For Gridley, however, the game served a useful purpose.  It solidified Captain Wadleigh’s team into actual work.  The score was 32 to 0, in favor of Gridley.  However, as Dick phrased it, the practice against an actual adversary, for the first time in the season, was worth at least three hundred to nothing.

“But don’t you fellows make a mistake,” cautioned Captain Wadleigh.  “Don’t get a notion that you’ve nothing bigger than Welton to tackle this year.  Next Saturday you’ve got to go up against Tottenville, and there’s an eleven that will make you perspire.”

Coach Morton had Tottenville gauged at its right value.  During the few days before the game he kept the Gridley boys steadily at work.  The passing and the signal work, in particular, were reviewed most thoroughly.

“Remember, the pass is going to count for a lot,” Mr. Morton warned them.  “You can’t make a weight fight against Tottenville, for those fellows weigh a hundred and fifty pounds more, to the team, than you do.  They’re savage, swift, clever players, too, those Tottenville youths.  What you take away from them you’ll have to win by strategy.”

So the Gridley boys were drilled again and again in all the special points of field strategy that Coach Morton knew or could invent.

Yet one of the best things that Mr. Morton knew, and one that always characterized Gridley, was the matter of confidence.

Captain Wadleigh’s young men were made to feel that they were going to win.  They did not underestimate the enemy, but they were going to win.  That was well understood by them all.

Now, in the games of sheer strategy much depends upon nimble ends.

Dick Prescott, in particular, was coached much in private, as well as on the actual gridiron.

“Keep yourself in keen good shape, Mr. Prescott,” Mr. Morton insisted.  “We need your help in scalping Tottenville next Saturday.”

As the week wore along Mr. Morton and Captain Wadleigh became more and more pleased with themselves and with their associates.

“I don’t see how we can fail tomorrow,” said Mr. Horton, quietly, to “Hen” Wadleigh, just after the School and the second teams had been dismissed.

It was not much after half-past three.  Practice had been brief, in order that none of the players might be used up.

“Prescott, in especial, is showing up magnificently,” replied Wadleigh.  “He and Darrin are certainly wonders at their end of the line.”

“You must use them all you can tomorrow, and yet don’t make them fight the whole battle,” replied Coach Morton.  “Save them for the biggest emergencies.”

“I’ll be careful,” promised Wadleigh.

Dick and Dave walked back into the city, instead of taking a car.

“How are you feeling, Dick?” asked Dave.

“As smooth as silk,” Prescott replied.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever been in such fine condition before,” replied Dave.