it couldn't be helped, but it was the first time
Bulldog's boys had been beaten in anything, and they would know the
reason why.

Special practice began that evening and continued that evening, and
every other evening except Sundays as long as light lasted and on till
the middle of October, when football could no longer be delayed.
Practice began again a month before the proper season and continued on
the same lines till the great day in July. The spirit of the Seminary
was fairly up, and from the Rector who began freely to refer to the
Olympian games, to the little chaps who had just come from a dame's
school and were proud to field balls at bowling practice, the whole
school was swept into the excitement of the coming event, and it is said
that Bulldog stumped over every evening after dinner to watch the play
and was the last to leave.

"B-Bully's fairly on the job, Speug, and he's j-just itching to have a
bat himself. Say, Speug, if we get badly licked, he'll be ill again; but
if we p-pull it off, I bet he'll give a rippin' old supper."

News spread through the town that the Seminary was to fight the
"Bumbees" for the glory of the Fair City, and enthusiasm began to kindle
in all directions. Our cricket club had played upon the Meadow as best
it could; but now the Council of the city set apart a piece of ground,
and six of the leading dignitaries paid to have it cut and rolled, so
that there might be a good pitch for playing and something worth seeing
on the day of battle. There were half a dozen good players in Muirtown
in those days, two of whom were in the All Scotland eleven, and they
used to come along in spare evenings and coach the boys, while the
county professional now and again dropped in, just to see whether he
could bowl Speug out, and after half an hour's hopeless attack upon that
imperturbable youth, the professional declared the Seminary had a
chance. But the word was passed round that there should be no boasting,
and that Muirtown must be prepared for a hopeless and honourable defeat.
Mr. McGuffie senior was the only man on the morning of the match who was
prepared to bet on even terms, and his offers were refused by the
citizens, first because betting was sinful, and, second, it was
possible, though not likely, they might lose.

The Columbians came down as usual in a brake, with only two horses this
time, and made a pretty show when they were dressed in their white
flannels and school colours, and