TO Sumner more than to any one else of the Westcott School was due the fine spirit of caution and determination with which the eleven faced the momentous game with Trowbridge. He had not slackened for a moment his devotion to the team from which, according to Stover, he had been ignominiously fired. He had watched the Trowbridge-Newbury contest with a sharp eye and an open note-book. The newspapers remarked after the game that Trowbridge had gained on end runs and tackle plays and lost on kicks; and that Ricker, the Trowbridge back, was the star of the game. Sumner had not been content with any such general impressions. He had observed how the plays were started behind the line, what holes were relied on for emergencies, who was most likely to fumble punts, and in precisely what way Ricker’s interference formed and hit the line. During the last week of practice, his second team was an imitation Trowbridge, with Trowbridge end runs and genuine Ricker dashes. The Ricker of the Westcott second was alumnus Bill Ellery, Harvard junior, who could cover the two-twenty in twenty-three, and started like a deer. Two active old Westcottites from across the Charles personated Trowbridge tackles, and another guarded right end. Yards practiced his linesmen in breaking straight through, with a spring and a dart and a slap of the open hand against the opponent’s headguard; he forced them to make gripping tackles on the slippery dummy; he taught them how to master, not to kill, the men in front of them; he furnished practicable plays adapted to the powers of the team, and drilled the players in signals until obedience was automatic—but it was Sumner who prepared them for Ricker and the deceptive end runs. “This last week’s work has been the best of all,” said Yards, the evening before the game. “If Pete’s knee holds out, we ought to be able to put up a pretty good offence, and Sumner’s second has developed our defence wonderfully.” “And he won’t even make his W!” lamented Harrison. “No, he won’t!” answered Yards, who could afford to be outspoken now that the end of the season was at hand. “On every point of the game McDowell is better.” “Then you don’t think there’s any chance for Jack to get in?” asked Harrison, wistfully. Yards shook his head. “Not unless Mac is laid out or we get a big lead.” [Illustration: REGULAR WESTCOTT DEFENCE—OPEN (Outside thirty-yard line)]