ee cheers for the School!" responded Richards.

And then everyone poured over the ropes on to the field.

"Never mind, you men," said Simonds; "it was a damned fine show and
better than fifty wins."

The House was proud of its side. As the Fifteen trooped across the
courts on the way to the changing-room the House lined up by the chains
of the Sixth Form green, and cheered them.

"Well played, Caruthers!" shouted someone.

It was Gordon's first taste of real success.

That night there was a big feed in No. 19. They were all out of training
for three days; and they made the most of it. During the last fortnight
they had been allowed only fruit between meals.

"It's the finest performance since I've been in the House," Mansell
declared. "Meredith's Two Cock wasn't in it. Their side was twice as
strong on paper, and my Lord, we gave it them."

"Yes," said Lovelace, "and you wait till this side is the Three Cock;
there'll be a bit of a change then."

"You're right there," shouted Mansell. "We sha'n't pull it off this
year, nor the year after that; but you wait and see what'll happen in
1915. That's the year when the House will revive the great days of Ross.
My lads, we sha'n't regret the lean years when the years of plenty come;
and the Three Cock Cup is back on the old oak sideboard. Our day will
come."

That night Gordon dreamt of the great future that was opening out for
the House; and he was thankful that he would see it. Like the runners in
the torch race many would have prepared the way for victory; but it was
to him and his friends that the glory of the final triumph would belong.
For he would win the race: he would carry home the torch.

CHAPTER III: TIN GODS

After this match a new phase in Gordon's life may be said to have begun.
He had for the first time felt what it was to be really successful. When
he had got his Colts' cap the world had seemed at his feet; but it was
nothing to what he experienced now. For he had borne the brunt of the
House's battle. He had played a principal part in a wonderful
achievement. The House looked on him as one of its chosen defenders. He
was in the limelight, and he had no intention of ever drifting out of
it. When we have experienced the really great, the things that pleased
once charm no more. After basking in the blaze of a summer afternoon
there is something poignantly pathetic in watching the amber beams of a
December sun filter through the trees. Gordon