banged
up. But he's going to stop the play."

"Yes, I think he is--if he lives," said Mills with a grim smile. "The
only objection that occurs to me this moment is this: Have we the right
to place any player in a position like this where the punishment is
certain to be terrific, if not absolutely dangerous?"

"I've thought of that, too," answered Sydney readily. "And I don't
believe we--er--you have."

"Well, then I think our play's dished at the start."

"Why, not a bit, sir. Call the players up, explain the thing to them,
and tell them you want a man for that position."

"Ah, ask for volunteers, eh?"

"Yes, sir. And you'll have just as many, I'll bet, as there are men!"

Mills smiled.

"Well, it's a desperate remedy, but I believe it's the only one, and
we'll see what can be done. By the way, I observe that you've taken left
half for the victim?"

"Yes, sir; that's Neil Fletcher. He's the fellow for it, I think."

"But I thought he was a friend of yours," laughed Mills.

"So he is; that's why I want him to get it; he won't ask anything
better. And he's got the weight and the speed. The fellow that
undertakes it has got to be mighty quick, and he's got to have weight
and plenty of grit. And that's Neil."

"Yes, I think so too. But I don't want him to get used up and not be
able to kick, for we'll need a field-goal before the game is over, if
I'm not greatly mistaken. However, we can find a man for that place,
I've no doubt. For that matter, we must find two at least, for one will
never last the game through."

"I suppose not. I--I wish I had a chance at it," said Sydney longingly.

"I wish you had," said Mills. "I think you'd stand all the punishment
Robinson would give you. But don't feel badly that you can't play; as
long as you can teach the rest of us the game you've got honor enough."

Sydney flushed with pleasure, and Mills took up the diagram again.

"Guard and tackle will have their work cut out for them," he said. "And
I'm not sure that left end can't be brought into it, too. There's one
good feature about Robinson's formation, and that is we can imagine
where it's coming as long as it's a tandem. If we stop them they'll have
to try the ends, and I don't think they'll make much there. Well, we'll
give this a try to-morrow, and see how it works. By the way, Burr," he
went on, "you can get about pretty well on your crutches, can't you?"

"Yes," Sydney answered.

"Good. Then what's to preven