“Try that left-end play,” suggested George Strong.  “It may surprise them—­and, anyway, it can do no harm.”

The play he mentioned was something of a trick they had been practicing for a week.  It was rather intricate, but Dale promised to take his advice and use it at the first opportunity.

The Dauntless eleven scented a victory, and went into the second half of the game with renewed vigor.  But Putnam Hall stood up manfully, and Andy got the pigskin in a manner that elicited much applause.  He carried it down the gridiron for eight yards and passed it over to Jack.  Then, on the next down, Dale signaled for the trick play.  Across the field came the ball and then back to center.  Here a quick turn was made that bewildered the Dauntless eleven.  On came the pigskin, and almost before anybody knew it, Jack kicked a goal from the field.

“Hurrah! a field goal for Putnam Hall!”

“Talk about clever work, wasn’t that great?”

“It sure was!”

“Never mind,” came from a Dauntless supporter.  “That doesn’t count as much as the goal from a touchdown.”

“Well, it’s blood for Putnam Hall, anyway.”

Again the leather went into play, and once more each eleven did its level best to force the pigskin over the opponents’ line.  The Dauntless aggregation were now wary of more tricks, and they tried a trick of their own, massing at the left and then running the ball up center.  But this did not work.  The ball was lost to Andy, who passed it over to Dale.

“Go it, Blackmore!” was the cry.

“Down him, Cressy!”

On and on sped Dale with the rival left end at his heels.  Hogan and Jack were pounding on behind, and they stopped Cressy from blocking the Putnam Hall captain.  Over the line came Dale, to drop flat an instant later, out of breath.

“Hurrah! a touchdown for Putnam Hall.”

“Now for a goal!”

The wind was blowing strongly, yet Andy measured the distance well and kicked the goal, amid a cheering that could be heard half a mile.

“Oh, wasn’t that grand!” murmured Flossie Ford.

“Perfectly lovely!” added Laura.

“It’s what we wanted,” answered Pepper.  “Keep it up!” he yelled, and blew his horn with all his might.

With nine minutes more to play, both elevens went at the game with great vigor.  The Dauntless team wanted at least to make a field goal—­to tie the score.  But Putnam Hall held them back, and two minutes before the whistle blew made another touchdown and kicked the goal.  When the game was ended the pigskin was on the Dauntless forty-five-yard line.

Putnam Hall had won!

What a cheering followed, and what a tooting of horns and sounding of rattles!  The cadets cheered for their opponents and were cheered in return, and then all filed off the field.

“A dandy game!” cried Pepper to his chums.  “Simply great!” And he fairly hugged Jack and Andy.