Down the field came the captain of the visiting team. Two of his men turned in with him as interferers and blocked first one and then another of the Fardale tacklers. Hickman was covering ground handsomely and had reached the middle of the field before Darrell closed with him and dragged him down, “Great! Great work, Hal!” panted Dick, in admiration. “I was afraid you’d miss him.” Hal said not a word. Franklin had done a clever bit of work, and she was determined to improve it now. The ball was snapped and passed to Gray, who went across and plunged into the right wing of Fardale’s line, hitting Jolliby hard and going through for four yards. Again Darrell was in the play and stopped the runner. Andrews, the right half-back, took the ball next time and went at the right side of Fardale’s line. The forwards ripped open a hole for him and he slipped through, but Dick Merriwell hooked on to his legs and pulled him down. This time, however, full five yards had been made. “Got to stop it, fellows!” breathed Dick. Franklin was full of confidence. “Get ’em going, boys!” said Hickman. “They’ll never be able to stop us.” But an attempted end run resulted in a loss of three yards, as the runner tried to dodge back to avoid a tackler. Dick was certain a plunge into the line would follow. “20—23—2,” called Quaile, the quarter-back. Dick was not mistaken. Hickman came plunging right into the line, and he was met and held in handsome manner. Now something must be done. The cadet band was playing “Fardale’s Way,” and a great mass of cadets took up the song. The words seemed sufficient to encourage the desperately fighting lads. “It’s no use groaning, it’s no use moaning, It’s no use feeling sore; Keep on staying, keep on playing, As you’ve done before; Fight, you sinner, you’re a winner If you stick and stay; Never give in while you’re living— That is Fardale’s way.” It was a song to stiffen the backs of those lads. It seemed to do its work, for again Franklin was held fast without a gain. Singleton ran back in anticipation of a kick, which the visitors apparently prepared for. But the preparation was made to deceive, and Gray was sent with a rush into the line, which it was hoped to take unprepared. What a roar of delight went up from the bleachers when the line held and Gray was actually flung back for a loss! The ball was Fardale’s on downs. The cadets struck into another stanza of the song: “It’s no use trying, it’s no use crying, It’s no use raising Cain; We don’t fear you, we’ll be near you When you come again. When you bump us, what a rumpus! We are here to stay; Then we’ll ram you, buck and slam you— Good old Fardale’s way.”