College stories; Sports stories; Yale University -- Juvenile fiction
"Good boy, Turner. Don't let him get that grip on you," yelled a
Senior as Turner eluded another bull-like rush which carried both
the contestants in among the torches. It was Francis' method of
wrestling to carry the fight fast and furious from the beginning.
More skirmishing, and finally a savage rush, and Francis got a hold
on Turner's leg, lifted him from his feet and threw him backwards.
Both crashed to the ground. There was a twisting, squirming struggle
with Turner at the bottom, but not downed yet for he managed to break
away from Francis' hold and got to his hands and knees with Francis
across his back.
The picture at this point was one worthy of the brush of an artist.
Riding in a clear sky, a round moon looked down through the branches
of the big elms to where the boys fought it out on the grass, panting
with their exertions. Most of the torches had by this time burned
themselves out and lay smoking at the feet of the human circle. For
a background to the picture hundreds of lights twinkled on in the
dormitory windows facing the Campus, and in the dim light of the moon
could be seen scores of people who had taken advantage of the Dwight
Hall porch from whence they could get a distant view of the struggle.
But the boys struggling on the ground and those crowded around
the ring were not interested in the pictures. Back and forth the
wrestlers went, the advantage first with one and then with the other.
Francis could not get his famous holds on Turner for the latter, with
extraordinary strength, either evaded or broke them before he was
caught irrevocably. Time was up for the bout before either had scored
a fall.
"Keep him off, Turner," counseled one of his seconds, while he
pummeled the wrestler's arm and shoulder muscles. "Tire him out in
this next bout, and you will get him in the last one."
"Don't let him get that half-Nelson on you or you are going sure
as shooting," advised the man who fanned the panting Turner with a
towel. "You've taken some of the confidence out of him already."
Francis in his corner was getting the same kind of advice.
"You'll get him this time," cheered his advisers. "Carry it right to
him and don't let him get out of your grips."
"He's strong," said Francis. "He nearly broke my arm, but I'll get
him. Don't worry." But the confident smile had gone from his face.
It was going to be a bitter struggle in which his skill was pretty
nearly evened by the Freshman's unusual strength.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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