veral standing behind him; but Buttar and Gregson had
fully expected this, and were prepared accordingly to defend their goal.
They met the ball hopping along in full career, and sent it back so far
that, before anybody could rush in, Ernest had been able to give it an
expediting kick, and to send it very close up to his opponent's goal.
Now there was a general and terrific rush up towards Lemon's goal, and
his followers found that they had good reason to dread the impetuosity
and courage of the smaller boys. Ernest had chiefly selected his side
from among those who possessed most pluck and endurance. Fearless of
kicks, overthrows, or crushes, on they dashed at the ball. Now and then
a big fellow like Barber would try and get a kick at it; but immediately
he was met by a dozen sharp-moving toes, which struck away so
desperately that he could never get a fair kick. For a long time the
ball kept moving backwards and forwards near Lemon's goal, the attention
of all his side being required to prevent it from being kicked through
it. Several times it rose into the air, but was speedily sent back
again; yet no one on Ernest's side could manage to send it back over the
heads of their opponents. Buttar and Tom Bouldon were always in the
midst of the _melee_. More than once Bouldon was overthrown, but he
always picked himself up, and however much damaged, postponed, as he
said, an inspection of his wounds till the game was over. Ernest, as in
duty bound, had to avoid a _melee_, that when the ball came out of it he
might be in a position to direct the movements of his party. Gregson
never got into one intentionally; but when he did, he showed that he was
as steady and fearless as any one; but his tactics were to keep moving
about, to be ready to assist his chief, or to take up the ball when it
approached the goal. Some called him the sluggish player; but Lemon's
party found it difficult enough to send the ball through the goal when
he was to be found anywhere near it. Dawson and three or four other big
fellows had got the ball between them, and were pushing it forward
triumphantly, having completely overwhelmed Ernest and his immediate
supporters by sheer strength, and were fully expecting to drive it
without impediment through the goal, when Gregson, who had been standing
a little on one side, saw them coming. Only little Eden and some other
small boys were near, but they, one and all, if not for the honour of
the game