two fifteen-minute scrimmage periods with the second team.  And what the ’varsity did to the second that day was a pity!  With seven coaches urging them on, the ’varsity players performed desperately.  The new plays to be used against Claflin were tried out and worked well.  The ’varsity scored two touchdowns in the first period and one in the second, and kicked a field-goal when, with only a minute left, it had reached the second team’s eighteen yards.  On the other hand, the second failed to gain consistently inside the ’varsity’s danger zone and both of Martin’s drop-kicks went wide.  The ’varsity’s defence was better than it had been at any time that Fall, and even the tackles showed up well.

Saunders had discarded crutches and managed a slow jog once around the track that afternoon, and it was fully expected that he would be in shape to get back to work the first of the next week.  Clint and Tyler played through most of that scrimmage, and Clint, unmercifully prodded by Detweiler—­and anyone else who happened to think of it—­showed real form on defence.  He was opposed to Captain Turner, of the second, and Turner was a crafty end.  That Clint was able, more than once, to get around Turner and stop the runner well behind the line spoke well for him.  On forward passes, too, he used his head and twice managed to get to the receiver and spoil the play.  It was a tired lot of boys who tramped back to the gymnasium that Thursday afternoon at dusk, and there were many bruises to be seen to, for the two teams had battled as fiercely as though they had been the deadliest enemies.  Clint fell asleep in the middle of study hour with his head on his Latin book, and Amy sympathetically let him slumber.

On Friday, contrary to established custom, practice was hard as ever and the scrimmage with the second was drawn out to forty minutes of actual playing time.  The game with Cherry Valley on the morrow was not looked on as a difficult one and it was noised about that Coach Robey meant to put in a full set of substitutes in the second half.  The Varsity was severely tested in defence that day.  Five times the second was given the pigskin inside the ’varsity’s fifteen-yard line and instructed to take it across by rushing and four times they failed.  The fifth time, with the ball on the three yards, they were given two extra downs and finally piled through Tyler for the last needed six inches.  Tyler went out after that, pretty well worsted, and Trow took his place.  Clint had escaped damage so far, but had been called on to repel many an attack, and was glad enough when time was called and they were allowed to return to the bench for a five-minute intermission.