Then, fighting like heroes, Rob and Shaler hurled themselves upon the Second’s right guard and Duffield’s prediction came true. Corbett gave, slowly at first, until, although the Second’s back-field rallied behind him, he was worse than useless and Devens, crying for time, sent him staggering off and put a new man in his place. The ball was inside the five yards then and the spectators were imploring a touchdown. They got it. Evan sent Rob again at the same place, and, although the new man was fresh and strong, and although the Second expected the play, the Independents went through. There was a wavering, indecisive moment, and then the defending line buckled inwards and the foe came swaying, falling through for a touchdown and the winning score. CHAPTER XXI DEVENS RESIGNS The victory was a popular one. Fellows who, left out of the teams under Hopkins and Rob, had been bewailing the fact that there were not enough players left in school to make up the usual dormitory elevens, forgot their grievance. How a team which had been formed scarcely more than a week could defeat the Second, composed as it was of veteran players, no one could comprehend. “And look here,” expatiated one enthusiastic junior, “the Independents played the whole game through without a change in the line-up! Say, that coach must be a wonder! I’ll bet you that before the season’s over we can lick the School Team!” “‘We!’” scoffed a middler. “Where do you come in?” “I’m for the Independents,” replied the junior unabashed. The news of what had taken place in their absence met the First Team on the instant of their return just before supper-time and Hopkins and Prentiss piled over to Devens’ room. Peeble, the Second’s quarter-back, was there; he and Gus had been talking over the game; but Prentiss paid no heed to his presence. “What’s this we hear, Gus?” he demanded angrily. “I don’t know what you heard,” replied Gus calmly, “but the score was five to nothing; they missed the goal.” “So you did play those fellows, eh?” “We did our best, but it wasn’t good enough.” “You must be crazy,” broke in Frank Hopkins. “You know blamed well you hadn’t any right to do that. Your business is to give the School Team practice and not play games with other teams.” “Especially with that crowd of sore-heads!” added Prentiss. “But, look here,” said Gus mildly, “other schools let their second teams play real games. Why not here? As for ‘sore-heads,’ I don’t know anything about that. Langton challenged us and we wanted a game; that’s all there was to it.” “Why didn’t you say something about it to me, then?” Hopkins demanded. “I was afraid you’d raise a fuss,” answered Gus.