THE GREAT VICTORY--CONCLUSION
Striving like mad Captain Martin and his ten followers tried to rush
the fighting, so as to get another touchdown before the referee called
the game; for that would fill them with joy, since it meant the score
would be reversed and stand at 12 to 9.
Just as bent on preventing such a calamity Jack and the Chester boys
braced themselves to out-maneuver all attempts looking at a successful
run. At times their line proved a veritable "stone wall" to the heavy
Harmony halfbacks, who were dragged to earth before completing their
intended long runs. Still there was a constant gain, with the ball
still Harmony's. That one bitter fumble seemed to have stiffened their
game wonderfully, for it was not repeated.
Time was passing, but, so, too, was Harmony creeping up. One good run
now was likely to wind up the game, for Chester could never hope to
retrieve such a misfortune. Visiting rooters were frenzied, and every
little forward movement on the part of their team was greeted with a
burst of yelling that sounded almost like the discharge of a cannon,
it came so suddenly, and died out again as quickly. Oldsmith was the
dangerous man, Jack well knew. Somehow he felt certain that to him had
been delegated the task of carrying the ball through, and putting it
over for the needed touchdown. Several times Harmony might have tried
for a field goal, and the fact that they declined to accept this
chance told Jack what was in the wind. They were a greedy lot. A goal
from field would have netted them just 3 and tied the score, but it
would also have injured their chance for making a touchdown within the
prescribed time; and Harmony meant to either win that game, or lose
it, with no halfway measure as a tie to carry home with them.
Well, Jack Winters was a good guesser, for just as he decided it fell
to the Harmony halfback to make the attempt. The bluff was dazzling,
and deceived nearly all the Chester players, so that it looked as
though Oldsmith with the pigskin oval in his grip would have a clear
field to the coveted place in the line where he could drop for a
touchdown, and victory.
But he counted without the fleet Winters, who was after him like a
shot, and determined to make his tackle before Oldsmith could cross.
This of course was the real crisis of the entire game; it was win or
lose for a certainty, because not a half minute of time remained, and
a new attempt could not be made if this one proved futile.
Faster than the wind the two players tore along. There was no other
opposition offered to Oldsmith. Indeed, the rest of the field almost
stopped play, to watch the result of this duel of speed.
Oldsmith was a shade heavier than Jack. He had also been engaged in
more scrimmages latterly, and might have been a bit short of breath.
Such things count heavily against a player in football work, and they
certainly did in this case; for it could be plainly seen that the
Chester captain was overtaking the possessor of the ball, despite his
most frantic efforts to keep his own ground.
Could he reach the line before being dragged down? Jack seemed
inspired to abnormal efforts, as though he knew how those whom he
loved were watching, and hoping, and feeling confidence in him. Once
before in the game with Marshall he had been called upon to win for
his team by a supreme effort; that time it was in the way of offense,
whereas now it seemed to be along the line of defense. But no matter,
one was just as important under certain conditions as the other.
Jack overtook his man, and made a beautiful tackle, bringing Oldsmith
to the ground just in time to prevent him from scoring his touchdown.
It was a thrilling moment when this occurred. The vast crowd remained
silent for a second, as though hardly able to grasp the truth that
Harmony had shot her last bolt and lost. Then came the din of cheers
that soared to the very clouds, it seemed, such was their intensity.
Confusion reigned, with a whirling mass of Chester boys dancing around
and hugging each other, while the faithful girl rooters broke out into
frantic shrieks, waving their beloved school colors in riotous
profusion.
Of course Harmony tried to rally in the brief space of time yet
remaining, but by now the Chester team was sure of its ground, and
backed Captain Winters up handsomely; so that when presently the
referee blew his whistle nothing had been accomplished.
So the great Thanksgiving game ended in favor of Chester. It would be
the last battle on the gridiron for that season, as is customary. The
boys gave Harmony a salvo of cheers to try to take some of the
bitterness of the sting of defeat away, but doubtless Captain Martin
and his squad felt pretty sore to be beaten at the hands of these
newcomers in the game.
Martin was man enough, however, to shake hands cordially with Jack,
and tell him that he certainly had a clever team back of him. Of
course, like most Harmony fellows, he believed the hard knocks of the
game had gone against their side, and that if the "luck" had been more
evenly distributed they would surely have won; but then all that sort
of talk invariably follows when a team wends its way back home after
getting "licked." There seems to be some sort of consolation about
figuring out just what share luck had in bringing about disaster.
There was no mad celebration that night, as on the occasion of the
victory over Marshall. The town authorities had forbidden a single
bonfire to be started in the streets of the town. That burning of the
Adkins home must serve as a lesson, through which they should profit.
Instead, a banquet was arranged for an a succeeding evening, by some
of the friends and admirers of the football team, which all the boys,
substitutes as well as regulars, should be invited to attend, and at
which speeches would be in order. There would also be a little
statement from the head of the financial committee connected with the
gymnasium then building, telling just what progress had been made, and
how every dollar of the expected expense had been guaranteed, thanks
mainly to the generosity of their esteemed fellow citizen, Mr. Philip
Adkins.
Chester was now well started on her career of outdoor sports. Other
towns less fortunate envied her the possession of that splendid
gymnasium where, during the long winter evenings, basket-ball could be
played, and all sorts of athletics indulged in under a competent
instructor. There could be no doubt that it would prove of inestimable
benefit to the growing lads, not only serving to keep them off the
street corners at night, but also enable them to strengthen their
bodies, and enjoy fellowship with their mates under uplifting
conditions.
Big Bob carried out his scheme as mentioned to Jack and on the very
morning after Thanksgiving he took pains to let the other know the
result. His father had heard the whole story with deepest interest,
and then told Bob that he was very glad such a thing happened, since
it had really been the means of taking the scales from both their
eyes, and allowing them properly to appreciate one another.
Bob assured Jack that his father was a different man nowadays, and
showed an increasing appreciation for healthy sports, and the welfare
of boys in general.
Although the football season wound up with that glorious Thanksgiving
victory, it must not be assumed that there would be any lack of fun
abroad in Chester, with the coming of the time of snow and ice. With
that magnificent sheet of water at the door of the town, in the shape
of Lake Constance; also the crooked Paradise River beckoning the boys
to explore its upper reaches, and the mysteries to be found there,
surely winter should open up a new round of exciting outdoor
activities for Jack and his friends. That this proved to be the case
is evident from the title of the next story in the Series, which it is
to be hoped every reader of this volume will secure and enjoy to the
full--"Jack Winters' Iceboat Wonder; or, Leading the Hockey Seven to
Victory."
THE END