old, and closed upon him before he
could double or get round them.

"Pass!" shouted Ranger.

It was beautifully done, while Yorke was falling and Ranger brushing
past. The enemy's half-backs were not in it with the fleet Fellsgarth
runner, nor was their back; and to their own utter amazement, three
minutes later the School placed to their credit an easy goal.

Then did Clapperton and Dangle and Brinkman gnash their teeth till they
ached, and Fullerton, standing near, had his gibe.

"It was worth coming here in the rain to see that, wasn't it?"

The match was not yet over. The Rendlesham men, startled into attention
by this unexpected rebuff, took care that such a misadventure should not
happen again, and making all the use they could of their superior
weight, bore down the scrimmages and forced the ball into the open.
Once they carried it through with a splendid rush, and their captain
picking it up under the very feet of the boys, ran it forward a few
yards, and took a drop-kick which missed by only a few inches.

A little later came Corder's chance. He had lived all the term for this
moment. If he was taken back to Fellsgarth on a shutter he would not
care, so long as he did himself credit now.

He had a clear field to start with, and was well out of touch before the
advance guard of the enemy bore down on him. Then it was a sight to see
him wriggle and dodge, and twist and turn in and out among them,
threading them like a needle through a string of beads, and slipping
through their hands like an eel.

"Well played indeed, Corder!" cried Yorke.

Oh, what music was in the sound! What would he not dare now!

On he went, now diving under an arm, now staggering round a leg; now
jumping like a kangaroo against an opponent. The very sight of his
evolutions seemed to demoralise the Rendlesham men. They floundered and
slid on the slippery grass, and made wild grabs without ever reaching
him. It was really too ridiculous to be eluded by a raw hand like
this--and yet he eluded them.

Half-way down the field he ran with a roar of applause at his back, and
only a handful of the enemy left ahead. How splendid if he could only
pass them, and make his record with a run from one goal to the other!

Alas! a swoop from behind greeted the proud thought; two hands clawed at
his shoulders, and from his shoulders slipped to his waist, and from his
waist slid down to his ankles, where for a moment they held, and sent