reby of Erskine's chance of success, enthusiasm reigned
high. Perhaps their own cheers raised their spirit, for two days before
the game the college was animated by a totally unwarranted degree of
hopefulness that amounted almost to confidence. The coaches, however,
remained carefully pessimistic and took pains to see that the players
did not share the general hopefulness.

"We may win," said Mills to them after the last practise, "but don't
think for a moment that it's going to be easy. If we do come out on top
it will be because every one of you has played as he never dreamed he
could play. You've got to play your own positions perfectly and then
help to play each other's. Remember what I've said about team-play.
Don't think that your work is done when you've put your man out; that's
the time for you to turn around and help your neighbor. It's just that
eagerness to aid the next man, that stand-and-fall-together spirit, that
makes the ideal team. I don't want to see any man on Saturday standing
around with his hands at his sides; as long as the ball's in play
there's work for every one. Don't cry 'Down' until you can't run, crawl,
wriggle, roll, or be pulled another inch. And if you're helping the
runner don't stop pulling or shoving until there isn't another notch to
be gained. Never mind how many tacklers there are; the ball's in play
until the whistle sounds. And, one thing more, remember that you're not
going to do your best because I tell you to, or because if you don't the
coaches will give you a wigging, or because a lot of your fellows are
looking on. You're going to fight your hardest, fight until the last
whistle blows, fight long after you can't fight any more, because
you're wearing the Purple of old Erskine and can't do anything else
but fight!"

The cheer that followed was good to hear. There was not a fellow there
that didn't feel, at that moment, more than a match for any two men
Robinson could set up against him. And many a hand clenched
involuntarily, and many a player registered his silent vow to fight, as
Mills had said, long after he couldn't fight any more, and, if it
depended on him, win the game for old Erskine.

On Friday afternoon the men were assembled in the gymnasium and were
drilled in signals and put through a hard examination in formations.
Afterward several of the coaches addressed them earnestly, touching each
man on the spot that hurt, showing them where they failed and how to
rem