"Where'sVic？"Bugdemanded。
　　"Idon'tknow，"Burgessanswered。
　　"Takemeup，I'setold。”Bugstretcheduphisarmsappealingly，andBurgess，whoknewnothingofbabies，awkwardlyliftedhimup。
　　"TuddlemetloselikeVicdo，"andthelittleonesnuggledlovinglyintheProfessor'sembrace。"Yourtoat'swet。
　　IsVicwet，too？"
　　"Yes，littleboy。Weareallintroubletonight。”
　　Burgesshadtosaysomething。
　　"Intwouble？Umph——humph!"Bugshuthislipstightly，puffingouthischeeks，aswashishabit。"Iwasintwouble，andIistwentedtoDonFonnybone。He'sdoodfortwouble-ness。Yougoseehim。
　　Poorman!"andthelittlehandstrokedProfessorBurgess'feverishcheek。
　　"Ifyou'llrunrightbacktobed，I'lldoit，"Burgessdeclared。
　　"Wecanlearnevenfromchildrensometimes，"hethought，asBugclimbeddownobedientlyandtoddledaway。
　　VincentBurgesswentdirectlytoDr。LloydFenneben，towhomhetoldthestoryoftheday'sevents，includingtheinterviewwithBondSaxon。HedidnotrepeatBond'swordsregardingVic，butonlyhintedatthesuspicionthattherewassomethingquestionableinthesituationinwhichVicwasplaced。
　　Nordidherefertotheoldman'smaudlindemandthatheshouldtakecareofDennieifshewereleftfatherless，andofhisswornpromisetodoso。
　　Burgessfeltas，iftheDean'sblackeyeswouldburnthroughhim，sosteadywastheirgazewhilethestorywasbeingtold。
　　Whenhehadfinished，LloydFennebensaidquietly:
　　"Youarewornoutwiththeexcitementofthedayandnight。
　　Gohomeandrestnow。I'velearnedthroughmanyastruggle，thatwhatIcannotfighttoafinishinthedarkness，IcansafelyleavewithGodtillthedaylightcomes。”
　　ThesmilethatlightedupthesternfaceandthefirmhandclaspwithwhichLloydFennebendismissedtheyoungmanwerethingsherememberedlongafterward。Andaboveall，herecalledmanytimesasenseofsecretshamethatheshouldhavefeltdegradedbecauseofhisassociationwithDennieSaxononthisday。
　　Butofthislast，thememorywasstrongerthanthepresentrealization。
　　Meanwhile，asthemadwaterssurgedaroundthebendintheriver，andsweptovertheshallows，VictorBurleighflunghisarmaroundElinorWreamandleapedbackfromtheveryedgeofdoom。
　　"Wemustclimbthebluffagain。BeagoodIndian!"hecried，gropingforafooting。
　　Climbingthewestbluffbydaylightforthesakeofadventurewasveryunlikethisstruggleinthedarknesstoescapethewideningriver，withawind-driventorrentofrainsweepingdownthelandbehindthefirststorm-fury，andElinorWreamclungtohercompanion'sarmalmosthelplesswithfear。
　　"Doyouthinkyoucanevergetusout？sheasked，asthelimestoneledgeblockedtheway。
　　"Doyouknowwhatmymothernamedme？"Thecarelessnessofthetonewassurprising。
　　"Victor!"shereplied。
　　"Thendon'tforgetit，"Burleighsaid。"It'sadreadfullyroughwaybeforeus，littlegirl，butwe'llsoonbesafefromtheriver。
　　Don'tmindthislittlebitofastorm，andyou'llgetpersonallyconductedintoLagondaLedgebeforemidnight。”
　　Inhershelteredlife，Elinorhadneverknownanythinghalfsodreadfulasthisstormanddarknessandboomingflood，butthefearlessnessofthestrongmanbesideherinspiredhertodoherbest。Itwasonlytwohourssincetheywereherebefore。
　　HowcouldsheknowthatthesetwohourshadmarkedthecrisisofalifetimeforVictorBurleigh。Withafriendlylittlepressureonhisarm，shesaidbravely:
　　"I'dratherbeherewithyouthanovertheriverwithanybodyelse。
　　Ifeelsaferhere。”
　　Vicknewshemeantonlytobecourteous，butthewordswerecomforting。
　　Onthecrestoftheledgethefiercenessofthestormwasrevealed。
　　Greatsheetsofwind-blownrainwereflungathwartthelandscape，andtheutterblacknessthatfollowedthelightning'sglare，andtheroaringofthewindandriverwereappalling。
　　Inallthistumult，awaytothenortheast，thebeaconlightabovetheSunrisedomewascuttingthedarknesswithasteadybeam。
　　"Seethatlight，Elinor？Wearenotlost。Wemustgetupstreamalittleway。Thenwe'llfindthebridge，allright。
　　Thecrowdwillgethomeaheadofus，becausethisistheroughsideoftheriver。”
　　"Oh，whatacomfortalightcanbe!"Elinormurmuredasshelookedupandcaughtthewelcomegleam。
　　Astheyhurriedalong，theSunriselightsuddenlydisappearedandtheyfoundthemselvesdescendingaroughdownwardway。
　　Presentlytherewererockwallsoneithersidehemmingtheminanarrowcreviceintheledges。ThentherainceasedandVicknewtheyhadsliddendownintoarock-coveredfissure，thattheyweregettingunderground。Theytriedtoturnback，buttheup-climbwasimpossible，andinthedarknesstheycouldreachnothingbutthesharpledgeofthecliffsheerabovetheragingriver。
　　Entrappedandbewildered，Vicfeltcautiouslyabout；buttheonlycertainthingswerethestraightbluffoverhangingtheflood，andthecavernouswayleadingdownward；whilethesamedelugethatwaskeepingVincentBurgessstorm-staidontheverandaoftheSaxonHouse，wasbeatingmercilesslydownonElinorWream。
　　"Wecan'tstayhereandbethreshedtopieces，"Viccried。
　　"Thiscrackisdrier，anyhow，anditmustleadtosomewhere。”
　　ItdidleadtowhatseemedtoElinoranendlesslengthofhideousuncertainty，untilVicsuddenlylosthisfootingandplungedheadlongdownsomewhereintotheblacknessofdarkness。
　　Elinorshriekedinterrorandsankdownlimplyonthestonefloorofthecrevice。
　　"Allabluff，"Viccalledupcheerily，inthesamestartlinglydeepsweetvoicethathadcaughtElinor'searontheSeptemberafternoonbeforethedoorofSunrise，andoutintheedgeofherconsciousnessthethoughtplayedinagain，"I'dratherbeherewithyouthanovertheriverwithanybodyelse。
　　Ifeelsaferhere。”
　　"Slidedown，Elinor。I'llcatchyou。Itisn'tveryfar，andthere'salittlelightsomewhere。”
　　ElinorslippedblindlydownthesideoftherockintoVicBurleigh'soutstretchedarms。Ashesetheronherfeet，somehow，thelittlelightfailed。Inalltheirstruggle，thispartofthewayseemedthedarkest，thechillest，themostdangerous，andasuddensenseofapresencehiddennearbypossessedthemboth，astheycameagainstablindwall。
　　AstouterheartthanVicBurleigh'smightwellhavequailednow。
　　Thetwowerelostunderground。Whatdeepercavernmightyawnbeyondthem？Whatlengthofdeadwallmightbartheirway？
　　Andmoreterrifyingstill，wasthegrowingsenseofahumanpresence，ahumanmenace，anunseentreachery。AsVicfelthiswayalongthestone，hishandclosedoversomethingthrustintoalittleniche，shoulder-highinthewall。Itseemedtobeasmallpitcherofuniquepattern，solidsilverbyitsweight。
　　Wasitthebootyofsomedeadandforgottenrobberchief，theburiedtreasureofsomeoldKickapooraidingtragedy，orthelootofalivingoutlaw？
　　Victhoughthefelttheoutlineofalettergraveninheavyreliefonthesmoothside，and，forareasonofhisown，droppedthething。
　　Mercifully，hedidnotcryoutatthediscovery，butElinorfelthishandonherarmgrowchill。
　　Adazzlingglare，tokenofthepassingofthestorm'sfireworks，outlinedanirregularopeninginthewallbeforethem，revealingatthesametimealargeroombeyondthewall。
　　"Here'stheholewherewegetoutofthistrap，ElinorWream。Ifsuchabiglightninglikethatcangetin，wecangetout，"Viccried。
　　Hecrawledthroughtheopening，andpulledherasgentlyaspossibleafterhim。Presently，anotherblazelitupthenightoutside，showingacavern-likespacethirtyfeetindimensions，witharockroofabovetheirheads，andalowdoorwaythroughwhichthelightfromtheoutsidehadcomein，andbeyondwhichtherainwasbeatingtremendously。
　　Evidentlytheyhadfoundarearentrancetothiscavern。
　　"Wearepastourtroublesnow，Elinor，"Vicsaid。
　　"There'stherealout-of-doors，andIfeelsureoftherestoftheway。Thisseemstobeasortofcave，andwehavecomeinkindofirregularlybythebackdoorordownthechimney。
　　Buthereweareattherealfrontdoor。Shallwegoon？"
　　Elinorleanedwearilyagainstthewall，wetandcold，andalmostexhausted。
　　"Let'swaitalittle，tillthisshowerpasses，"shepleaded。
　　"Youpoorgirl!Thishasbeenanawfulnight，"Vicsaidgently。
　　Theireyesweregettingaccustomedtothedarknessandtheysawmoreclearlytheoutlineoftheopeningtotheoutsideworld。
　　SuddenlyElinorshiveredasagainthenearnessofapresencesomewherepossessedthemboth。
　　"Let'sgo!Let'sgo!"shewhispered，huddlingclosetohercompanion，whosegriponherarmtightened。
　　Hewasconsciousofalightbehindhim。Glancingoverhisshoulder，hecaughtagleambeyondtheopeningintherearwallthroughwhichtheyhadjustcrept；andinthatgleam，avillainousface，withstillblackeyes，lookingstraightathim。
　　Thelightdisappeared，andheheardthefaintsoundofsomethingcreepingtowardthem。Viccouldfightanymanliving。
　　Naturebuilthimforthat。Hehadnofearforhimself。
　　ButherewasElinor，andhemustthinkofherfirst。
　　Atthatinstant，thedoorwaydarkened，andaformslippedintothecavernsomewhere。Oh，windandrain，andforkedbluelightningandthethunder'sroar，theriver'smadfloods，thesteep，slipperyrocks，andjaggedledges，allwerekindbesidethissecrethumanpresence，cruellysilentandtreacherous。
　　VictorBurleighdrewElinorclosertohim，andwhisperedlow:
　　"Don'tbeafraidwithmetoguardyou。”
　　Eveninthatdeepgloom，hecaughttheoutlineofawhitefacewithstar-brighteyesliftedtowardhisface。
　　"I'mnotafraidwithyou，"shewhispered。
　　Behindthemstealthymovementssomewhere。Betweenthemandthedoorway，stealthymovementssomewhere；butallsostillandslow，theystretchedthelisteningnervealmosttothebreakingpoint。Suddenly，abig，hardhandgrippedBurleigh'sshoulder，andadeadstillvoice，thatViccouldnotrecognize，breathedintohisear，"Goquickandquiet!
　　I'llstandforit。Go!"
　　ItwasoldBondSaxon。
　　ViccaughtElinor'sarm，andwithonestridetheysprangfromthecave'smouthuptotheopengroundbeyondit。
　　Somethingbehindthem，itmighthavebeenagroanorasmotheredoath，reachedtheirears，astheyspedawaydownanarrowravine。
　　Therainhadceasedandoverheadthestarswerepeepingfromtheedgesoffeatheryflyingclouds；andallthesoddenautumnnightwasstillatlast，saveforthegurglingwatersofalittlestreamdowntherockyglen。
　　TheSunrisebellwasstrikingelevenwhentheyreachedthebridgeacrosstheWalnut，andthebeaconlightfromthedomebegantotwinkleawelcomenowandthenthroughthedrippingbranchesoftheleaflesstrees。
　　Afewminuteslater，VictorBurleighbroughtElinorsafelytoLloydFenneben'sdoor。
　　"Wemadeitinbeforemidnight，anyhow，"hesaidcarelessly。
　　Elinorlookedupinsurprise。Theterrorsofthenightstillpossessedher。
　　"Whatahorriblenightmareithasallbeen。Thestorm，theriver，therocks，andthedarkness，andthatdreadfulsomethingbehindusinthecave。Wastherereallyanything，ordidwejustimagineitall？
　　Itwillseemimpossiblewhenthedaylightcomes。”
　　Victorlookedatherwithawonderfullightinhiswide-openbrowneyes。
　　"Yes，"hesaidinadeepvoice。"Itwillseemimpossiblewhendaylightcomes。Butwillitallbeasahorriblenightmare？"
　　"No，no；notall。”Elinor'sfacewaswinsomelysweet。"Notall，"
　　sherepeated。"Itisfinetofeelone'sselfsosafeguardedasIhavebeen。
　　IshallalwaysrememberyouasonewithwhomIcouldneveragainbeafraid。”
　　Burleighturnedhastilytowardthedoor，and，havingdeliveredhertothecareofheruncle，hebadethembothgoodnight。
　　Dr。Fennebenlookedkeenlyaftertheyoungmanstridingawayfromthelight。
　　Hisclothesweretornandbedraggled，hiscapwasgone，andhisheavyhairwasamassofroughwavesabouthisforehead。Thedirectgazeofhisgolden-browneyestookawaydistrust，andyetthefacehadchangedsomehowinthisday。
　　Ahintofanewpurposehadcreptintoit，apurposenotpossibleforDr。Fennebentoread。
　　Buthedidnotethesetofthehead，theerectformandbroadshoulders，andtheeasyswingingstepastheboywentwhistlingawayintotheshadowsofthenight。
　　"Asplendidanimal，anyhow，"theDeanthought。"Willthesoulmeasureuptothatprincelybody？AndwhatcanbethepurportofthismaudlinmouthingofoldBondSaxon？Bondisreallyalovablemanwhenhe'ssober；buthe'svindictiveanduglywhenhe'sdrunk。
　　Icanwaitfordevelopments。Whatevertheboy'shistorymayhavebeen，likethecourts，it'smybusinesstoholdeverymaninnocenttillhe'sprovenguilty；tobuildupcharacter，nottoundermineanddestroyit。
　　Anddestructionbeginsinsuspicion。”
　　CHAPTERVI
　　THEGAME
　　_TrulyyecomeofTheBlood；slowertoblessthantoban；
　　Littleusedtoliedownatthebiddingofanyman_——
　　KIPLING
　　BITTERweatherfollowedthenightofthestorm。
　　Bitingwindsbeatalltheautumnbeautyfromtreeandshrub。
　　Coldgrayskieshungoveracoldgrayland，andaheavysnowfallandapenetratingchillseemedtodestroyallhopefortheIndianSummerthatmakestheKansasNovembersglorious。
　　DennieSaxonwastheonlygirlofthepartywhowasnotaffectedbythestormattheKickapooCorral。ProfessorBurgess，whonarrowlyescapedpneumoniahimself，andwhodislikedirregularclassattendance，tookcomfortinthesightofDennie。Shewassofresh-checkedandwholesome，andshewentaboutherworkpromptly，forgetfulofstormandrainandmuddyways。
　　"Youseemimmunefromsickness，MissDennie，"Burgesssaidonedayasshewasputtingthelibraryinorder。
　　Underherlittlebluedustingcap，thesunnyripplesofherhairframedafaceglowingwithhealth。Shesmiledupathimcomfortably——
　　asmilethatplayedabouttheedgesofhisconsciousnessallthatday。
　　"I'veneverbeensick，"shesaid。"It'sagoodthing，too，forourhouseisaregularhospitalthisweek。LittleBugBuleristheworstofall。Hetookcoldonthenightofthestorm。
　　That'swhyVictorBurleigh'soutofschoolsomuch。
　　Hewon'tleaveBug。”
　　VincentBurgessdespisedthenameofBurleighnow。WhileVic'ssafeescortofElinorWreamhadincreasedhispopularitywiththestudents，BurgesshonestlybelievedthatoldBondSaxon'sdrunkenspeechhintedatsomedisgracethebigfreshmanwouldnotlongbeabletoconceal，andheresentedthehighplacegiventosuchalowgradeofcharacter。
　　Toamanlikehimselfitwasgallingtolookuponsuchafellowasarival。
　　So，hetightenedtherulesandexactedthelastmentalfarthingofVicintheclassroom。AndVic，easilyunderstandingallthis，becausehewasfranklyandfool-ishlyinlovewiththesamegirlwhomVincentBurgessseemedtoclaim，contrivedinathousandwaystomakelifeaburdentotheHarvardman。Ofcourse，BurgessshowednomercytowardVicforabsencefromtheclassroomwhilehewascaringforlittleBug，andtheblackmarksmultipliedagainsthim。
　　ElinorWream。hadbeenillafterthenightofthestorm。
　　VichadnotseenhersincethehourwhenheleftheratLloydFenneben'sdoor。Heknewhewasafooltothinkofheratall。
　　HeknewshemustsometimebewonbyBurgess，andthatshewasborntogentleculturewhichhishardlifehadneverknown。
　　Besides，hewaspoor。Notapauper，butpoor，andluxuriesbelongednaturallytoagirllikeElinor。Thestormoftheholidaywasabalmyzephyrcomparedtothestormthatragedeverydayinhim。
　　Forwithallthehopelessnessofthings，hewasinlove。
　　Poorfellow!Thestrengthofhisspiritwaslikethestrengthofhisbody——unbreakable。
　　Hehadnofearofpneumoniaafterthestormynight，forhewasusedtohardknocks。Andhemeanttogoagainbydaylightandexploretherockyglenandhiddenways，andtofindout，ifpossible，whosefaceitwasthatwasbehindthatcavernwall，whosevoicehadwhisperedinhisear，andwhatlootwashiddenthere。
　　Forreasonsofhisown，hehadmentionedthismattertonobody。
　　Butthecold，wetdays，littleBug'sillness，andthehardstudytokeepuphisclassstanding，tookallofhistime。
　　Especially，thestudy，thathemightnotbeshutoutofthegreatfootballgameoftheyearonThanksgivingday。Sunrisewasstiffinitsscholasticrequirements，andconscientioustothelastdegree。
　　Thefootballteamstoodonmentalabilityandmoralhonor，nolessthanonscientificskillandmuscularweightandcunning。
　　Dr。FennebenwatchedBurleighcarefully，fortheboyseemedtobealwaysonhisheart。TheDeanknewhowtomixcommonsenseandjusticeintohisrulings，sothewordwassentquietlyfromtheheadoffice——
　　thesuggestionofleniencyinthematterofBurleigh'sabsence。
　　Burleighwasgoodforit。Itlaywithhisprofessors，ofcourse，tograntorwithholdscholarshipranking，buttheDeanwouldbepleasedtohavealllatitudegiveninBurleigh'scase。
　　Bugwasbetternow，andVicwasburningmidnightoilinstudy，forthehoursofpracticeforthegameweredoubled。
　　OntheeveningbeforeThanksgivingthecoachcalledVicaside。
　　"Everythingissafe。Onlyonereportnotin，butitwillbeintomorrow。”thecoachdeclared。"IaskedProfessorBurgessaboutyourstanding，andhesaysyourgradesareawayaboveaverage。
　　He'sgottoreckonupyourabsentmarks，butthat'seasy。
　　Alltheteachersunderstandaboutthat。IguessDeanFunnybonefixed'em。Andnow，Vic，thehonorofSunriserestsonyou。
　　Ifyoufailus，we'relost。CanIcountonyou？"
　　Thetigerlightwasbehindthelongblacklashesundertheheavyblackbrows，asVicshuthiswhiteteethtightly。
　　"Countonme!"hesaid，andturning，heleftthecoachabruptly。
　　"Hey，there，Burleigh，holdonaminute，"Trench，therightguard，called，asVicwasstridingupthesteepsouthslopeofthelimestoneridge。
　　"Say，windafellow，willyou!Youinfernal，never-wear-out，humansteamengine。I'montosomethingsyououghttoknow。EvenalazyoldscoutlikeIamgetsacrackatthingsonceinawhile。”
　　"Well，getridofitonceinawhile，ifyoureallydoknowanything，"Vicresponded。
　　"Say，you'renervous。Coachsaysyouspendtoomuchtimeinyournursery；
　　saysyou'dbettergetridofthatlittlekid。”
　　"Tellthecoachtogotothedevil!"Vicspokesavagely。
　　"Say，Coach，"Trenchroareddownfromthehillslope，"Vicsaysforyoutogotothedevil。”
　　"Waittillaftertomorrow，"thecoachshoutedback，"andI'lltakeyoufellowsalongifyoudon'tdoyourbest。”
　　"Now，that'ssettled，I'lltellyouwhatIknow，"Trenchdrawledlazily。
　　"First，ElinorWream，whatDeanFunnybonecalls`Norrie，'isheadingthebunchthat'sgoingtoshoweruswithrosestomorrow，ifwewin。
　　Andyouknowblamedwellwe'llwin。TheycameinfromKansasCityonthelimited，justnow，therosesdid。Theshower'spredictedfortomorrowP。M。”
　　AsuddenglowlightedVic'ssternface，andtherewasnosavagegleaminhiseyesnow。
　　"IsElinorwellenoughtocomeouttomorrow？"
　　Hehadbeencaughtunawares。Trenchstaredathimdeliberately。
　　"Say，VictorBurleigh。”Hespokeslowly。"Don'tdoit!
　　DON'TDOIT!Itwillkillamanlikeyoutogetinlove。
　　Lordpityyou!and"——moreslowlystill——"Lordpitythefoolgirlwhocan'tseethesolidgoldintherougholdnuggetyouare。”
　　"What'stherestofyournews？"Vicasked。
　　"Igavethebestfirst。Coachtellsmeab-so-lute-lee，youareouronlyhope。ThehopeofSunrise，tomorrow。
　　You'vegotthebeef，thewind，thespeed，thehead，andthewill。
　　Oh，youangelchild!"
　　"Thecoachisclever，"Vicsaidcarelessly。
　　"Burleigh，here'stherubaswellastheRub-i-con。DennieSaxon'swise，andshetellsme——ontheside；inside，notoutside——thatyourabsentmarksonBurgess'maparegoingtocutyououtatthelastminute。
　　Don'tletBurgessdothat，Vic，ifyouhavetokillhim。
　　Couldn'twekidnaphimanddrophimintothewhirlpool？
　　OldLagonda'sinterestisaboutdue。Denniejuststoodhergroundtodaylikeacherub，andaskedtheHahvahdUnivusitymanrightoutaboutit。
　　Idon'tknowhowshegotthehint，onlyshe'sinalltheofficesandthelibraryoutofhours，youknow，andwhentheslimonefromBoston，yuhknow，saidashowhehadtostandfirmontheright，yuhknow，oldDenniejustsaysstraightandflat，`ProfessorBurgess，I'mashamedofyou。'
　　Dennie'sabrick。Anddoyouknow，Burgess，spiteofhiscussedthinhide，we'vegottotoughenforhimouthereinKansas；spiteofallthat，HELIKESDENNIESAXON。Theoraclehathorked，thesibylhathsibbed。
　　Butsay，Vic，ifhedoescomedownhardonyou，whatwillyoudo？"
　　"Comedownhardonhim，andplayanyhow。”
　　ThegrimjawandblackfrownleftnodoubtastoVic'spurpose。
　　LateNovemberisidyllicintheWalnutValley。Autumn'sgoldhasallbeenburnedinNature'sgreatcrucible，refiningthelandscapetoawiderangefromfrostedsilvertorichestPurple。Heliotropeandroseandamethystblendwithmistypinkanddaintygray，andthefaint，indefinableblue-greenhueoftherobin'segg，andoutlinedallindelicateblacktraceryofleaflessboughsanddarkenedwaterways。
　　EverysunriseisarevelationofInfiniteBeauty。Everymidday，ashadowysoftpictureofPeace。EverysunsetadreamofOmnipotentSplendor。
　　OnsuchaNovemberThanksgivingday，thegreatgameoftheseasonwasplayedontheSunrisefootballfield，whichalltheWalnutValleyfolkscameforthtosee。
　　Byoneo'clockLagondaLedgewasdeserted，saveforoldBondSaxon，whosatonhisveranda，watchingthecrowdsstreamby。
　　Attwoo'clockthebleacherswerepacked，andthesidelineswerebroadandblackwithagood-natured，jostlingcrowd。
　　Andeveryminutethenumberswereincreasing。
　　TrulySunrisehadneverbeforeknownsuchanauspiciousday，suchrecord-breakinggatereceipts，norsuchsurepromiseofsuccess。Thegamewascalledforhalf-pasttwo。
　　Itwasthreeo'clocknowandtheline-uphadnotbeenformed。
　　Eventhegentlewrangleoverdetailsandeligibilitycouldhardlyhavespunoutsomuchtimeasseemedtothewaitingthrongtobeuselesslywastednow。Evidently，somethingwaswrong。
　　Thecrowdgrewimpatientanddemandedthecause。
　　Outintheopen，thetwosquadswerewarmingupforthefray，whiletheofficialshungfireinagroupbythegoalpostsandtalkedthreateningly。
　　"What'sthematter？"
　　"Whenwillthefreightbein？"
　　"MerryChristmas!"
　　Sothecrowdshouted。Thesongswerewornout，theyell-leaderswereexhausted，andtherooterswerehoarse。
　　"Where'sVicBurleigh？"somebodycalled，andachorusfollowed:
　　"Burleigh!Burly!Burlee!Comehome!Comehome!Comehome!"
　　ButBurleighdidnotcome。
　　"Maybetheyareshuttinghimout，"somebodyelsesuggested，andtheSunrisebleacherstookfire。CallsforBurleighrenttheair，roarsandyellsthatthreatenedtoturnthismostauspiciouscollegeeventintopandemonium，andthejollycompanyintoaveritablemob。
　　Meantime，astheteamswereleavingtheirquartersearlyintheafternoon，thecoachsaidtoVic:
　　"RunuptoBurgessandgetyourgrades，Burleigh。It'samereform，butitwillsavethatgangofgame-cocksfromgettingoneoverus。”
　　IntherotundaVicandVincentmetfacetoface，thecountryboyinhisfootballsuitandbrownsweater，andtheslenderyoungcollegeprofessor，withfaultlesstailoringandimmaculatelinen。
　　Tenminutesbefore，BurgesshadbeeninDr。Fenneben'soffice，whereElinorWreamandagroupoffaircollegegirlswerechatteringexcitedly。
　　"Seetheseroses，UncleLloyd。”ElinorwasholdingupagorgeousbunchofAmericanBeauties。"ThesegotoVicBurleighwhenhegetsbehindthegoalposts。CostlotsofmyUncleLloyd'smoney，butwehadtohavethem。”
　　SmallwonderthattheveryodorofroseswashatefultoBurgessatthatmoment。
　　"MayIspeaktoyouaminute？"Vicsaidasthetwomenmetintherotunda。
　　Burgesshaltedinsilence。
　　"Thecoachsentmeafteryourstatementofmystanding。
　　We'vegotabunchofsticklerstofighttoday。”
　　"Ihaveturnedinmyreport，"Burgessrespondedcoldly。
　　"Sothecoachsaid，allbutmine。I'mlate。MayIhavemyreportnow？"
　　Vicurged，tryingtobecomposed。
　　"Ihavenofurtherreportforyou。”Itwasacold-bloodedthingtosay，butBurgess，thoughfilledwithjealousy，wasconscientiousnowinhisbeliefthatBurleighwasreallyalowgradefellow，deservingnoleniencynorrecognition。
　　"Butyouhaven'tgivenmeanystandingyet，thecoachsays。”
　　Vic'svoicewasdeadcalm。
　　"Ihavenostandingtogiveyou。Youarebelowgrade。”
　　Vic'seyesblazed。"Youdog!"wasallhecouldsay。
　　"Now，seehere，Burleigh，there'snoneedtoactanyruderthanyoucanhelp。”Burleighdidnotmove，nordidhetakehisyellowbrowneyesfromhisinstructor'sface。
　　"Whathaveyoutosayfurther？Ithoughtyouwereinahurry。”
　　Burgessdidnotreallymeanatauntinthelastwords。
　　"Ihavethistosay。”VictorBurleigh'svoicehadamenaceinitsdepthandpower。"Youhavedonethisinfamousthing，notbecauseIdeserveit，butbecauseyouhatemeonaccountofagirl——ElinorWream。”
　　"Stop!"VincentBurgesscommanded。
　　Iforbidyoutomentionhername。You，whocomeinherefromsomebarren，poverty-strickenprairiehome，wheregoodbreedingisunknown。
　　You，topresumetothinkofsuchagirlasDr。Fenneben'sbeautifulniece，whosereputationwasbarelysavedbyoldBondSaxononthestormynightaftertheholiday。You，whoareforcedforsomereasontocareforanunknownchild。You，whosetruecharacterwillsoonbefullyknownhere——
　　ifthisiswhatyouhavetosay，youmaygo，"headdedwithanimperiouswaveofthehand。
　　Themeannessofangerisinitsmastery。BurgesshadmeantonlytodisciplineBurleigh，butitwastoolateforthatnow。
　　Therotundawasveryquiet。Everybodywasdownonthefieldwaitingimpatientlyforthegametobegin。Burgesswasalsoimpatient。
　　TherewasaseatwaitingforhimbesideElinorWream。
　　"I'mnotquitereadytogo"——Vic'sfiercevoicefilledtherotunda——"becauseyouaregoingtowritemycredentialsforthisgame，andyou'lldoitquick，orbegformercy。”
　　"Irefusetoconsiderawordyousay。”Burgesswasfuriousnow，andthewhitefaceandburningeyesofhisopponentwereunbearable。
　　"Iwillnotgrantyouanycredentials，youlow-bornprize-fighter——"
　　AsuddengripofsteelheldhimfastasVictoweredoverhim。
　　Thesoftenedlightofthedomeoftherotunda，wheretheKansasmotto，"_AdAstraperAspera_。”adornedthestainedglasspanes，hadneverfallenonsuchasceneasthis。
　　"Seehere，Burleigh，you'llrepentthisunwarrantedattack，"
　　Burgesscried，tryingtofreehimself。"Bruteforcewillwinonlyamongbrutes。”
　　"That'stheonlyplaceIexpecttouseit，"Vicretorted，tighteninghisgrip。"Notimeforwordsnow。
　　ThehonorofSunriseaswellasmyhonorisatstake，andit'smyrighttoplayinthisgame，becauseIhavebrokennolaws。
　　Imayhavenocultureexceptthatofaprairieclaim；
　　andImaybepoor，and，therefore，presumptuousindaringtomentionElinorWream'snametoyou。But"——thebrowneyeswereablazingfire——"nobodycantellmethatanymanmustrescueagirlfrommetosaveherreputation，northatanydishonorbelongstomebecauseoflittleBugBuler。Uncultured，asIam，Ihavethecultureofacouragethatguardsthehelpless；
　　andill-bred，asImaybe，Ihaveagentleman'shonorwhereverawoman'sneedcallsformyprotection。”
　　Vic'sfacewasashy，forhisangermatchedhislove，andbothwereparalleltohiswonderfulphysiqueandendurance。
　　Inhisfury，thetemptationtothrottlethemanwhohadwrongedhimwasgainingthemastery。
　　"Vic，oh，Vic，they'rewaitingforyou。Turnon!
　　Don'thurthim，Vic。”BugBuler'spleadinglittlevoicebrokethemomentarystillness。
　　Vic'shandfellnerveless，andBurgessstaggeredback。
　　"Wasn'tyoudoodtoVic？Hewouldn'thurtedyou。Heneverhurtedme。”
　　Theinnocentfaceandgentlewordsheldastrangepowerovereachpassion-firedmanbeforehim。