shouted a last word of caution. The
referee, a well-known football player and coach, raised his whistle.

"Are you ready, Erskine? All ready, Robinson?"

Then the whistle shrilled, the timekeeper's watch clicked, the ball sped
away, and the game had begun.

The brown-clad skirmishers leaped forward to oppose the invaders, while
the pigskin, slowly revolving, arched in long flight toward the west
goal. It struck near the ten-yard line and the wily Robinson left half
let it go; but instead of rolling over the goal-line it bumped
erratically against the left post and bobbed back to near the first
white line. The left half was on it then like a flash, but the Erskine
forwards were almost upon him and his run was only six yards long, and
it was Robinson's ball on her ten-yard line. The north stand was
applauding vociferously this stroke of fortune. If Erskine could get
possession of the ball now she might be able to score; but her coaches,
watching intently from the side-line, knew that only the veriest fluke
could give the pigskin to the Purple. And meanwhile, with hearts beating
a little faster than usual, they awaited the first practical test of the
"antidote."

Robinson lined up quickly. Left tackle dropped from the line, and taking
a position between full-back and right half, formed the center of the
tandem that faced the tackle-guard hole on the right. Left half stood
well back, behind quarter, ready to oppose any Erskine players who
managed to get around the left of their line. The full-back who headed
the tandem was a notable line-bucker, although his weight was but 172
pounds. The left tackle, Balcom, tipped the scales at 187, while the
third member of the trio was twenty pounds lighter. Together they
represented 525 pounds.

Opposed to them were Gillam and Mason, whose combined weight was 312
pounds. Gillam stood between left-guard and tackle, with Mason, his
hands on the other's shoulders, close behind.

The Robinson quarter stared for an instant with interest at the opposing
formation, and the full-back, crouched forward ready to plunge across
the little space that divided him from the opponents' territory, looked
uneasy. Then the quarter stooped behind the big center.

"_Signal!_" he called. "_12--21--212!_"

The ball came back to him. At the same instant the tandem moved forward,
the Erskine guard and tackle engaged the opposing guard and tackle, and
Gillam and Mason shot through the hole, the former w