Dick Merriwell's Fighting Chance; Or, The Split in the VarsityStandish, Burt L.
General
Dick Merriwell's Fighting Chance; Or, The Split in the Varsity
Standish, Burt L.
Adventure stories; Dime novels; Merriwell, Dick (Fictitious character) -- Juvenile fiction; Yale University -- Juvenile fiction
The brief intermission was almost over. The spectators settled back into
their seats and the cheering started in once more. The sun was almost
behind the west corner of the stand. The shadows were lengthening and a
brisk, sharp wind, straight from the Sound, caused overcoat collars to
be turned up and furs to be drawn closely around fair necks. From the
crowded tiers of seats came the steady tramp-tramp of chilled feet,
hinting their owners’ impatience.
The players took their places; the breathless silence was suddenly split
by the shrilling of the referee’s whistle, and the battle was resumed.
Jack Kenny played the game during that last quarter as he had never
played before. His clever work rose to the point of brilliancy, for the
winning of that game had become an absolute monomania with him. He felt
that in no other way could he make up for his behavior of the past week,
which had come so perilously near bringing disaster upon his beloved
college.
It would be a triumph indeed if he could personally make another run for
the blue, but he felt that such a thing was too much to hope for.
But brilliant as was his manœuvring, which was ably seconded by every
man on the team, the splendid work of Harvard made it barren of results.
They were evidently determined that, if they could not score again,
neither should their opponents; and the hands of the big clock above the
stand moved inexorably forward without either side having the advantage.
Desperately Kenny tried every trick at his command, without avail. Back
and forth surged the gasping, ragged, tattered lines of men, battling in
those last few minutes as if their very lives, and more, depended on
their efforts.
The vast throng of spectators were thrilled into silence so absolute
that it seemed almost as if they had ceased breathing, as they bent
forward with staring eyes riveted on the field, oblivious to all else
but the struggle taking place before them.
There were but four minutes left when the quarter back suddenly ripped
out a signal and snatched the ball from Baulsir. This time he did not
pass it, but darted toward the left end. Tempest sprang forward and
swung in beside him; the left tackle and end interfered strenuously as
the crimson line plunged forward.
Kenny ran as he had never run before, and Tempest kept pace with him
barely a few feet away. In an instant they had cleared the opposing
guard and tackle, running free with only the full back and left half in
the way.
Kenny thrilled with joy and exultation. His chance had come. Tempest
would take care of the half back, and, somehow, he could manage to get
past the other. He would make a goal and win the game. Thus his
self-respect would be restored and reparation made for his amazing
folly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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