Dave Darrin's Fourth Year at Annapolis: Headed for Graduation and the Big CruiseHancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)
General
Dave Darrin's Fourth Year at Annapolis: Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise
Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)
United States Naval Academy -- Juvenile fiction
The game started. In the second team at Annapolis there were
some unusually good players---half a dozen, at least, who were
destined to win a good deal of praise as subs. that year.
Tr-r-r-r-ill! sounded the whistle, and the ball was in motion.
Yet, try as he did, the captain of the Rustlers made a side kick,
driving the ball not far out of Dave Darrin's way. It was coming,
now, in Dan's path, but Dalzell muttered in a barely audible undertone:
"You, Davy!"
So Darrin, playing left end on the Navy team, darted in and caught
the ball. He did not even glance sideways to learn where Dan
was. He knew that Dalzell would be either at his back or right
elbow as occasion demanded.
"Take it away from Darry!" called Pierson, captain of the Rustlers.
"Block him!"
The scores of spectators lining the sides of the field were watching
with keenest interest.
It was rumored that Dave and Dan had some new trick play hidden up
their sleeves.
Yet, with two men squarely in the path of Darrin it seemed incredible
that he could get by, for the Rustlers had bunched their interference
skillfully at this point.
"Darry will have to stop!" yelled a score of voices at once, as
Dave bounded at his waiting opponents.
"Yah, yah, yah!"
"Wow!"
"Whoop!"
The spectators had been treated to a sight that they never forgot.
Just as Dave reached those who blocked him he seemed to falter.
It was Dan Dalzell who bumped in and received the opposition alone.
Dan went down under it, all glory to him!
But Dave, in drawing back as he had done, had stepped aside like
lightning, and now he had gone so far that he had no opposing end
to dodge.
Instead, he darted straight ahead, leaving all of the forward
line of the Rustlers behind.
But there was the back field to meet!
As Dave shot forward, Jetson, too, smashed over the line, blocking
the halfback who got in his way.
Straight over the line charged Dave Darrin, and laid the ball down.
Now the athletic field resounded with excited yells. Annapolis
had seen "a new one," and it caught the popular fancy like lightning.
Back the pigskin was carried, and placed for the kick.
"You take it, Darry," called Wolgast. "You've earned it!"
"Take it yourself, Wolly," replied Dave Darrin. "This is your
strong point."
So Wolgast kicked and scored. The Rustlers at first looked dismayed
over it all, but in another instant a cheer had broken loose from
them.
It was the business of the Rustlers to harry the Navy team all they
could---to beat the Navy, if possible, for the Rustlers received
their name from the fact that they were expected to make the team
members rustle to keep their places.
Just the same the Rustlers were delighted to find themselves beaten
by a trick so simple and splendid that it fairly took their breath
away. For it was the Navy team, not the Rustlers, who met the enemy
from the colleges and from West Point. Rustlers and team men alike
prayed for the triumph of the Navy in every game that was fought out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account