Butcloseuponhim，andgainingateveryfoot，isTheDon，thefleetestmaninthe’Varsityteam。ForhalfaseconditlooksasifBunchmustmaketheline，butwithinthreeyardsofthegoal，andjustasheisabouttothrowhimselftowardit，Balfourshootsouthisarm，graspshisenemybythebackoftheneck，andturninground，hurlshimbackwithterrificforcetothegroundandclambersontopofhim。Itisafiercetackle，givinggreatsatisfactiontoallthe’Varsitysupporters，buttononemorethantoMrs。
　　Macgregor，who，assheseestheunfortunateBunchhurledtoearth，exclaimswithquietsatisfaction，"Thatwillbedoingforye，I’mthinking。"
　　"Isn’tsheagreatoldwarrior？"saysLloydaside，totheyoungladies。
　　"TheDon！TheDon！"crythe’Varsitycontingent。"We—like—Don！We—
　　like—Don！"theychant，surgingacrossthecornerofthefieldinthewildestenthusiasm。
　　"Keepback！Keepback！Givehimair。"Thereferee，andthecaptainswiththeirteams，pushthecrowdback，forBunchislyingmotionlessupontheground。"It’ssimplyacaseofwind，"sayslittleCarroll，theMcGillquarter，lightly。
　　"Thewantofit，youmean，"saysbigMooney，haulingCarrollbackbytheneck。
　　Inafewminutes，however，thepluckyMcGillhalfbackisupagain，andoncemorethescrimmageisformed。
　　GraduallyitgrowsmoreevidentthatMcGillisheavierinthescrimmage，butthisadvantageisoffsetbytheremarkableboringqualityofthe’Varsitycaptain，who，uponthebreakupofascrimmage，generallysucceedsinmakingafewfeet，frequentlyoverShock’shugebody。AsforShock，beapparentlyenjoysbeingwalkeduponbyhiscaptain，andemergesfromeachsuccessivescrimmagewithhisyellowhairfiercelyerect，hisfacecoveredwithblood，andalwayswreathedinsmiles。Noamountofhackingandscragginginascrimmagecandamphisardourorruffletheserenityofhistemper。
　　"Isn’theghastly？"exclaimsLloydtotheyoungladiesathisside。
　　"Perfectlylovely！"criesBettyinreturn。
　　"Ah，theoldstoryofthebloodthirstysex，"repliesLloyd。"Hello，theregoeshalftime，"headds，"andnoscoreyet。Thisistrulyagreatgame。"Eagerlythemenaretakenchargeofbytheirrespectiveattendants，stripped，rubbed，slapped，andsponged。
　　UpcomeShockandBrown。ThebloodonShock’sfacegiveshimaterrifyingappearance。
　　"Oh！"criesHelenanxiously，"youarehurt。"
　　"Notabit，"herepliescheerily，glancinginsurpriseather。
　　"Howdoyoulikeit，MrsMacgregor？"inquiresBrown。
　　"Man，laddie，theyareagrandteam，anditwillbenoeasymattertowheepthem。"
　　"Don’tyouthinknowthatShockisalittletoogentlewiththem？"
　　asksBrownwickedly。
　　"Well，itwillnotdotoallowthemtohavetheirownwayaltogether，"sherepliescautiously。"Butrunaway，Hamish，andgetyourselfputright。Thereismuchbeforeyouyet。"
　　"Say，oldman，"saysBrownastheytrotoff，"it’snocredittoyoutobeagreatcentre。You’ddisgraceyourbloodifyouwereanythingelse。"
　　Intothe’VarsitydressingroomstrollsoldBlack，thegreatestcaptainofthegreatestteam’Varsityhaseverseen。
　　"Well，oldchap，"hecallsoutcheerfullytoCampbell，"howgoesit？"
　　"Allright，"saysCampbell。"Theyareagreatteam，butIthinkweareholdingthem。"
　　"TheyarethegreatestteamMcGilleversenthere，"repliesBlack。
　　"Oh，thanks，awfully，"saysCampbell，"buttheyarehardlyuptotheteamoffouryearsago。"
　　"Quite，Iassureyou，andyouareholdingthemdown。"
　　"Doyouthinkso？"Therewasnoanxietyinthecaptain’stone，buttherewasaseriousearnestnessthatsomehowcaughttheearofallthemenintheroom。
　　Blacknoticedit。
　　"Yes，youareholdingthemsofar，withoutadoubt。Theirweighttellsinthescrimmage，andofcoursewedonotknowtheirbackplayyet，andthatfellowBunchCameronisawonder。"
　　"That’swhat！"singsoutlittleBrown。"Butwhat’sthematterwithTheDon？"
　　Immediatelytheroarcomesback，"He’s——all——right！"
　　"Yes，"repliesBlackquietly，"Balfourisswifter，andharderintackle。"
　　"Haveyouanythingtosuggest？"asksCampbell，withareverencewhichamaninthestrugglefeelsforonewhohasachieved。Themenareallquiet，listening。ButBlackknowshisplace。
　　"Notintheleast。Youhaveagreatteam，andyouarehandlingthemperfectly。"
　　"Hearthatnow，willyou？"crieslittleBrown"We’reIt！"
　　"Doyouthinkwehadbetteropenupalittle？"ButBlackisagentlemanandknowsbetterthantoofferadvice。
　　"Ireallycannotofferanopinion。YouknowyourmenbetterthanI。
　　Besides，itisbettertofindoutyourenemy’stacticsthantobetoostuckonyourown。Remember，thosefellowsaredoingsomethinkingatthisblessedminute。Ofcourse，"hewentonhesitatingly，"iftheykeepplayingthesameclosegame——well——youmighttry——thatis——youhavegotagreatdefence，youknow，andTheDoncanrunawayfromanyofthem。"
　　"Allright，"saidthecaptain。"We’llfeel’emfirst，boys。Keepattheoldgame。Closeandsteadytillwegetinsidetheirheads。Watchtheirquarters。They’relightninginapass。"
　　ItturnsoutthatoldBlackisright。TheMcGillshavebeendoingsomethinking。Fromthekick—offtheyabandontheclosescrimmageforatime，playinganopen，dribbling，puntinggame，andtheyareplayingitsuperbly。Whiletheyaresureintheircatchingandfierceintheirtackle，theirspecialtyispuntingandfollowingup。
　　Inthistheyareexceedinglydangerous。Forthefirsttenminutesthe’Varsitymenareforcedwithintheirowntwenty—fiveyardlineandareputupontheirdefence。Thequartersandforwardsbeginto"back，"asuresignofcomingdoom。
　　"Whatinthunderareyoudoingbackhere！"roarsMartintolittleBrown。"Doyouseeanythingwrongwiththisline？"
　　Nothingsomaddensahalfbackastoseetheforwardlinefallbackintodefence。LittleBrown，acceptinghisrebukewithextraordinarymeekness，abandonsthedefenceandwiththeotherquartersandforwards，whohadbeenfallingback，goesupwhereCampbellandShockaredoingtheirbesttobreakthepuntinggameandarewaitingtheirchanceforarun。
　　Everymomentisdangerous;fortheMcGillshavethespiritofvictorystronguponthem，andfromtheirsupportersonthesidelinesthetriumphantandexasperatingrefrainisrising:
　　"Got’emgoing，going，going，Got’emgoinghome。"
　　Andindeedforafewminutesitlookslikeit。AgainandagaintheMcGillforwardline，fedcarefullyandjudiciouslybytheirdefence，rushtotheattack，anditisallCampbellcandotoholdhismeninplace。Seizingtheopportunityofathrow—infor’Varsity，hepassesthewordtohishalvesandquarters，"Don’tgiveawaytheball。Holdandrun。Don’tpass，"andsoonhehastheteamsteadyagainandreadyforaggressivework。Beforelong，byresolutelyrefusingtokickorpassandbyclose，hardtackling，’VarsityforcesMcGilltoabandonopenplay，andoncemorethegamesettlesdownintotheold，terrible，grindingscrimmage。
　　"Oh，whydon’ttheyletTheDonhaveit？"exclaimsBetty。"Iamsurehecouldgetthrough。"
　　Thecrowdseemtoholdthesameopinion，fortheybegintocallout，"Letitout，Alec。LetTheDonhaveit。"
　　ButCampbellstillplayscautiouslyaclosegame。Hismenarestayingwell，andheisconsciousofareserveinhisbacklinethathecancalluponatthefittingmoment。Forthatmoment，however，hewaitsanxiously，forwhilehisscrimisplayingwithbulldoggrititislosingsnap。True，Shockcomesoutofeverytusslebloody，serene，andsmilingasusual，buttheothermenareshowingthepunishmentofthelasthour’sterriblescrimmage。TheextraweightoftheMcGilllineisbeginningsurelytotell。Itisananxiousmomentforthe’Varsitycaptain，foranyseriousweakeningofthescrimmagelineisdisastroustothemoralsofateam。
　　"Youareholdingthemallright，oldchap，"saysoldBlack，takingadvantageofapauseintheplaywhilelittleBrown’slegisbeingrubbedintosuppleness。
　　"I’dliketoopenout，butI’mafraidtodoit，"repliesCampbell。
　　"Well，Ithinkyourbacklineissafeenough。Theirscrimmageisgainingonyou。Ialmostthinkyoumightventuretotryapassgame。"
　　ItisuponthepassingofhisbacklinethatCampbellhasinpreviousmatchesdependedforwinning，andwithordinaryopponentshewouldhaveadoptedlongagothisstyleofplay，buttheseMcGillmenaresohardupontheball，sodeadlyintackling，andsosureintheircatchthathehesitatestogivethemtheopportunitiesthatopenplayaffords。ButhehaseveryconfidenceinTheDon，hisgreathalfback;hehasneverplayedhiminanymatchwherehehasnotprovedhimselfsuperiortoeverythinginthefield，andheresolvestogivehimachance。
　　Atthismomentsomethinghappens，nooneknowshow。Ahighpuntfrombehindsendstheballfarupintothe’Varsityterritory，andfarbeforeallothersBunch，whoseemstohaveakindofuncannyinstinctforwhatisgoingtohappen，catchestheballontheboundandmakesforthe’Varsitylinewithacomparativelyopenfieldbeforehim。FifteenyardsfromthelineheistackledbyMartin，buterehefallspassestoHuntingdon，hiscaptain，who，catchingneatlyanddodgingbetweenCampbellandanother’Varsityman，hurlshishugeweightuponPepper，whoiswaitingforhim，crouchedlowafterhisusualstyle。
　　Thefullbackcatcheshimfairlyandthrowshimoverhisshoulder。
　　Asbothcomeheavilytothegroundthereisasickeningcrackheardoverthefield。TheMcGillcaptain，withPepperhangingdesperatelytohiships，dragshimselfoverthelineandsecuresatouchdownforMcGill。
　　AtoncethererisesawildtumultoftriumphfromtheMcGillcontingent，butafteraminuteortwothenoiseisfollowedbyananxioushush，andwhenthecrowdabouttheprostrateplayersisdispersedPepperisseenlyingonhisfacetearingupthegrass。Twoorthreedoctorsrushinfromthecrowd，andbeforelongPepperiscarriedoffthefield。Hislegisbroken。
　　Anumberofpeoplebegintoleavethefield。
　　"Oh，isn’tithorrible，"groansBetty，turningverypale。"Shallwegohome，Mrs。Macgregor？"
　　Helenlooksattheoldladyanxiously。
　　"HereisHamish，"sherepliesquickly。"Wewillwait。"
　　Shockrunsup，muchdisturbed。
　　"Awful，isitnot？"hesaystoHelen，whoisthefirsttomeethim。
　　"Iamsorry，mother，youarehere。"
　　"Willtheybestopping，thinkyou，Hamish？"askshismother。Thereisashadeofanxietyinhervoice。
　　"No，mother，wemustplayitout。"
　　"ThenIwilljustbewaitingfortheend，"saystheoldladycalmly。
　　"Poorladdie——buthewasbravelydefendinghispost。Andyoumustjustbegoing，Hamishman。"
　　AsShockmovedofftheyoungladiesandLloydlookedatherinamazement。Itwasinsomesuchspiritthatshehadsentherhusbandtohislastfighttwentyyearsago。
　　Acloudofgriefandforebodingsettlesdownuponthe’Varsityteam，forPepperisnotonlyagreatfavouritewiththem，butasafullbacktheyhavelearnedtodependuponhim。Huntingdonisfullofregrets，andatonceoffersCampbellandtherefereetoforegothetouchdown，andtoscrimmageatthepointoftackle。
　　"Hewouldhaveheldme，Iknow，bartheaccident，"hesays。
　　Therefereeiswilling，butCampbellwillnothearofit。
　　"Putoffaman，"hesaysshortly，"andgoonwiththegame。"
　　Bateismovedfromhalftofull，amanistakenfromthescrimmagetosupplyhisplace，McGillmakesasimilarshift，andthegameproceeds。
　　Huntingdonfailstoconvertthetouchdownintoagoal。Batekicksbackintotouch，andwithdesperatedetermination’Varsitygoesintoeventhescore。
　　Campbellresolvesnowtoabandontheclosegame。Hehaseverythingtowin，andtolosebyfourpointsisasmuchalossasbyadozen。
　　"Playtoyourhalveseverytime，"heordersthequarters，andnosoonerisplaybegunthanthewisdomoftheplanisseen。Withabrilliantseriesofpassesthe’VarsityquartersandhalvesworktheballthroughtheMcGilltwenty—fiveline，andbyfollowinghardahighpunt，forcetheenemytoasafetytouch。NosoonerhastheMcGillcaptainkickedoffthantheballisreturnedandagainMcGillisforcedtorouge。
　　ThescorenowstandsfourtotwoinfavourofMcGill，butthe’Varsitymenhavecometotheirstrongestandareplayingwithanaggressivenessthatcannotbedenied。Againandagaintheypresstheiropponentsbehindtheirtwenty—fiveline。
　　"Oh，"exclaimsBetty，"ifthereisonlytimetheycanwinyet。Dofindout，"shesaystoLloyd，"whattimethereisleft。"AndLloydcomesbacktoannouncethatthereareonlysixminutestoplay。
　　"Hamishwillbetellingmethatagameisoftenwoninthelastminute，"remarkstheoldladyencouragingly。
　　AsCampbellperceiveshisdesperatecase，hebeginstoswearlow，fierceoathsathisquarters。Inalltheirexperienceoftheircaptainthe’Varsitymenhaveneverheardhimswear，andtheyawaketothefactthattheyarefacetofacewithasituationentirelyunparalleledintheirhistoryasateam。Theyarebeingdefeated，andabouttolosetheironechanceoftheprouddistinctionofholdingthechampionshipofCanada。
　　FrommantomanCampbellgoesashefindsopportunityhisfacewhite，hiseyesablaze，adjuring，urging，entreating，commanding，inawayquiteunusualwithhim。
　　Anewspiritseizesthemen。Savagelytheypresstheenemy。Theyareneverofftheball，butfollowitashoundsahare，andtheyflingthemselvessofiercelyattheirfoethatineverytackleaMcGillmangoesdowntoearth。
　　ButtryastheymayitseemsimpossibletogettheballtoTheDon。
　　TheMcGillmenhaverealisedtheirdangerandhavemenspeciallydetailedtoblockthegreat’Varsityhalf。AgainandagainTheDonreceivestheball;butbeforehecangetawaythesemenareuponhim。
　　Atlength，however，theopportunitycomes。Byalow，swiftpassfromBrown，MartinreceivestheballandimmediatelytransfersittoTheDon。StraightintothemidstofacrowdofMcGillmenheplunges，knockingoffthehandsreachingforhim，slippingthroughimpossibleapertures，tillheemergesattheMcGilllinewithlittleCarrollhangingontohisshoulders，andstaggeringacrossfallsfairlyintothearmsofbigMooney。
　　Downtheygoallthreetogether，withhandsontheball。
　　"Whatisit？Oh，whatisit？"shrieksBetty，springinguponthebox。
　　"Iamthinkingitiswhattheywillbecallingamaulingoal，anditisapeetywecannotbeseeingit，"repliesthedauntlessoldlady。
　　"Oh，it’sTheDon，"exclaimsBettyanxiously。"Whataretheydoingtohim？Run，oh，runandsee！"andLloydrunsoff。
　　"It’samaulsureenough。TwoofthemhaveTheDondown，"heannounces，"buthe’llholdallright，"headdsquickly，glancingkeenlyatBetty。
　　"Letmego，"criedBetty。"Imustgo。"
　　"Betty，"saysHelen，inalowvoice，"bequiet。"
　　"Oh，Idon’tcare，"criesBettypassionately。"Iwanttogo。"
　　"He’llholdallright，"saysLloydconfidently，andBettygrowssuddenlyquiet。
　　"Ay，thathewill，yonchap，"agreesMrs。Macgregor，standingupandtryingtoseewhatisgoingon。
　　"IfTheDoncanholdforthreeminutesitwillcounttwoforhisside;ifMooneyandCarrollcangettheballawayitwillonlycountone，"explainedLloyd。
　　Aboutthethreeplayersstrugglingonthegroundthecrowdpoursitself，yelling，urging，imploring，shriekingdirections。CampbellstoopsdownoverTheDonandshoutsintohisear。"Holdon，Don。Itmeansthegame，"andTheDon，lyingonhisback，windshisarmsroundtheballandsetshimselftoresisttheeffortsofMooneyandCarrolltogetitaway。
　　Invainthepoliceandfieldcensorstrytokeepbackthecrowd。
　　Theyareswepthelplessintothecentre。Madderandwildergrowsthetumult，whiletherefereestands，watchinhand，overthestrugglingthree。
　　"Stopthatchoking，Carroll，"saysShocktothelittlequarter，whoisgrippingTheDonhardaboutthethroat。
　　"Getoff，Mooney，"criesCampbell。"Getoffhischestwithyourknees。Getoff，Isay，orI’llknockyourheadoff。"
　　ButMooneypersistsinboringintoTheDon’sstomachwithhisknees，tuggingviciouslyattheball。WithacurseCampbellspringsathim。
　　Butashespringsadozenhandsreachforhim。Thereisawildrushoftwentymenforeachother’sthroats。Tooclosetostriketheycanonlychokeandscragandhackeachotherfiercely。Thepolicemenpushin，threateningwiththeirbatons，andthereisaprospectofageneralfightwhenthereferee’swhistlegoes。Timeisup。TheMAUL
　　isover。’Varsityhasitstwopoints。Thescorenowstandeven，fourtofour，withtwominutestoplay。
　　TheyliftTheDonfromtheground。Hisbreathiscomingingaspsandheistremblingwiththetremendousexertionsofthelastthreeminutes。
　　"Timethere！"callsoutShock，whohasBalfourinhisarms。
　　ThesmileisallgonefromShock’sface。AshewatchesTheDonstrugglingindeepgaspstorecoverhisbreath，forthefirsttimeinhisfootballlifeheloseshimself。Hehandshisfriendtoacoupleofmenstandingnear，stridesovertoMooney，andcatchinghimbythethroatbeginstoshovehimbackthroughthecrowd。
　　"Youbrute，you！"heroars。"Whatkindofagamedoyoucallthat！
　　Jumpingonamanwhenheisdown，withyourknees！Forverylittle，"
　　hecontinues，strugglingtogethisarmfreefromthemenwhoarehangingonit，"Iwouldknockyourfaceoff。"
　　MenfrombothsidesthrowthemselvesuponShockandhisfoeandtearthemapart。
　　"That’sallright，Shock，"criesTheDon，laughingbetweenhisgasps，andShock，suddenlycomingtohimself，slinksshamefacedlyintothecrowd。
　　"ItisnotoftenHamishforgetshimselfinyonfashion，"sayshismother，shakingherhead。"Hemustbesorelytriedindeed，"sheaddsconfidently。
　　"Iamquitesureofit，"repliesHelen。"Healwayscomesoutsmiling。"Andtheoldladylooksatherapprovinglyamoment，andsays，"Indeed，andyouareright，lassie。"
　　InafewminutesTheDonisasfitasever，andslappingShockonthebacksayspleasantly，"Come，along，oldfire—eater。We’vegottowinthisgameyet，"andShockgoesoffwithhim，stilllookingmuchashamed。
　　McGillkicksfromthetwenty—fiveline，butbeforethescrimmagethatfollowsisovertimeiscalled，withanevenscore。
　　Thecrowdstreamsonthefieldtumultuouslyenthusiasticoveragamesuchashasneverbeenseenonthatcampus。Bothsidesareeagertogoon，anditisarrangedthatthetimebeextendedhalfanhour。
　　OldBlackgetsCampbellasideandurges，"Taketenminutesoffandgetyourmenintoquarters。"Campbelltakeshisadviceandtherubbersgetvigorouslytoworkatlegsandloins，rubbing，sponging，slapping，untilthemendeclarethemselvesfreshasever。
　　"Nothurt，Don？"inquiresCampbellanxiously。
　　"Notabit，"saysTheDon。"Itdidn’tbothermeatall。Iwaswinded，yousee，beforeIfell。"
　　"Well，"saysCampbell，"we’regoingtogiveyouachancenow。
　　There’sonlyonethingtodo，men。Rush’em。Theyplaybestinattack，andourdefenceissafeenough。Whatdoyousay，Black？"
　　"Ientirelyagree。Butbeginsteady。Ishoulduseyourwholehalfbackline，however，forawhile。TheywilllayforBalfourthere。"
　　"That’sright，"saysthecaptain。"BeginsteadyandpasstoMartinandMcLarenforthefirstwhile，andtheneveryonegiveTheDonachance。"
　　"AndShock，"callsoutlittleBrown，"don’tbeafool，andstopfighting，"atwhicheverybodyroarsexceptShockhimself，who，ashamedofhisrecentdisplayoftemper，hurriesofftothefield。
　　Oncemorethecampusiscleared。Batteredandbloodyastofeatures，tornanddishevelledastoattire，butalleagerandresolved，theteamsagainlineup，knowingwellthattheyhavebeforethemahalfhoursuchastheyhaveneveryetfacedinalltheirfootballcareer。
　　Itis’Varsity’skick。Campbelltakesitcarefully，andplacesitintouchwellwithintheMcGilltwenty—five。Afterthethrowin，theteamssettledowntoscrimmageassteadyasatthefirst，withthisdifference，however，that’Varsityshowsperceptiblyweaker。Backstepbysteptheirscrimmageisforcedtowardthecentre，theretreatcounterbalancedsomewhatbythesplendidindividualboringofCampbellandShock。Butbothteamsarealertandswiftatthequarters，fierceintackleandplayingwithamazingsteadiness。
　　SuddenlyCarrollnipsuptheballandpasseshardandswifttothehalfbackimmediatelybehindhim，whointurnpassesfarouttoBunchontheleftwing。WithabeautifulcatchBunch，neverslackingspeed，runsroundthecrowd，dodgesthequarters，knocksoffMartin，andwithacrowdofmenofbothteamscloseuponhisheels，makesfortheline。
　　BeforehimstandsBatealone。Fromhistall，lankmakeonemighteasilythinkhimnonetoosecureonhislegs。Bunchdeterminestocharge，andlikealittlebullrushesfullathim。
　　ButBate’swholefootballlifehasbeenonelongseriesofdeceptions，andsoheisquitepreparedforthiskindofattack。AsBunchcomesathimhestepslightlyaside，catchesthehalfbackabouttheneck，swingshimroundandlandshimpronewithsuchterrificimpactthattheballfliesoutofhisgrasp。
　　ImmediatelylittleBrownhasit，passestoMartin，whoonbeingtackledpassestoTheDon。Thefieldbeforehimisfulloftheenemy，butTheDonneverhesitates。Doubling，twisting，knockingof，heeludesmanafterman，whilethecrowdsonthelinegrowmoreandmorefrantic，andatlength，clearingthemainbody，hesetsoffacrossthefieldtomoreopencountryonthe’Varsityleft。BehindhimcomeCampbell，Shock，Martinandothers，followinghard;beforehimstandthreeoftheMcGilldefence。Dorion，McDonnell，andMooney。Hehasalreadymadeagreatrun，anditlooksasifhecannotpossiblymakethrough。
　　FirstDorionspringsathim，butTheDon’sopenhandattheendofarigidarmcatcheshimfullintheneck，andDoriongoesdownlikeastick。
　　BigMcDonnellbearsswiftlydownuponhimandleapshighathim，butTheDonlowershisshoulder，catchesMcDonnellbelowthewindandslideshimoverhisback;butbeforehecangetupspeedagainlittleCarrollisclutchingathiships，andMooney，theMcGillfullback，comesrushingathim。Swinginground，TheDonshakesCarrollpartlyoff，andwiththatfiercedownwardcutofhisarmwhichishisspecialtrick，sendsthelittlequarterflying，andjustasMooneytackles，passestheballoverhisshouldertoShock，whoisimmediatelypounceduponbyhalfadozenMcGillmen，butwho，ereheisheld，passestoCampbell，whointurnworksforwardafewyards，andagainonbeingtackled，passestoTheDon。Itisamagnificentbitofplay。
　　Thespectatorshavelongsincepassedallboundsofcontrol，andarepouringonthefield，yellinglikemadpeople。Eventheimperturbableoldladyloseshercalmforamoment，andgripingHelen’sarmexclaims，"Lookatthat，now！Man，man，yonisagrandladdie。"
　　ThereisnochanceforTheDontorun，foraswarmoftheMcGillmenstandbetweenhimandthelineonlyafewyardsoff。Thenhedoestheonlypossiblething。Puttinghisheaddownheplungesintothecrowdinfrontofhim。
　　"Comeon，Shock，"yellsCampbell。Instantlyadozen’VarsitymenrespondtothecryandfallinbehindCampbellandShock，who，lockingarmsaboutTheDon，areshovinghimthroughfordearlife。
　　Therearetwominutesoffiercestruggle。Twentymeninamass，kicking，scragging，fighting，butslowlymovingtowardtheMcGillline，whilebehindthemandaroundthemtheexcitedspectatorswildly，madlyyelling，leaping，imploring，adjuringbyallkindsofweirdoathsto"shove"orto"hold。"InvaintheMcGillmenthrowthemselvesinthewayoftheadvancingmass。Steadily，irresistiblythemovementgoeson。Theyarebeingbeatenandtheyknowit。
　　"Down！down！"yellsbigHuntingdon，droppingonhiskneesonthelineinfrontofthetramping，kicking’Varsityphalanx。
　　Amoment’spause，andthereisamassofminglingarms，legs，headsandbodies，piledonthegoalline。
　　"Held！held！"yelltheMcGillmenandtheirsupporters。
　　ButbeforetherefereecanrespondShockseizesTheDonbelowthewaist，liftshimclearofthemob，andtramplingonfriendandfoealike，projectshimoverthestrugglingmassbeyondtheenemy’sline，whereheisimmediatelyburiedbeneathaswarmofMcGillmen，whosavagelyjumpuponhimandjamhisheadandbodyintotheturf。
　　"He’sin！he’sin！"shrieksBetty，wildlywavingherhand。
　　"Willitbeawin，thinkye？"anxiouslyinquiresShock’smother。"Itwillhardlybethat，Idoubt。But，eh——h，yon’sthelad。"
　　"Down！down！"criesthe’Varsitycaptain。"Getofftheman！Getofftheman！Lethimup，there！"
　　ButtheMcGillmenareslowtomove。
　　"Getup！"roarsShock，pickingthemoffandhurlingthemaside。
　　"Getup，men！Getup！Thatballisdown，"yellstherefereethroughthedin，intotheearsofthosewhoareholdingTheDoninadeathgrip。
　　Withdifficultytheyarepersuadedtoallowhimtorise。Whenhestandsup，breathless，bleedingatthemouth，butotherwisesound，thecrowdof’Varsityadmirersgointoariotofrapture，throwingupcaps，huggingeachotherinecstaticwardances，whiletheteamwalkquietlyaboutrecoveringtheirwind，andresistingtheeffortsoftheirfriendstoelevatethem。
　　"Quitit！"growlsCampbell。"Getoffthefield！Getback，youhoodlums！"
　　MeantimeHuntingdonisprotestingtothereferee。
　　"Iclaimthatballwasfairlyheld，backthere。Balfourwasbroughttoadeadstand。"
　　"Howdoyouknow，Huntingdon？"returnsCampbell。"Yourheadwasdowninthescrim。"
　　"Icouldseehislegs。Iknowhisboots。"
　　ItistruethatTheDonhasapeculiartoeonhisboots。
　　"Oh，"jeersCampbellscornfully，"that’sallrot，youknow，Huntingdon。"
　　"Lookhere，Campbell，listentowhatIsay。IwantyoutorememberI
　　amspeakingthetruth。"
　　Huntingdon’squiettonehasitseffect。
　　"Iwouldneverthinkofchallengingyourword，"repliesCampbell，"butIthinkitisquiteimpossiblethatyoucouldabsolutelyknowthatTheDoncametoadeadstand。"
　　"Irepeat，IcanpickoutBalfour’sbootsfromawholecrowd，andI
　　knowhewasbroughttoastand。Iampreparedtoswearthat。Cananymansweartothecontrary？"
　　"Why，certainly，"criesCampbell，"halfadozenmencan。There’sShock，whowasrightbehindhim。"
　　ButShockthusappealedto，hesitates。Hehasanunfortunateconscience。
　　"Ican’tsayforsure，"hesays，lookingpiteously，athiscaptain。
　　"Weren’tyoumovingallthetime，Shock？"
　　"Well，Iwasshovingallthetime。"
　　"Butholdon，"saysHuntingdon。"WillyousaythatBalfourwasneverbroughttoastand？Willyouswearthat？"
　　"Well，Icannotsayforsure，"repliesShockingreatdistress。"Itwasnotverylong，anyway。"
　　YellsoftriumphantlaughterbreakfromtheMcGillcrowd。