n, into the ears of those who are holding The Don in a death grip.

With difficulty they are persuaded to allow him to rise. When he stands
up, breathless, bleeding at the mouth, but otherwise sound, the crowd
of 'Varsity admirers go into a riot of rapture, throwing up caps,
hugging each other in ecstatic war dances, while the team walk quietly
about recovering their wind, and resisting the efforts of their friends
to elevate them.

"Quit it!" growls Campbell. "Get off the field! Get back, you hoodlums!"

Meantime Huntingdon is protesting to the referee.

"I claim that ball was fairly held, back there. Balfour was brought to
a dead stand."

"How do you know, Huntingdon?" returns Campbell. "Your head was down in
the scrim."

"I could see his legs. I know his boots."

It is true that The Don has a peculiar toe on his boots.

"Oh," jeers Campbell scornfully, "that's all rot, you know, Huntingdon."

"Look here, Campbell, listen to what I say. I want you to remember I am
speaking the truth."

Huntingdon's quiet tone has its effect.

"I would never think of challenging your word," replies Campbell, "but
I think it is quite impossible that you could absolutely know that The
Don came to a dead stand."

"I repeat, I can pick out Balfour's boots from a whole crowd, and I
know he was brought to a stand. I am prepared to swear that. Can any
man swear to the contrary?"

"Why, certainly," cries Campbell, "half a dozen men can. There's Shock,
who was right behind him."

But Shock thus appealed to, hesitates. He has an unfortunate conscience.

"I can't say for sure," he says, looking piteously, at his captain.

"Weren't you moving all the time, Shock?"

"Well, I was shoving all the time."

"But hold on," says Huntingdon. "Will you say that Balfour was never
brought to a stand? Will you swear that?"

"Well, I cannot say for sure," replies Shock in great distress. "It was
not very long, anyway."

Yells of triumphant laughter break from the McGill crowd.

The referee is in great difficulty. He has a reputation for courage and
fairness. He hesitates a moment or two, and then, while the crowd wait
breathless for his decision, says, "You can all see that it is almost
impossible to be certain, but on the whole I shall give it a 'hold.'"

It was a bitter moment to the 'Varsity men, but Campbell is a true
sport.

"Shut up, men," he says in answer to the loud protests of his team.
"Get behind the ball."

Every seco