le of the field, he wondered how on this
afternoon that other game between the red and the blue was going, and
how Lawrence was acquitting himself.

Certainly it could not, he thought, be any more close, more hotly
contested, than this of the two rival schools. All through the first
half they fought each other without scoring.

Once St. Timothy's had got down to St. John's fifteen-yard line, but
then had been unable to go farther, and Dennison had missed by only a
few feet his try for a goal from the field.

Early in the second half St. Timothy's met with misfortune. Dennison was
laid out by a hard tackle; when at last he got to his feet, he limped
badly. Louis Collingwood took him by the arm and walked round with him;
Dennison was arguing, protesting. But Collingwood led him towards the
side-line, patting him on the back, and called "Westby!"

The spectators cheered the injured player who came off so reluctantly;
then they cheered Westby as he ran out upon the field. Irving was near
the group of substitutes when Dennison hobbled in.

"Hurt much, Denny?" asked Briggs.

"No--just that same old ankle--hang it all!" Dennison slipped into a
blanket and lowered himself painfully to the ground.

Irving's eyes were upon Westby; he hoped that this time the boy would
not fail. Westby had an opportunity now to steady his nerves; it was St.
Timothy's ball and only the first down. Collingwood gave the signal;
Irving watched closely, saw Westby take the ball on the pass and dive
into the line. In a moment all the St. Timothy's eleven seemed to be
behind him, hurling him through, and St. Timothy's on the side-lines
waved and shouted, for Westby had gained five yards.

Collingwood called on him again; he gained three yards more. Irving
shouted with the rest; he turned to Mr. Randolph and said,--

"That ought to give Westby confidence."

"I hope it does; he's so erratic," Mr. Randolph answered. "If only he's
starting in now on one of his brilliant streaks!"

Lane, the Fifth Form halfback, tried to go round the end on the next
play, but made no gain. Then Westby was driven again at left tackle, but
he got only two yards.

Collingwood gave the signal for a criss-cross; Lane took the ball, and
passed it to Westby, who was already on the run. Westby got clear of the
St. John's end, and seemed well started for a brilliant run; but their
halfback chased him across the field and finally, by a tremendous diving
tackle, pulled him