w he never knew, squirmed
past the single interferer, and tackled the runner firmly about the
hips. The two went down together on the seven yards, the blue-stockinged
youth vainly striving to squirm nearer to the line, Decker holding for
all he was worth. Then the Hillton left end sat down suddenly on the
runner's head and the whistle blew.

The grand stand was in an uproar, and cheers for Hillton filled the air.
Gardiner turned away calmly and knocked the ashes from his pipe.
Professor Beck beamed through his gold-rimmed glasses. Decker picked
himself up and sped back to his position.

"_Signal_!" he cried. But a St. Eustace player called for time and the
whistle piped again.

"If Decker tries a kick from there it'll be blocked, and they'll score
again," said Gardiner. "Our line can't hold. There's just one thing to
do, but I fear Decker won't think of it." He caught Gale's eye and
signaled the captain to the side-line.

"What is it?" panted that youth, taking the nose-guard from his mouth
and tenderly nursing a swollen lip. Gardiner hesitated. Then--

"Nothing. Only fight it out, Gale. You've got your chance now!" Gale
nodded and trotted back. Gardiner smiled ruefully. "The rule against
coaching from the side-lines may be a good one," he muttered, "but I
guess it's lost this game for us."

The whistle sounded and the lines formed again.

"First down," cried the referee, jumping nimbly out of the way. Decker
had been in conference with the full-back, and now he sprang back to
his place.

"Signal!" he cried. "_14--7--31_!"

The Hillton full stood just inside the goal-line and stretched his hands
out.

"_16--8_!"

The center passed the pigskin straight and true to the full-back, but
the latter, instead of kicking it, stood as though bewildered while the
St. Eustace forwards plunged through the Hillton line as though it had
been of paper. The next moment he was thrown behind his goal-line with
the ball safe in his arms, and Gardiner, on the side-line, was smiling
contentedly.

"Touch-back," cried Decker. "Line up on the twenty yards, fellows!"

Hillton's ruse had won her a free kick, and in another moment the ball
was arching toward the St. Eustace goal. The Blue's left half secured
it, but was downed on his forty yards. The first attack netted 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, b