renown to himself by disclosing some real toe work?

The ball was snapped back. Judd caught it clumsily but seemed
over-anxious. The pigskin dropped and his mighty leg swung up to make
the punt, but in some unaccountable manner, ball and foot missed
connections and Judd described a graceful semi-circle, alighting flat
on his back. It was so funny that the players on both sides refused to
play. They just fell in their tracks and howled. Judd crawled slowly
to his feet, his face crimson, his jaws set tight. The field was
ringing with laughter. Even immobile as he usually was, Coach Phillips
could not refrain from smiling. Luckily a scrub recovered the ball,
but eight yards had been lost on the play.

"Call that play again!" Judd demanded, somewhat angrily.

"What! You're not going to repeat that performance, are you?" taunted
Benz, elated at Judd's poor showing.

"Better let me kick it this time," suggested McCabe, "I think I can
punt a little farther than that!"

"So can I!" insisted Judd. "Give me another chance!"

There was something in Judd's eyes which made McCabe consent.

Everyone knew that the same play was to be attempted. Benz set himself
ready to break through the line the moment the ball was snapped back.
Here was his chance to break up the play and make Judd look more
ridiculous than ever. The revenge would be sweet. Back went the ball!
Benz shot through the line like a thunderbolt; Judd was raising his
arms, his foot was swinging up. Benz leaped desperately into the air
to block the punt. There was a firm, hollow sound of pigskin meeting
toe and Benz felt the leather whiz past his face. Far down the field,
even yet high in the air, soared the ball, twisting and turning! A
gasp of amazement came from the crowd, then cheers.

"A good fifty yard punt!" cried several. "He _can_ punt after all,
can't he?"

"The lucky stiff!" groaned Benz.

CHAPTER IX

AT THE FAIR

It was the first of October, and Saturday. The day before the varsity
had played its first football game of the season, trouncing Needham, 48
to 0. The work of Benz at fullback, who was endeavoring to fill the
famous Bob's position, was a feature of the game. Time after time he
tore off long runs through the left side of the line and mainly because
there was no man like Judd on the opposing team to stop him. Cateye's
work at left guard had made that side of the line as solid as a stone
wall. Judd sat quietly by