Behind the Line | Page 3

to see," answered
the other. "And we won't say die yet; there's still"--he looked at his
watch--there's still eight minutes."
"That's good; I hope Decker will remember what I told him about runs
outside right tackle," muttered Gardiner anxiously. Then he relighted
his pipe and, with stolid face, watched events.
St. Eustace was still hammering Hillton's line at the wings. Time and
again the Blue's big full-back plunged through between guard and
tackle, now on this side, now on that, and Hillton's line ever gave back
and back, slowly, stubbornly, but surely.
"First down," cried the referee. "Five yards to gain."
The pigskin now lay just midway between Hillton's ten-and
fifteen-yard lines. Decker, the substitute quarter-back, danced about
under the goal-posts.
"Now get through and break it up, fellows!" he shouted. "Get through!
Get through!"
But the crimson-clad line men were powerless to withstand the terrific
plunges of the foe, and back once more they went, and yet again, and
the ball was on the six-yard line, placed there by two plunges at right

tackle.
"First down!" cried the referee again.
Then Hillton's cup of sorrow seemed overflowing. For on the next play
the umpire's whistle shrilled, and half the distance to the goal-line was
paced off. Hillton was penalized for holding, and the ball was on her
three yards!
From the section of the grand stand where the crimson flags waved
came steady, entreating, the wailing slogan:
"_Hold, Hillton! Hold, Hillton! Hold, Hillton!_"
Near at hand, on the side-line, Gardiner ground his teeth on the stem of
his pipe and watched with expressionless face. Professor Beck, at his
side, frowned anxiously.
"Put it over, now!" cried the St. Eustace captain. "Tear them up,
fellows!"
The quarter gave the signal, the two lines smashed together, and the
whistle sounded. The ball had advanced less than a yard. The Hillton
stand cheered hoarsely, madly.
"Line up! Line up!" cried the Blue's quarter. "Signal!"
Then it was that St. Eustace made her fatal mistake. With the memory
of the delayed pass which had won St. Eustace her previous
touch-down in mind, the Hillton quarter-back was on the watch.
The ball went back, was lost to view, the lines heaved and strained.
Decker shot to the left, and as he reached the end of the line the St.
Eustace left half-back came plunging out of the throng, the ball
snuggled against his stomach. Decker, just how he never knew,
squirmed past the single interferer, and tackled the runner firmly about
the hips. The two went down together on the seven yards, the
blue-stockinged youth vainly striving to squirm nearer to the line,

Decker holding for all he was worth. Then the Hillton left end sat down
suddenly on the runner's head and the whistle blew.
The grand stand was in an uproar, and cheers for Hillton filled the air.
Gardiner turned away calmly and knocked the ashes from his pipe.
Professor Beck beamed through his gold-rimmed glasses. Decker
picked himself up and sped back to his position.
"Signal!" he cried. But a St. Eustace player called for time and the
whistle piped again.
"If Decker tries a kick from there it'll be blocked, and they'll score
again," said Gardiner. "Our line can't hold. There's just one thing to do,
but I fear Decker won't think of it." He caught Gale's eye and signaled
the captain to the side-line.
"What is it?" panted that youth, taking the nose-guard from his mouth
and tenderly nursing a swollen lip. Gardiner hesitated. Then--
"Nothing. Only fight it out, Gale. You've got your chance now!" Gale
nodded and trotted back. Gardiner smiled ruefully. "The rule against
coaching from the side-lines may be a good one," he muttered, "but I
guess it's lost this game for us."
The whistle sounded and the lines formed again.
"First down," cried the referee, jumping nimbly out of the way. Decker
had been in conference with the full-back, and now he sprang back to
his place.
"Signal!" he cried. "_14--7--31_!"
The Hillton full stood just inside the goal-line and stretched his hands
out.
"_16--8_!"
The center passed the pigskin straight and true to the full-back, but the
latter, instead of kicking it, stood as though bewildered while the St.

Eustace forwards plunged through the Hillton line as though it had
been of paper. The next moment he was thrown behind his goal-line
with the ball safe in his arms, and Gardiner, on the side-line, was
smiling contentedly.
"Touch-back," cried Decker. "Line up on the twenty yards, fellows!"
Hillton's ruse had won her a free kick, and in another moment the ball
was arching toward the St. Eustace goal. The Blue's left half secured it,
but was downed on his forty yards. The first attack netted four yards
through Hillton's left-guard, and the crimson flags drooped on