,
of course, endeavouring to force the ball out sideways, and either touch
it down behind their goal or get it away from their end altogether. One
goal counts more than any number of rooges; but when no goal is made at
all, or the number of them on each side is equal, the rooges decide the
game.

Ends were changed, and after a good deal of play without result
Cookson's also scored a rooge, and matters were equal again; after which
the Jolliffe team, which was the strongest physically, kept the ball
entirely in the neighbourhood of the Cookson goals. For the latter had
made great exertions, and were tiring fast. The time fixed for leaving
off play was now approaching; and if they could only keep matters as
they were a little longer they would make a drawn match of it, which
would be of itself a triumph, considering that their opponents, with the
redoubtable Crawley at their head, were reckoned so much the stronger.

"Come, we _must_ get one more rooge," said the Jolliffe captain, "and
weak as they are getting we ought to turn it into a goal." And pursuing
his determination he dribbled the ball up close to the base line, sent
it behind the goal-posts, and rushed forward to touch it down. Edwards
ran up to it at the same time to touch it first, and a collision ensued
which sent him flying. Near that spot there was a tree with seats round
it, and Edwards fell heavily with his side against a corner of this
wooden settle. Crawley touched the ball down.

"You have given us all our work to get this!" he called out to the
other, laughing; and then seeing that Edwards was lying on the ground,
he added, "You are not hurt, old fellow, are you? Only blown?"

But as the other was not in the position in which any one would lie
still a moment to get breath, he went up to him and repeated his
question.

"I don't know; I--I feel rather queer," was the reply.

Crawley stooped, and put his arms round his body to raise him up, but
Edwards shrieked out, "Ah! don't; that hurts!"

The other players now gathered round, and many offered well-meaning but
absurd suggestions. One practical youth ran off, however, to Cookson's
house to report what had happened, and then returned with a chair. By
the time he got back Edwards had managed to rise, and was sitting on the
settle, very faint. They managed to transfer him to the chair, and
carried him home in it very gently, and by the time he was laid on his
bed, which had been got read