The question remained unanswered, but Tod continued to ponder over it.
The work of the Fardale team in the first half had been anything but satisfactory to Frank Merriwell, and he was fearful that the second half might prove even more disastrous. However, he did his best to encourage and liven the men while they were being rubbed down during intermission.
"That’s all right, pard," said Brad Buckhart, in his breezy way; "but there’s no use denying that this here team is weakened mightily by the loss of that boy Dick. Why, he’s a holy terror on ten wheels, he is! If he could get into the round-up now, we’d have those galoots milling before the next half was quarter played. You hear me shout!"
Captain Nunn came to Frank.
"We need Dick," he said. "I can see a big difference in the team without him."
"He wanted to play, badly enough." said Merry. "He was begging the doctor to let him come out not an hour before the game began."
"Is he going to be sick long?"
"I think not."
"It’s queer he was taken so suddenly. What did the doctor say was the matter with him?"
A grim look came to the face of Frank Merriwell.