"All here," answered several.
Thereupon Dow closed the door and locked it.
"That will save interruptions," he said. "Now, go ahead, Mr. Merriwell."
Frank Merriwell advanced to the platform, calling the members of the team down to the front seats near him. The afternoon light that sifted through the windows was beginning to fail, and shadows were gathering in the corners of the room.
"It is my intention," said Frank, plunging into his subject at once, "to introduce and attempt several new and untried plays this season. If you will remember, it was the introduction of a new and surprising play, the tandem, that gave the University of Pennsylvania such an advantage over unprepared opponents a few seasons ago. The tackles-back formation has been very effective at Yale. The flying wedge, until it was barred by the rules, was a terrible ground-gainer. Any one that understands football may devise new formations, but not everybody can work out plays that will prove successful. I am willing to admit that not all the new plays I have devised have been winners; but I believe I have struck a play that will prove a good one with any team until that team gets onto the trick. If I am not mistaken in studying out the results of this play, it will cause a portion of the opposing team to play against itself."
This statement created a sensation, the listening lads looking at each other in surprise.
"I reckon that must be a corker," said Brad Buckhart.
"Of course," Merriwell went on, "this will be prevented very quickly by any first-class team when it sees through the trick and realizes what is being done, but before another team can find out an effective way of smashing the formation the game may be won. I call the new play ‘ends around,’ and will now proceed to illustrate it to you here on this board."
Then, with a piece of chalk, Frank drew the line-up of a team on the blackboard.
"Now," he said, "pay close attention to my description of the play, for I want every one of you to get onto it so well that there will be no confusion when we put it into practise to-morrow."