Wescott kicked off in the second half, and Holly Cross managed to run the ball well back. "Rip out another touch-down!" the captain cried as he got in place for the first scrimmage. Phil began on the signal. He hesitated. The players looked at him quickly. He was swaying back and forth on the ground. Once more he tried to give the combination of letters and figures. But the words would not come. He put his hands out to steady himself, and a moment later, with a groan, toppled over. "He's hurt!" cried Tom as he sprang to the side of his chum. "But I never knew Phil to give up." Holly Cross was bending over him, while the other Randallites crowded up, and the Wescott lads stretched out on the field. A doctor ran in from the side lines on a signal from the coach. He felt of Phil's pulse. "Why, the chap has a high fever!" he exclaimed. "He has collapsed from it. He can't play any more! Take him off the field!" A groan went up from the Randall players. CHAPTER XXVI SID IS BOGGED Phil Clinton opened his eyes. His face, that had been pale, was now flushed. The reaction had set in, and he tried to struggle to his feet. "Signal!" he cried. "Eighteen A B X--two twenty-seven Z M!" He tried to get in position to take the ball from Snail Looper, who was standing up, regarding him curiously. "What's the matter?" cried Phil. "Why don't you get down to snap it back, Snail? Isn't it our ball? Have we lost it on a fumble? Are they beating us?" "You--you can't play," spoke Holly Cross brokenly. "Can't play! Nonsense! Of course I can play! I'm all right! I was just knocked out for a minute. Get down there, Snail. Signal----" But Phil fell back into the arms of Tom and the doctor, and lapsed into unconsciousness. "Carry him off the field," said the medical man softly. "He's got lots of grit, but a horse couldn't play with the fever he has." Sorrowfully they carried the stricken quarter-back from the gridiron. It was a hard blow to the Randall team, for it meant that a new man would have to go in and play what was probably the most exacting position on the team.