ackall
thought that he was going to act precisely as he had done in the
previous game. He had no such intentions. Handing the ball to Bouldon,
he told him to strike it up, while he, Buttar, Ellis, Gregson, and
several others went scattering up before him. The big fellows looked at
him, and gathered thickly in his front. They took no notice of Ellis,
who was away to the right. Bouldon looked towards Bracebridge; then,
turning suddenly, struck the ball in the direction of Ellis, who
followed it up ably as it came by him, and turned it towards Buttar.
Buttar had in the meantime broken through the big fellows and though
several of them, hurrying on, tried by reiterated blows to stop it, he
carried it once more successfully up to the goal. Blackall and some of
his party literally stamped with rage at the idea of being beaten three
times running by the younger boys, "At all events, that puppy
Bracebridge had nothing to do with the affair this time," he exclaimed,
showing the feeling which animated him.

Ernest's party cheered again and again--they could not help it. Both
sides agreed to play out the fourth game. Ernest managed his friends
equally well as at first, but his opponents were more alive to his
tactics. The battle was very hotly contested; several times he got the
ball nearly to the goal, and it was again driven back. This game had
already taken as long to play as the other three--defeat would be almost
as honourable to the younger party as victory--they kept up the game by
sheer activity and good play; not that the bigger boys played ill, but
they wanted combination and a good leader. Blackall had now completely
lost his head and his temper. Once or twice when Bracebridge came near
he felt very much inclined to strike him, but Ernest watched his eye,
and was very quickly out of his way. At last, Blackall found himself
with the ball directly before him; he lifted up his stick, expecting to
strike it right ahead up to the goal. He looked at the point before him
to which he intended to send the ball, and he looked at his stick, and
he looked at the ball, but he did not look on one side--had he done so,
he would have perceived Bracebridge springing along with his stick ready
to strike. Strike he did too, and away flew the ball out of Blackall's
very clutches. Blackall's rage now burst forth--twice he struck Ernest
across the shins, and though the latter managed to break the force of
the blows, he was mu