hough, for we're a goal behind. Mind you keep up
if I do get away with the ball. And if it comes out to you when you're
anywhere near their goal, pass it straight in, and then you'll be all
right."

Muriel succeeded in scoring for the Pink Dormitory soon after the
second half started, and the Pink team and their partisans breathed
again. The score was now one all, and for some time it seemed likely
that it would remain so. Nearly every girl in the school was up on the
ground, watching the struggle, and as time passed on and still the
goals stood at one all, the most intense excitement prevailed.

"Oh, they're going to tie again! They're going to tie again!" wailed
Vera Davies, some seven minutes before time was up. "And I made the
favour for Monica myself, on purpose to bring her luck! And now the
Pinks aren't going to win after all!"

"It isn't over yet," said Marjorie Brown, the small girl from the Pink
Dormitory whom Muriel had so nearly to put in to play instead of Gerry
on the previous occasion. "Oh, look, look! Muriel's got the ball and
she's got a clear run! No; she's lost it! Jack Pym's got it. No;
she's passed. Oh, Vera, look! Dorothy Pemberton's got it now, and
she's taking it up. Play up, Pink Dorm! Play up! Play up!"

Her cry was taken up by the whole school.

"Play up, Pink!"

"Play up, Green!"

"Stick to it, Dorothy!"

"Alice! Alice! Into her, Alice!"

"Play up, Muriel! Play up, Muriel!"

"Pink Dorm! Pink Dorm!"

"Green! Green! Green!"

A confused medley of shouts rose on the air, and the noise grew in
volume as one by one the spectators, girls and mistresses alike, joined
in. So great was the pandemonium that the referee's whistle could
hardly be heard when it blew a moment later.

"What's that for? Is it a goal? Is it? Is it?" cried Vera, in an
agony of excitement.

"No! It's off-side! Dorothy passed it forward. Oh, bother! That
means a free hit for them. And Alice will take it and send it miles
down the field, and time's nearly up! There can't be more than three
minutes left now!" cried Marjorie, dancing about the ground in her
impatience.

Alice Metcalfe came forward to take the free hit. Her forwards ranged
themselves far down the field, while the Pink forwards also were
obliged to retrace their steps to the limit imposed upon them by the
penalty. Dorothy made a penitent apology to her captain.

"I'm most fearfully sorry, Muriel," she said. "It