Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 13556-h.htm or 13556-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/5/13556/13556-h/13556-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/5/13556/13556-h.zip) BEHIND THE LINE A Story of College Life and Football by RALPH HENRY BARBOUR Author of _The Half-Back_, _Captain of the Crew_, and _For the Honor of the School_ Illustrated by C.M. Relyea 1902 [Illustration: A critical moment] [Illustration] TO MY MOTHER PREFATORY NOTE The Author takes pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to Mr. Lorin F. Deland, of Boston, for the football play described in Chapter XV. CONTENTS CHAPTER I.--HEROES IN MOLESKIN II.--PAUL CHANGES HIS MIND III.--IN NEW QUARTERS IV.--NEIL MAKES ACQUAINTANCES V.--AND SHOWS HIS METTLE VI.--MILLS, HEAD COACH VII.--THE GENTLE ART OF HANDLING PUNTS VIII.--THE KIDNAPING IX.--THE BROKEN TRICYCLE X.--NEIL MAKES THE VARSITY XI.--THE RESULT OF A FUMBLE XII.--ON THE HOSPITAL LIST XIII.--SYDNEY STUDIES STRATEGY XIV.--MAKES A CALL XV.--AND TELLS OF A DREAM XVI.--ROBINSON SENDS A PROTEST XVII.--A PLAN AND A CONFESSION XVIII.--NEIL is TAKEN OUT XIX.--ON THE EVE OF BATTLE XX.--COWAN BECOMES INDIGNANT XXI.--THE "ANTIDOTE" IS ADMINISTERED XXII.--BETWEEN THE HALVES XXIII.--NEIL GOES IN XXIV.--AFTER THE BATTLE LIST OF ILLUSTKATIONS A critical moment (frontispiece) Getting settled The vine swayed at every strain Hiding his face, he cried for help "I guess you've broken down," said Neil Mills studied the diagram in silence CHAPTER I HEROES IN MOLESKIN "Third down, four yards to gain!" The referee trotted out of the scrimmage line and blew his whistle; the Hillton quarter-back crouched again behind the big center; the other backs scurried to their places as though for a kick. "_9--6--12!_" called quarter huskily. "Get through!" shrieked the St. Eustace captain. "Block this kick!" "_4--8!_" The ball swept back to the full, the halves formed their interference, and the trio sped toward the right end of the line. For an instant the opposing ranks heaved and struggled; for an instant Hillton repelled the attack; then, like a shot, the St. Eustace left tackle hurtled through and, avoiding the interference, nailed the Hillton runner six yards back of the line. A square of the grand stand blossomed suddenly with blue, and St. Eustace's supporters, already hoarse with cheering and singing, once more broke into triumphant applause. The score-board announced fifteen minutes to play, and the ball went to the blue-clad warriors on Hillton's forty-yard line.