Nevertheless, when a half-back came suddenly around the end with the ball a moment later, and the whole crowd, as it seemed, after him, Allan found but one thing to do. This was to swing promptly, and leap at the top of his speed for the side line.
It was a close shave. Allan felt as if he had dodged a cyclone.
Fortunately he had some knowledge of the game, “and knew which way to run,” as he told Merring afterward.
“Oh, you are a great success!” Merring said, with a laugh. “Your dodging is the feature of the day.”
“An incredibly quick scattering of the players.”
However, Allan found it to be impossible, with his limited experience, to get close-quarter pictures. He knew it worried the players to see him too close, and he felt that with the weakening light he could not use the highest speed of his camera shutter. Close quarters meant a blur. Distance meant small figures. Yet this was the best that could be done.
To make best use of the light, too, he shot rapidly,—and this had its natural results when he came to develop his films.
“I wish,” said Merring, toward the close of the practice, “that you would catch this next play—it’s a new trick the Captain is going to try; I know he has planned it, and if I shout ‘Now!’ you let her go as quickly as you can.”
The elevens lined up again, and Allan crept as close as seemed safe.