Certainly it could not, he thought, be any more close, more hotly contested, than this of the two rival schools.  All through the first half they fought each other without scoring.

Once St. Timothy’s had got down to St. John’s fifteen-yard line, but then had been unable to go farther, and Dennison had missed by only a few feet his try for a goal from the field.

Early in the second half St. Timothy’s met with misfortune.  Dennison was laid out by a hard tackle; when at last he got to his feet, he limped badly.  Louis Collingwood took him by the arm and walked round with him; Dennison was arguing, protesting.  But Collingwood led him towards the side-line, patting him on the back, and called “Westby!”

The spectators cheered the injured player who came off so reluctantly; then they cheered Westby as he ran out upon the field.  Irving was near the group of substitutes when Dennison hobbled in.

“Hurt much, Denny?” asked Briggs.

“No—­just that same old ankle—­hang it all!” Dennison slipped into a blanket and lowered himself painfully to the ground.

Irving’s eyes were upon Westby; he hoped that this time the boy would not fail.  Westby had an opportunity now to steady his nerves; it was St. Timothy’s ball and only the first down.  Collingwood gave the signal; Irving watched closely, saw Westby take the ball on the pass and dive into the line.  In a moment all the St. Timothy’s eleven seemed to be behind him, hurling him through, and St. Timothy’s on the side-lines waved and shouted, for Westby had gained five yards.

Collingwood called on him again; he gained three yards more.  Irving shouted with the rest; he turned to Mr. Randolph and said,—­

“That ought to give Westby confidence.”

“I hope it does; he’s so erratic,” Mr. Randolph answered.  “If only he’s starting in now on one of his brilliant streaks!”

Lane, the Fifth Form halfback, tried to go round the end on the next play, but made no gain.  Then Westby was driven again at left tackle, but he got only two yards.

Collingwood gave the signal for a criss-cross; Lane took the ball, and passed it to Westby, who was already on the run.  Westby got clear of the St. John’s end, and seemed well started for a brilliant run; but their halfback chased him across the field and finally, by a tremendous diving tackle, pulled him down.  As it was, Westby had made so much of a gain that the distance had to be measured; he had failed by only a few inches to make the required amount, and the ball went to St. John’s on their thirty-five-yard line.

St. John’s made two ineffectual rushes; then their fullback, Warner, prepared to kick.  Westby and Collingwood raced to their places in the back field.

There was a tense moment on both sides; then Warner sent the ball flying high and far.  It was Westby’s ball; the St. John’s ends and one of their tackles came down fast under the kick.