y
to boosting Darrin through--and Dave himself was not idle. There was an
instant of sullen, hard resistance. Then, somehow, Dave was shot through
the opposing line. Like a deer he sped, Dan hanging to his flanks. It was
up to the Rustlers' halfback now, and that bulky young midshipman leaped
to the fray, cleverly barring the way.

At least, the Rustlers' halfback thought he had Darrin blocked. It is
never wise to take too much for granted.

As the halfback planted himself for the grapple, Dave suddenly dropped
through that opponent's grip and went to the ground.

As though he had been shot through, Dave Darrin went under and past, on
one side, between the halfback's legs. He was up again, with Dan at his
back. Fullback came at them, but Dan bumped that player aside. Dave
dashed on across the line, scoring a touchdown.

Never had the gridiron been the scene of greater excitement than in that
rousing moment.

"Darrin! Darrin! Darrin!" came hoarsely; from hundreds of throats.

"Dalzell! Dalzell!" came the next gusty roar.

Hepson wiped a moist brow with one hand.

"There are two real players, if they can keep that up," muttered the
captain of the eleven.

Jetson had been the tackle opposed to Dave. Just now Jetson was nursing a
bump to his vanity.

"How on earth did I ever happen to let Darrin through?" Jetson demanded
of himself. "I won't do it again, anyway. If I can only make Darrin look
small, I may get his place on the Navy eleven. Darrin is a good fellow,
but I've got to make the team, confound him!"

The kick for goal failed. Then the Navy took the ball and promptly
enough the Rustlers came back with it, Jetson carrying.

Dave and Dan met the ball-carrier. The Rustlers' support failed, and
Jetson went down with the ball. Nor could the second team advance the
ball, so it presently came to the Navy men again.

"I want you to put it through again like a cannon-ball, Darrin,"
Midshipman Hepson whispered as they passed.

So the quarter-backs called for a repetition of the play, giving
different signals.

Dave received the ball with a rush of his old-time fervor and confidence.
Dan started behind him as full of fire as ever.

In a fraction of a second the impact of the two opposing lines came.
Jetson went down, one of his legs flying between Darrin's in such a way
as to constitute a foul.

Dave Darrin went down on top of the ball. Half a dozen players sprawled
over him. The referee's whistle blew.