THE GREAT GAME WITH ROCKVILLE
"Dave, I think I see a chance of catching Rockville napping," said
Roger, just before the practice began.
"You mean, if they try to take advantage of our signals?"
"Yes. If they feel sure we are going to do one thing and we do another,
they'll get left."
"Well, they'll deserve to get left--if they try to profit by any such
work."
"Maybe the eleven won't stand for it."
"Oh, I don't know. Rockville is hungry for a victory over us, and they
may think all is fair in love and war and football," broke in Phil.
As each eleven came on the gridiron it was roundly cheered. The
Rockville supporters at once commenced their well-known slogan:
"Rockville!
Rockville!
You'll get your fill
Of Rockville!"
And immediately Oak Hall replied with its own well-known cry:
"Baseball!
Football!
Oak Hall
Has the call!
Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!"
And then from both sides arose a great din of horns and rattles. In the
rear of the field were several automobiles and they, too, let off their
horns and screech whistles, adding to the noise.
The practice at an end, the toss-up followed, and this was won by
Rockville, and they elected to take the ball. Out on the gridiron spread
the two elevens, each player eager to do his best. Then the whistle
blew, there came a kicking of the pigskin, and the great game was on.
The play was fast and furious from the start, and in a very few minutes
Dave and his chums understood that to gain a victory was going to be no
easy thing. Rockville had the advantage in weight, and long practice had
put every man in the pink of condition.
But the trick that Nat Poole had tried to play bore unexpected results.
The kick-off was a good one, but the pigskin was caught by Phil and he
brought it back almost to the center of the gridiron, being aided by
clever interference on the part of Roger and Plum. Then the signal was
given to carry the ball through the center. The Rockville players
thought it was a signal to run around the left end, and moved
accordingly. Up the field came the pigskin, and before Rockville could
recover from the error made, Plum had the ball within four yards of the
goal line. Here, however, he was downed so heavily that the wind was
knocked completely out of him.
"That's the way to do it! Hurrah for Oak Hall!"
"Now, shove it over, fellows!"
"They didn't follow their signals at all!" whispered one player to the
Rockville captain.
"I know it," was the low answer. "Don't depend on the signals after
this."
But the damage had been done, and two minutes later Oak Hall obtained a
touchdown, Roger carrying the ball over the line. Dave made the kick,
and the pigskin sailed neatly between the posts. Then what a cheering
went up, and what a noise from the horns and rattles!
"That's the way to do it!"
"First blood for Oak Hall! Now keep up the good work!"
As quickly as possible the ball was brought once more into play, and now
the contest waged fast and furious. Back and forth went the pigskin,
first in the possession of one eleven, and then in the possession of
the other. There was a fine run around the right end by Roger, and
another by a player for Rockville. Then came a mix-up, and each side had
to retire a player, while Rockville was penalized several yards for an
off-side play.
"Five minutes more!" came the warning, and then in a fury Rockville
tried to form a flying wedge--such a move being permissible that year.
The shock was terrific, and in spite of all their efforts to stand firm,
Oak Hall broke, and the pigskin was carried over the line. Then the goal
was kicked--and the whistle blew, and the first half of the great game
came to an end.
Score: Oak Hall 6, Rockville 6.
Panting for breath, for that last shock had been a telling one, the Oak
Hall players filed into the dressing-room, there to rest and to receive
such attention as they needed.
"Well, it is still our game as much as theirs," said Dave, trying to
cheer up his men. "But we want to go at 'em hammer and tongs in the
second half."
"Try that right-end trick as early as possible," advised Mr. Dodsworth.
"I don't think they'll be looking for it. That mix-up on signals
bothered them some."
"Did Mr. Dale see Poole?" asked Roger.
"Yes, and Poole was sent back to the school in care of one of the
carriage drivers," answered the gymnastic instructor.
Down in the grandstand the supporters of Rockville and of Oak Hall were
having lively discussions over the merits of the two elevens. Among the
Rockville students were Jasniff, Merwell, and Frapley.
"I hope we wax 'em in the second half!" said Merwell to Jasniff.
"How much money did you put up, Link?" asked Jasniff.
"All I could scrape up--thirty-five dollars."
"And I put up forty dollars."
"With the Oak Hall fellows?"
"No, with some sports from the town."
"Just what I did. Of course, I hope we don't lose! If we do I'll be in a
hole until my next remittance comes."
"Oh, Rockville has got to win!" said Jasniff, loudly. "We can't help but
do it."
"This is Oak Hall's game!" cried a voice from the other end of the
grandstand, and then a cheer went up, followed by another cheer from the
local supporters.
"Say, when do we get back at Dave Porter?" asked Merwell, while the
cheering was going on. "I'm getting tired of waiting."
"We'll get back at him very soon now," answered Jasniff. "If what Doctor
Montgomery tells me is true, everything will be ready about
Thanksgiving time."
"Can you depend on the doctor?"
"I think so. He is almost down and out, and will do anything for money,"
answered Nick Jasniff, and then the talk came to an end, as the second
half of the game began.
Both elevens had been urged to do their best, and the play was as
spirited as before. Rockville was unusually aggressive, and one of the
players tackled Phil unfairly, giving his shoulder a severe wrench. A
protest was at once made by both Phil and Dave, and amid a general
wrangle the Rockville man was retired.
"Never mind, they are going to put Ross in!" was the cry. "He'll show
'em what he can do!" Ross had been a favorite player in years gone by,
but had not been allowed to play before because he was behind in his
studies. Now, however, it was seen that he was sorely needed, and the
Rockville faculty gave the desired permission to fill the vacancy.
Ten minutes of play found the pigskin near the center of the field.
Then, for the first time, Dave saw a chance to use the right-end trick
which Mr. Dodsworth had suggested, and gave the necessary signal. At
once the entire eleven was on the alert.
The trick consisted in sending the ball over to the right, back to
center, and then to the right again, some players meanwhile rushing to
the left as a blind. The movements were made with rapidity, and
Rockville was caught napping. Up came the pigskin in Plum's arms, and he
turned it over to another player, who in turn passed it to Dave. Then
Dave saw a clear space and dove for it. He was followed and tackled, but
shook himself loose, and dropped on the ball directly over the goal
line.
A roar went up.
"Another touchdown for Oak Hall!"
"Now for another goal!"
Amid a wild cheering the try for goal was made. But a keen wind had
sprung up, and the goal was missed by a few inches.
"Never mind, that makes the score eleven to six in Oak Hall's favor."
Once again the ball was brought into play. There were but seven minutes
of time left, and Rockville played like demons, hurling themselves again
and again at their opponents. But Dave felt that enough had been
accomplished, and gave the signal to be on the defensive, and thus
Rockville was held back, and the most it could do was to get the ball on
Oak Hall's thirty-five yard line. And then the fateful whistle sounded,
and the great game came to a close.
Final score: Oak Hall 11, Rockville Academy 6.
It was a well-earned victory, and the Oak Hall eleven were warmly
praised by their friends and the public in general, while many condemned
the military academy for the roughness shown.
"Oh, it was too lovely for anything!" said Vera Rockwell, when Phil and
Roger sauntered up, waiting for the carryall to take the eleven back to
Oak Hall.
"It was indeed!" added Mary Feversham. "We compliment you, and we
compliment Mr. Porter, too," she added, her eyes beaming brightly.
"A well-fought game," was Mr. Rockwell's comment; and then the boys
passed on, to join their fellows.
Of course the majority of the Rockville supporters felt blue over the
outcome of the game, and they lost no time in leaving the grandstand and
disappearing from view. Jasniff and Merwell went also, but in another
direction.
"This leaves me high and dry," growled Merwell. "I won't have a cent to
spend for two weeks."
"Let us see if we can't borrow some money," suggested Jasniff.
"I'd like to know who from? All the fellows who bet have lost their
money."
"Then we'll have to hit somebody who didn't bet--some of the goody-goody
fellows," and he laughed bitterly.
"Like Porter, eh?"
"Yes, Porter never bets, nor drinks, nor smokes. I can't understand how
he makes himself popular, can you?"
"It's his smooth way. But some day he'll be found out and dropped,"
answered Merwell.
"He'll be dropped when we work our little game against him," returned
Jasniff, with an evil look in his eyes.
Never had the carryall contained a happier crowd of students than those
who rode back to Oak Hall after the game. They sang, cheered, and
whistled to their hearts' content, and nearly drove Horsehair wild with
their antics, climbing out of the windows and over the roof of the
turnout.
"Bless my heart, but you must be careful!" pleaded the driver. "I don't
want to hurt no-buddy on this trip!"
"Oh, Horsehair, we can't hold ourselves down!" answered Phil. "Such a
victory isn't gained every day."
"Yes, sir, I know, sir. But them hosses don't know nothin' about
football, an' fust thing you know they'll run away," pleaded the
carryall driver.
"We'll take a chance," put in Roger, brightly. "Now, then, all
together!" And out on the air rolled the old school song to the tune of
Auld Lang Syne, and then followed a cheering that could be heard for
half a mile.
"Bonfires to-night!" announced Buster Beggs. "The biggest yet."
"Say, that puts me in mind of a story----" began Shadow, but what he
wanted to tell was lost in a tooting of horns and a clacking of rattles
that lasted until Oak Hall was reached.