Dave Darrins Fourth Year at Annapolis | Page 9

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 up one or two more like that you'll be the greatest gridiron tactician that the Navy has ever had!"
"I didn't get up that one," Dave confessed modestly.
"You didn't, Mr. Darrin?" interposed Coach Parker. "Who did?"
"Mr. Jetson, sir."
"I helped a bit," admitted Jetson, turning red as he found himself the center of admiring gazes. "Dalzell and Darrin helped work it out, too."
"Have you any more like that one, Mr. Darrin?" questioned Coach Parker.
"I think we have a few, sir," Dave smiled steadily.
"Are you ready to exhibit them, Mr. Darrin?"
"We'll show 'em all, if you order it, sir," Darrin answered respectfully. "But we'll undoubtedly spring two or three of 'em, anyway, in this afternoon's practice."
"I'll be patient, then," nodded coach. "But I want a brief talk with you after practice, Mr. Darrin."
"Very good, sir."
"I just want you to sketch out the new plays to me in private, that I may consider them," explained the lieutenant-commander.
"Yes, sir. But I am not really the originator of any of the new plays. Mr. Dalzell and Mr. Jetson have had as much to do with all of the new ones as I have, sir."
"And this is Darrin's last year! The Navy will never have his like again," groaned one fourth classman to another.
"Ready to resume play!" called coach. "Navy to start the ball."
The play was on again, in earnest, but this time it fell to the right flank of, the Navy team to stop the onward rush of the Rustlers as they charged down with the ball after the Navy's kick-off.
In fact, not during the team practice did Dave or Dan get a chance to show another of their new tricks.
"Just our luck!" grunted many of the spectators.
Meanwhile Dave, Dan and Jet got out of their togs, and through with their shower baths as quickly as they could, for Lieutenant-Commander Parker was on hand, awaiting them impatiently.
Until close to supper call did the coach hold converse with these three men of the Navy's left flank. Then the lieutenant-commander went to Midshipman Wolgast, who was waiting.
"Mr. Wolgast, I