The boys of Columbia High on the gridiron : $b or, The struggle for the silver cupForbes, Graham B.
General
The boys of Columbia High on the gridiron : $b or, The struggle for the silver cup
Forbes, Graham B.
Football -- Juvenile fiction; High school students -- Juvenile fiction
The question was not difficult to solve. She was, by the strangest
accident in the world, wearing a red sweater that buttoned down
the front. In other days they were known as Cardigan jackets, and
Frank could easily remember how charming Minnie had looked many a
time the previous winter in this same garment.
It was this that was adding fuel to the rage of the angry bull,
always attracted by a flaming color. Frank without regard to the
feelings of the astonished girl caught hold of this outer apparel,
and with one effort ripped the buttons loose. It was no time for
courtesy, nor could he waste a precious second in explaining just
why he did this strange thing.
Another effort and the sweater was in his hands. Minnie seemed to
realize by now what he had in his mind, for a weak little smile
appeared on her white face as she looked up at him.
"Run straight to the fence and climb over! I'll follow you, but
never mind me! Quick, Minnie, do as I say!" he exclaimed.
There was unconscious authority in his voice, just as when he
called to his players on the diamond or on the gridiron. Minnie
ran on, obeying his instructions thus far. She undoubtedly
expected that Frank meant to cast the offensive red sweater on the
ground, so as to attract the attention of the beast for a dozen
seconds, time enough to allow of his finding safety beyond the
barrier.
As she neared the high rail fence she turned her head again to
look. To her horror she saw Frank standing there, waving the
scarlet jacket wildly to and fro. He was challenging the oncoming
bull to make a run at him, actually endeavoring to attract the
animal's attention, so as to give Minnie ample time to escape.
Even as she stood there with quaking knees, staring, she saw Frank
suddenly and nimbly jump aside, and avoid the first mad rush of
the bull.
"Oh! Frank; run! run! He will kill you!" she shrieked, wringing
her hands hysterically; all the past forgotten in that one minute
of terror.
"Get over the fence! Get over the fence! The longer you delay the
worse for me! Climb over, Minnie!" came back the answering shout,
as Frank poised himself to repeat his former tactics.
Crying, she obeyed, though it seemed as though her half-blinded
eyes could hardly show her how to catch hold of the various bars;
but presently she had succeeded in gaining the outside of the
enclosure, and through the spaces between the rails she looked
again, her heart almost standing still with dread.
Frank was still on his feet, though he had been put to his best
efforts in order to escape those threatening horns.
"Now run, Frank! I'm over the fence!" she cried at the top of her
voice.
"All right! I'm coming!" he replied, as best he could, for his
antagonist just then made another vicious lunge, and it was only
by a shave that the athletic boy managed to escape those golden
balls that surmounted his massive head.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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