Behind the Line: A Story of College Life and Football

, four yard

le; the Hillton quarter-back crouched again behind the big cente

called qua

d the St. Eustace capt

--

then, like a shot, the St. Eustace left tackle hurtled through and, avoiding the interference, nailed the Hillton runner six yards back of the line. A square of the grand stand blossomed suddenly with blue, and St. Eustac

. Eustace's star was in the ascendant, and defeat hovered dark and ominous over the Crimson. With the score 5 to 0 in favor of the visitors, with her players battered and wearied, with

ced the pigskin on Hillton's three-yard line. There the Hillton players had held stubbornly against two attempts to advance, but on the third down had fallen victims to a delay

ins were small and infrequent. Four times ere the half was at an end St. Eustace was forced to kick, and thrice, having by the hardest work and almost inch by inch fought her way to within scoring distance of her oppone

ble returned the pigskin to Hillton on the Blue's thirty-three yards, and once more the advance was taken up. Thrice the distance had been gained by plunges into the line and short runs about the ends, and once Fletcher, Hillton's left half, had got away safely for twenty yards. But on her eight-yard line, under the shadow of her goal, St. Eustace had held bravely, and, securing the ball on downs, punted

xpectations. St. Eustace far outweighed his team; her center was almost invulnerable and her back field was fast and heavy. But, despite the modesty of his expectations, Gardiner was disappointed. The plays that he had believed would prove to be ground-gainers had failed almost invariably. Neil Fletcher, the left half, on

iven too much attention to that thing, too little to this; that, as things had turned out, certain plays discarded a week before would have prov

de him. He turned to find Professor Beck, the trainer

ner n

siderably, but I suppose it's necessary." There was a note

y's on his last legs." Gardiner turned

cke

th was peeling off his crimson sweater. The referee's whistle blew, and while the mound of squir

ally on the right. Give Gale a chance to hit the line now and then and diversify your plays well. And, my boy, if you get th

and trembling with weariness, and one foot dragged itself after the other limply. But he was protesting with tears in his eyes against being laid off, and even the h

n't score again!

e can hope for," s

ed out worse th

a game against odds as I ever expect to see," answered the other. "And we won't s

t runs outside right tackle," muttered Gardiner anxiously. The

e's big full-back plunged through between guard and tackle, now on this side, now o

d the referee. "Fi

ten-and fifteen-yard lines. Decker, the substitu

it up, fellows!" he shouted

unges of the foe, and back once more they went, and yet again, and the ba

" cried the

mpire's whistle shrilled, and half the distance to the goal-line was paced

where the crimson flags waved came s

Hold, Hillton!

th on the stem of his pipe and watched with expressionl

the St. Eustace captain.

her, and the whistle sounded. The ball had advanced less

" cried the Blue's

emory of the delayed pass which had won St. Eustace her previou

he ball snuggled against his stomach. Decker, just how he never knew, squirmed past the single interferer, and tackled the runner firmly about the hips. The two went down together on the seven yard

turned away calmly and knocked the ashes from his pipe. Professor Beck beamed thro

Eustace player called for ti

d Gardiner. "Our line can't hold. There's just one thing to do, but I fear Decker

nose-guard from his mouth and tenderly nursi

trotted back. Gardiner smiled ruefully. "The rule against coaching from the side

nded and the li

t of the way. Decker had been in conference with t

he cried.

st inside the goal-line a

6-

ewildered while the St. Eustace forwards plunged through the Hillton line as though it had been of paper. The next moment

cker. "Line up on the

four yards through Hillton's left-guard, and the crimson flags drooped on their staffs. On the next play St. Eustace's full-back hurdled the line for two yards, but lost the pigskin, and amid frantic crie

y," said Professor B

to win in,"

l, and the Hillton full plunged at the b

d the quarter.

stace's right tackle and sped down the field while the Hillton supporters leaped to their feet and shrieked wildly. The full-back met the St. Eustace right half, and the two were left behind on the turf. Beside Fletcher, a l

or and a little army of privilege

ered the head coach.

alling behind. Twenty yards remained to be covered. Then the waiting quarter-bac

left!" h

he was safe. Gale and the St. Eustace player went down together, and in anothe

den of shouting, cheering, singing Hilltonians, and the crimson bann

sently, when the wearied and crestfallen opponents had lined themselves along the goal-line, Decker held the ball ami

tic Hilltonians flooded the field and, led by the band, bore their heroes in triumph back to the school. And, side by side, at