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Corporal Cameron

Corporal Cameron

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Chapter 1 THE QUITTER

Word Count: 3575    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

out over the Inverleith grounds. The Scottish line was sagging!-that line invincible in two ye

d's glory! Cameron going back! A hush fell on the thronged seats and packed inner-circle,-a breathless, dreadful hush of foreboding. High over the hushed silence that vibrant cry rang; and Camer

ers the tow-headed Welshman rushing joyously at him, and delivered his ball far down the line safe into touch. But after his kick

Scots now fighting for life rather than for victory. And under their captain's directions these fierce, victory-sniffing Welsh are delivering their attack upon the spot where he fancies he has found a yielding. In vain Cameron rallies his powers; his nerve is failing him, his strength is done. Only five minutes to play, but one minute is enough. Down upon him through a broken field, dribbling the ball and following hard like hounds on a hare, come the Welsh, the tow-head raging in front, bloody and fearsome. There is but one thing for Cameron to do; gri

have carried with them off the field of their defeat, vanishes into gloom.

tten! The rank qu

so?" It was the captain's

I know it's rotten to say this, but I can't help it. Cameron los

you are and I forgive you that; but I don't want to hear from you or from any man on the team that word aga

l, lanky, with a pale, gaunt face, plastered over the forehead with damp w

ve it all. It's tough for them, but God knows I've got the wo

"Don't be an ass! Your first big ga

ol. I let myself down and I wasn't fit. Anyway, I'm through with it." His voice

nn. "Next year you'll be twice the ma

is men rallied

t you

o man gets into th

eans next year, C

them had spoken. But this business was serious. To lose a game was bad enough, but to round on a co

Dunn kept his eye on him, hurrying his own dressing and chatting quietly the while. But long before

ou; I'm with you in

ameron, searching wi

! Wait for me, Cameron. Wher

d the lad, slamming

awfully sorry I made that break, Dunn. It was beastly l

say, men!" When Dunn said "men" they all knew it was their captain that was speaking. Everybody stood listening. Dunn hesitated a moment or two, as if searching for words. "About the dinner to-night: I'd like y

ical student from Canada, who played qua

er-line but also at the dinner table the li

rade on the quarter-line, and his greatest friend. "We kno

e to cut the van. I'm afraid my gove

outcry. There were

ptain; h

ptain! Don't

n, see us throu

," sang out Martin. "Come on, fellows, let's

for the International players, and were bent on carrying their great captain down the street, shoulder high; for the enthusiasm of the Scot reaches the point of madness only in the hour of glorious defeat.

a tam-o'-shanter. "In fac', Docthor," he arg

houted young Rob, standing in front of

laughed

can easy lick him," sai

was a great friend of the family, and w

cock! I doubt ye'll hae to be content," said

impatiently. "You're not going to make

sudden charge, but checked by

shanter; you're stopping the procesh! Now then, wait for the line, everybody!" It was Little Martin on top

d Dunn, old D

old Dunn

Dunn, old Du

old Dunn,

et, two men at the heads of the doctor's carriage horses, holding them in place behind the van. On went the swaying crowd and on w

a girl's voice reac

they lov

eauty of perfect health rather than of classic feature in her face. T

l you not come up? We

r of the procession, following the band and the chariot wheels o

led Dunn. "Not mu

e? What matters the game? I

" said the doctor. "T

Dunn. "Look at that young

odie, deliberately. "I'm sure I know him; anyway I'm going to en

sweeping bow, still keeping up the beat. The crowd, following his ey

Good-bye! I'm off!" And she darted back to the

held up both arms a

houted, "second vers

t done, old Du

old Dunn a

t done, old D

old Dunn a

Colonial version, and rende

' done, old Du

old Dunn's

' done, old D

old Dunn's

g the van till they neared Queen Stre

can't they be choked

signalled J

e'll just slip thro

o do Princes Street,

ou born ass!" crie

ght in the glory of his hero had been beyond all

. "Jock," he said quietly, "just

d Jock with great regret

after some struggling, got them safely into the clear space, leaving the procession to follow the van, loudly cheering thei

in disgust, as the carriage bore

en't they, Father?" said yo

or Dunn, his old eyes shining, for his son's triumph t

ickly, "but it's rather embarrassing,

ts to young Rob. "But it was terrible; an

re at all," sa

errible," sa

terrible?" said his fath

b, his lip trembling. "I don

g brother in a voice shar

ked as if he-" the lad could not bring himself to say the awful

the captain's voice was

brother's knee and stood with face white and quivering. He had given utterance to the terrible suspicion that was torturing his heroic

ather's face, "Cameron is no quitter. He didn't funk. I think," he continued, while Rob's tear-stained face lifted eagerly, "I know he was out of condition; he had let himself run do

ly in a severe tone, "it was very reprehensible for a man on the International to l

afraid," said Dunn, regre

self. Control, to be of any value, must be u

kept pretty close to him up t

trainer's business is to scho

been making a mistake," said Dunn though

nly. "He had no business to get out of

er heart was beating hard against his little ribs, "and he looks awful.

ens. It is so without calculation, without qualification, and without r

d, "and I have no doubt he regrets it no

im, Sir. He'll get

d stiff, was indulging in a long-banished pipe, Nes

had your tub yet?"

know I feel awfully about t

t freshened up for to-night. I'll look after Cameron. You know he is down for the pipes. He's

ed what he could not fulfil, went off to hi

is coat Rob came in, dis

, Jack?" he asked timidly. "I

he distress in the lad's face checked his words. "Now, Rob," he

aught his brother's arm. "Say, Jack, are you sur

fit,-he ought to have been, but he wasn't,-and because he wasn't fit he came mighty near quitting-for a moment, I'm sure, he felt like it, because his nerve was

fine! I'm awfully glad he didn't quit, 'specially when he felt lik

aid his big brother. "Yo

I'm fit,

! Keep fit-tha

rithing in an agony of self-contempt; for in the face of all Scotl

dinner. Mightily his captain laboured with him, plying him with varying motives,-the honour of the team was at stake; the honour of the country wa

ef, and then gave his half-back the boy's message. "I promised to tell you, and I almost forgot. The little beggar was terribly worked up,

ud, while Dunn, knowing that he had reached his utmost, s

ood little soul! I'll go; I'

ll, Cameron was that night in his place, fighting out through the long hilarious night the fierc

'specially when

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