All were listening.
"At the signal the ball goes to the left half-back. I have chosen him to take the ball, because it is better to move three men on the right end of the line and only two on the left end, and the left guard will remain with the center to hold the middle of the opposing line as the formation is being made. The attack is to be focused on the center and right guard of the enemy. The quarter will plunge in between left guard and center, with the left half, carrying the ball, right at his heels. The right half must jump behind the left half, grasp him by the waist, and drive him forward, and the full-back follows. The right guard swings back and gets the right half by the waist, adding his weight to the assault. The left tackle swings back in the same manner and adds his force to the plunge. The right tackle does the same, and the two ends swing round and back for the same purpose."
As he talked, Merriwell drew lines illustrating the manner in which every man swung back and formed to advance the ball, making the play so plain that even a novice must have understood his meaning.
"Supposing the center and left guard have been able to hold the assault of the enemy," Merry continued, "seeking at the same time to split them for an opening. Then comes the quarter right through between them, backed and propelled by the force of nearly the whole line and the other backs. But here I will explain how it is that I count on assistance from the enemy, who will also aid—a part of them—in helping forward the ball. As players of our line swing back, it will be natural for the opposing players to follow them up. By swinging skilfully and not letting the enemy through or past, he may be forced to pursue right round and add the impetus of his rush to help hurl the formation forward. Of course, I do not say that a crack team will do this repeatedly and continually, but I believe that, by skilful management, any team may be led to do it several times in a game, and I think the play is one to use in critical moments as a desperate resort. For ordinary occasions the old and tried simple plays will be better.
"This play may be varied as a tandem or a mass. In the latter case, the retreating ends must form round the man with the ball and thrust him forward in a body, at the same time protecting him from assault on either side. The tandem may work well at the start, but two or three trials may give a quick-witted enemy opportunities enough to get on and smash through the tandem formation. Then it will be well to try the mass.
"Now, is there any one present who does not understand the play as I have described it? If so, let him speak up, and I will seek to make it plain in any particular detail."
There was a brief silence, and then Brad Buckhart said:
"A galoot that didn’t understand that would be denser than a Rocky Mountain burro."
Frank smiled a bit.
"I am glad I have succeeded in making it so plain," he said; "but, you know, Fardale has had a difficulty in being quick to take the signals and carry them into effect, some of the men finding it difficult to carry the signals, though our code is one of the simplest. That made it seem possible that somebody might not understand the full details of this play. Fardale must liven up before next Saturday in forming to any kind of a signal. We’re going to meet one of the strongest teams of the season in Viewland, and we must not let them break our string of victories."