n Tuesday, after a long and grilling tackling practice at the dummy,
Coach Boutelle announced his line-up for the scrimmage against the first
team, and Don was disappointed to find that Kirkwell and not he was down
for left guard. The right guard position went to Merton. Don, with Mr.
Boutelle and a half-dozen of the more promising substitutes, followed
their team about the field, Boots criticising and driving and Don
breaking in with hurried instructions to the guards. The first team had
no trouble in piling up four touchdowns that afternoon, even though
three regulars were still out of the line-up. Between the short periods
Don coached Kirkwell and Merton again, and Kirkwell, who was a decent
chap but fancied himself a bit, was inclined to resent it.

"Chop it off, Gilbert," he said finally. "Give a fellow a chance to use
his own brains a little. I'm no greenhorn, you know. I played guard all
last year on this team."

"I know you did," answered Don. "And I don't say you can't play your
position all right. But the best of us make mistakes, and Boots has told
me to look out for them and try and correct them. I'd a lot rather be
playing than doing this, Kirkwell, but while I am doing it I'm going to
do it the best I know how. A fellow who isn't in the game sees a lot the
player doesn't, and when----"

"Oh, all right. Only don't tell me stuff I know as well as I know my
name, Gilbert. Don't nag."

"Sorry. I'll try not to. But you see what I mean about that stiff-arm
business, don't you? Don't get out of position when you're not sure
where the play's coming, Kirkwell. Stiff-arm your man and hold him off
until you see what's doing. Then you can play him right or left or shove
him back. Once or twice you waited too long to find out where the play
was coming and you didn't hold your man off. Get me?"

"Yes, but we don't all play the position the same way, you know. What's
the good of sparring with your man when you've got to find where the
play's coming? You can't watch the ball and your opponent too, can you?"

"It doesn't sound reasonable," said Don, "but you can! You watch Hall do
it, if you don't believe me. Maybe you don't actually look two ways at
once, Kirkwell, but you can watch your man and locate the play at the
same time. I suppose it comes with practice."

"I'd like to see you do it," replied Kirkwell aggrievedly.

"Watch Hall do it. He's the best guard around here. I'm not setting up
as an example."

"Y