n drew in his breath sharply. Referee Henderson had
just signaled to Badger, acting captain for the home team, and
Halsey, captain of the Cobbers, to come in for the toss. The
players halted in their work to await the result of that toss.

"You call, Halsey," nodded Ben Badger.

"Up!" warned the referee, and flipped the coin.

"Tails!" sang Captain Halsey.

"Heads it is," announced Referee Henderson.

Ben Badger grinned.

"It's all starting _our_ way," clicked Dick Prescott, in an undertone.
He seemed lost in a transport of ecstasy.

CHAPTER XV

GRIDLEY FACES DISASTER

"We'll kick from the north end," announced Captain Badger, promptly.

With a grunt of satisfaction, Gridley loped off for its positions.

The band broke loose in a wild hurrah of a tune. Spectators belonging
to both sides took up a wild cheer until the referee raised his
right hand for silence. The opposing teams were lined up.

Darting forward to center field the referee placed the ball, then
ran backwards off the gridiron.

His whistle went to his lips. It was an instant of strained attention.

Trill-ll! It was not a cheer, but a subdued, breathless gasp
that rose from the two camps of fans as the opposing lines rushed
at each other. Dick could not help a slight groan, for Adams,
of Cobber, reached the pigskin first. But Adams kicked it off
over the line. Here was Gridley's prompt chance.

Evans kicked the ball from the twenty-five-yard line. It was
stopped by Huddleston, who started to run with it. Luckless plan!
Gridley's line came thundering down upon him almost ere Huddleston
had stepped off! Bump! The combatants piled into and over each
other. Huddleston was downed on his fifty-yard line. At this
instant Dick bethought himself. Placing his mouth to the megaphone,
he roared:

"H.S. cheer!"

It rolled out with full volume while the referee was placing the
ball. By the time it died out Cobber's captain could be heard
calling:

"Four---nine---thirty-three---eight!"

Trill-ll!

Here, the heavier boys from Cobber began to do their fine work,
and Gridley hearts sank.

Cobber made a first down on three plays. It ended in a bad fumble,
however, for steady Thompson went down over the ball on the Gridley
forty-five-yard line.

"H.S. cheer once more!" bellowed Dick.

The High School boys and girls answered with a will, drawing it
out so long as to cause the referee to frown. When it ended Badger's
si