suddenly she stumbled, and
fell headlong to the ground. Before she could rise, the ball had
been sent to the rival Center Forward, who, with a magnificent hit,
drove it nearly into the goal-circle. There it was splendidly
blocked by Kitty Saunders, our Left Back, and quickly passed to
Evie Irving, the Left Wing. There was a brief, though fierce,
struggle for possession of the ball between the two wings, in which
Evie was victorious. She neatly avoided the Clinton Right Half, but
the ball went off the line. The opposing Half-back rolled in--to
her wing, as she thought--but with a swift movement, Ingred Saxon,
the Left Inner, reached the ball first, and taking it with her, ran
up the field like lightning. The Inner on the other side was an
equally fast runner, but Ingred easily evaded her opponent's
continued efforts to get the ball for some time.

"'Oh! has she lost the ball?' 'No. Is she still flying on, the ball
before her?' 'Will she pass the rival back safely?' were the
questions which thronged my brain, nearly paralyzed with
excitement.

"Not able to dribble the ball any farther, and being attacked by a
girl wearing the Clinton colors, Ingred hit the ball out to her
wing, who struck in to center again. The Left Back on the opposing
side stopped it just as it entered the goal-circle.

"'Clear!' yelled one of the onlookers, unable to contain herself,
and with a fine stroke the Back sent the ball flying away to the
other side of the field. It went with such force that, although our
Right Back made an attempt to stop it, it raced past her stick and
over the outside line. After the roll-in, nearly all the play was
carried on practically in the center of the field. Each side
displayed some excellent passing, but when the whistle blew at half
time, neither had scored. By this time all the girls were hot and
panting, except the Goal-keepers, and were ready for the brief
rest. Our Eleven stood in a group together, sharing the lemons
which the Clinton girls provided, and discussing the events of the
last half-hour.

"'Girls!' exclaimed Blossom, our captain 'we simply must win this
match! We shall have the wind against us the next half, but we are
not going to let things end in a victory for the Clintonians, or in
a draw either, are we?'