Dave Darrins Fourth Year at Annapolis | Page 9

Jetson with a rueful smile.
"It shows me who may need practice more than some of the
others---that's all," answered Wolgast kindly.

With that the ball went to Dave. The first kick he missed.
"I can do better than that, if you'll give me the chance," observed Darrin
quietly.
At a nod from Coach Parker, Dave was allowed five more trials, in
each one of which he made a fair kick.
"Mr. Darrin is all right. He won't need to practice that very often, Mr.
Wolgast," called coach.
Then Dan had his try. He made one out of three.
"No matter, Danny Grin," cried Page solacingly, "we love you for other
things that you can do better on the field."
Farley made two out of three. Page, though a rattling good man over on
the right flank, missed all three kicks.
"I'm a dub at kicking," he growled, retiring in much disgust with
himself.
Other midshipmen had their try, with varying results.
"Rustlers, forward!" shouted Lieutenant-Commander Parker.
Eleven young fellows who had been waiting with more or less patience
now threw aside their blankets or robes and came running across the
field, their eyes dancing with keen delight.
"Mr. Wolgast, let the Rustlers start the ball---and take it away from 'em
in snappy fashion!" admonished coach.
The game started. In the second team at Annapolis there were some
unusually good players---half a dozen, at least, who were destined to
win a good deal of praise as subs. that year.
Tr-r-r-r-ill! sounded the whistle, and the ball was in motion.

Yet, try as he did, the captain of the Rustlers made a side kick, driving
the ball not far out of Dave Darrin's way. It was coming, now, in Dan's
path, but Dalzell muttered in a barely audible undertone:
"You, Davy!"
So Darrin, playing left end on the Navy team, darted in and caught the
ball. He did not even glance sideways to learn where Dan was. He
knew that Dalzell would be either at his back or right elbow as occasion
demanded.
"Take it away from Darry!" called Pierson, captain of the Rustlers.
"Block him!"
The scores of spectators lining the sides of the field were watching with
keenest interest.
It was rumored that Dave and Dan had some new trick play hidden up
their sleeves.
Yet, with two men squarely in the path of Darrin it seemed incredible
that he could get by, for the Rustlers had bunched their interference
skillfully at this point.
"Darry will have to stop!" yelled a score of voices at once, as Dave
bounded at his waiting opponents.
"Yah, yah, yah!"
"Wow!"
"Whoop!"
The spectators had been treated to a sight that they never forgot.
Just as Dave reached those who blocked him he seemed to falter. It was
Dan Dalzell who bumped in and received the opposition alone. Dan
went down under it, all glory to him!

But Dave, in drawing back as he had done, had stepped aside like
lightning, and now he had gone so far that he had no opposing end to
dodge.
Instead, he darted straight ahead, leaving all of the forward line of the
Rustlers behind.
But there was the back field to meet!
As Dave shot forward, Jetson, too, smashed over the line, blocking the
halfback who got in his way.
Straight over the line charged Dave Darrin, and laid the ball down.
Now the athletic field resounded with excited yells. Annapolis had seen
"a new one," and it caught the popular fancy like lightning.
Back the pigskin was carried, and placed for the kick.
"You take it, Darry," called Wolgast. "You've earned it!"
"Take it yourself, Wolly," replied Dave Darrin. "This is your strong
point."
So Wolgast kicked and scored. The Rustlers at first looked dismayed
over it all, but in another instant a cheer had broken loose from them.
It was the business of the Rustlers to harry the Navy team all they
could---to beat the Navy, if possible, for the Rustlers received their
name from the fact that they were expected to make the team members
rustle to keep their places.
Just the same the Rustlers were delighted to find themselves beaten by
a trick so simple and splendid that it fairly took their breath away. For
it was the Navy team, not the Rustlers, who met the enemy from the
colleges and from West Point. Rustlers and team men alike prayed for
the triumph of the Navy in every game that was fought out.
"You never told me that you had that trick, Darry," muttered Wolgast,

in the rest that followed this swift, brilliant play.
"I wanted to show it to you before telling you about it" laughed Dave.
"Why?"
"Because I didn't know whether it were any good."
"Any good? Why, Darry, if you can get