"backs" it
might have got behind their goal. And now, as if every one knew the
time was getting short, the play became harder than ever. Many a time
did I catch sight of my two Randlebury friends in the thick of the
fight, sometimes hand to hand, sometimes separated by a living wall of
humanity, but always doing their work, and straining for the one object.
The time went on. The man who held me looked at me now oftener than he
had done hitherto; and presently, when I pointed to five minutes to
four, he cried out to a player near him, "Five minutes more."

That player was Charlie Newcome, and I saw his face flush as of old, and
knew he at any rate intended to make the most of the brief time
remaining.

But two of the minutes were gone before his chance came. Then there was
a cry, and all eyes turned towards him, for there came the ball flying
straight to where he stood. In a moment he had it, and started to run.
It was a desperate chance, but Charlie was ready for desperate deeds.
Shout rose on shout, and cheer on cheer, as first one, then another of
the enemy was overturned or dodged. The more he achieved, the less his
enemies ventured against him, and he dashed through their "forwards" and
between their "quarter-backs." Next moment, with a mighty swoop, their
"half-back" fell to the earth.

And now there are but two men to pass, and one of these is Jim Halliday.
The avenging host follows in hot haste behind, but the issue of the
fight lies with these two. See the grin of joy on Jim's face as he
throws away his cap, and watches his dear enemy advance! It was as if a
trumpet-call had suddenly sounded in the ears of two old chargers, and
to them that moment the world was all contained in the space which
severed them. Straight as an arrow rushed Charlie, firm as a rock
waited Jim. Nor had he long to wait. With a bound and a howl his enemy
leapt at him, and next moment the two were locked in an embrace the
shock of which even I could distinctly hear. Oh, shades of Randlebury I
did your school every turn out two finer men than this pair of
struggling, straining, rival friends! The collision occurred close to
the goal-line, and a moment afterwards a cry of "Maul!" proclaimed that
they had in their struggle crossed the line, and that consequently (in
accordance with the law of the game) the contest for the ball must be
decided by these two alone, without aid or hindrance from the breathless
friends and foes w