fights come off. And all this part
where we are is the little side-ground, right up to the trees, and on
the other side of the trees is the big side-ground, where the great
matches are played. And there's the island in the furthest corner;
you'll know that well enough next half, when there's island fagging. I
say, it's horrid cold, let's have a run across," and away went East, Tom
close behind him. East was evidently putting his best foot foremost, and
Tom, who was mighty proud of his running, and not a little anxious to
show his friend that although a new boy he was no milksop, laid himself
down to the work in his very best style. Right across the close they
went, each doing all he knew, and there wasn't a yard between them when
they pulled up at the island moat.

"I say," said East, as soon as he got his wind, looking with much
increased respect at Tom, "you ain't a bad scud, not by no means. Well,
I'm as warm as a toast now."

"But why do you wear white trousers in November?" said Tom. He had been
struck by this peculiarity in the costume of almost all the School-house
boys.

"Why, bless us, don't you know?--No, I forgot. Why, to-day's the
School-house match. Our house plays the whole of the School at football.
And we all wear white trousers, to show 'em we don't care for hacks.
You're in luck to come to-day. You just will see a match; and Brooke's
going to let me play in quarters. That's more than he'll do for any
other lower-school boy, except James, and he's fourteen."

"Who's Brooke?"

"Why that big fellow who called over at dinner, to be sure. He's cock of
the school, and head of the School-house side, and the best kick and
charger in Rugby."

"Oh, but do show me where they play? And tell me about it. I love
football so, and have played all my life. Won't Brooke let me play?"

"Not he," said East, with some indignation; "why, you don't know the
rules--you'll be a month learning them. And then it's no joke playing-up
in a match, I can tell you. Quite another thing from your private school
games. Why, there's been two collar-bones broken this half, and a dozen
fellows lamed. And last year a fellow had his leg broken."

Tom listened with the profoundest respect to this chapter of accidents,
and followed East across the level ground till they came to a sort of
gigantic gallows of two poles eighteen feet high, fixed upright in the
ground some fourteen feet apart, with a cross bar running from one to
the oth