did much to put heart into our heroes. Theywent back into the contest with an eagerness that was a delight to thecoaches and their captain.
An exchange of kicks followed the second half initial send-off, and whenDick's team got the ball they once more tried their bucking. The firsttry, however showed that Haskell's line had been much strengthened, andthis was because several new players had gone in, whereas, with theexception of two, the Kentfield team was the same.
"They're afraid of us!" Dick whispered in delight to Paul. "They heldout some of their best players--now they have them in. We're up againstthe strongest team they have," and this was so.
Wishing to save his men as much as possible, Dick called for somewing-shift and fake-kick plays that proved to be good ground-gainers.But there was a fumble in one, and Haskell got the ball.
Her smashing attack proved the virtue of the new players, and in lessthan ten minutes of play in the second half the ball had been shovedover for a touchdown, and the goal was kicked.
"Oh, but that's tough!" sighed Innis.
"It might be worse!" said Dick, as cheerfully as he could. "We'reholding them well, considering the new men they have, but we're goingto score now."
He and his men made a good try for it. They got the ball on a fumbleafter some play following the touchdown, and began to rush it back. Fora moment their attack was so irresistible that Haskell crumpled topieces. Then, maddened and ashamed at having a smaller-sized team treatthem thus, they braced, and the advance of Kentfield was stopped.
Again Haskell came smashing at Dick's line. He knew what it meant. Theywere determined to have another touchdown and the plucky captain wasjust as determined not to let them get it. But it seemed as if it mustcome.
Smash, bang! Smash, bang! came the heart-breaking attack. Haskell was sosure of herself now that she did not kick. But she was a little toosure, for she held in the line again, and the ball came to our friends.It was promptly punted out of danger, but instead of returning the puntHaskell once more came back to the banging tactics.
"Another touchdown!" was the demand.
"Never! Never!" thought Dick in desperation.
The ball was within ten yards of his line. He knew there could be but afew minutes more of play.
"Hold 'em fellows, hold!" he implored. "If we can keep 'em down to onetouchdown it's as good as a victory for us!"
Hold the Kentfield cadets did, though slowly but surely they were beingshoved back. They even dug their hands into the dirt until their nailsbled, but it seemed useless.
"Now boys for a touchdown!" called the Haskell captain with a laugh."We're going to get it, too!" he added, looking Dick straight in theface.
The signal came. Into the line came smashing the man with theball--straight through a hole that had been torn with savage energybetween Drew and Watkins. Straight at Dick the man came, Haskell's bigguard. Dick tackled him like a tiger, and felt himself being bowledover. A sharp pain shot through his injured ankle, and he knew thebandage had slipped. But he also knew something else, for the ball hadbounced from the grasp of the guard and lay within reach of our hero.
He pulled himself from underneath the husky guard, though the pain inhis foot was excruciating, and like a flash was up. Then, before any oneknew what he was doing, he had booted the ball well down the field,though the kick cost him unbearable pain. But he had saved anothertouchdown against his team, for at that moment the final whistle blew,and the great game was over.