to Hugh and his
protecting band of Eagles."

"What did he say," cried Patricia. "I wish I could have heard that."

"Oh," said Vic, "there was an interesting conversation. 'Keep out of
this, Maynard. You ought to know better,' the umpire said, 'keep out.'
'Baker, that man Larson must go off.' 'Rubbish,' said the umpire, 'they
were both roughing it.' 'Look here, Baker, that's rot and you know it.
It was a deliberate and beastly trick. Put him off!' 'He stays on!' said
the umpire, and he stuck to it, I'll give him credit for that. It was
old Maitland that saved the day. He came up smiling. 'I hope you are
taking off the time, umpire,' he said, with that little laugh of his. 'I
am not going to put Larson off,' shouted the umpire to him. 'Who asked
you to?' said Maitland. 'Go on with the game.' That saved the day. They
all started cheering. The ice was cleared and the game went on."

"Oh, that was it. I couldn't understand. They were so savage first, and
then suddenly they all seemed to quiet down. It was Captain Jack. Well,
Mamma, on they came again! But when poor Snoopy came out, all bandaged
round the head and the blood showing through--"

"Quite a clever little beggar," murmured Vic.

"Clever? What do you mean?" cried Patricia.

"Oh, well, good psychology, I mean--that's all. Bloody
bandages--demanding vengeance, Jack's team, you know--Macnamara, for
instance, entreating his captain for the love of heaven to put him
opposite Jumbo--shaking the morale of the enemy and so forth--mighty
good psychology."

"I don't know exactly what you mean," said Patricia, "but the Cornwall
defence was certainly rattled. They pulled their men back and played
defence like perfect demons, with the Mill men on to them like tigers."

"But Patricia, my dear," said her mother, "those are terrible words."

"But, Mamma, not half so terrible as the real thing. Oh, it was
perfectly splendid! And then how did it finish, Hugh? I didn't quite see
how that play came about."

"I didn't see, either," said Hugh.

"Didn't you?" cried Adrien, "I did. Jack and Geordie Ross were going
down the centre at a perfectly terrific speed, big Macnamara backing
them up. Out came Macnab and Jumbo Larson following him. Macnab checked
Geordie, who passed to Jack, who slipped it back to Macnamara. Down
came Jumbo like a perfect thunderbolt and fairly hurled himself upon
Macnamara. I don't know what happened then, but--"

"Oh, I do!" cried Vic. "When old Jumb