"Don’t get mad because you were tackled," returned Hal. "You’re not the whole shooting-match, even if you think so."
But on the next attempt young Merriwell was successful, and he scored the only touch-down of the game.
However, with only a brief time to play, Darrell got through for a run and carried the ball to the twenty-yard line, where he was tackled from behind by Merriwell and stopped.
Then Hal asked to try a field-kick for goal, inducing Cogswell to permit it.
This kick might have been successful, although the regulars knew what was going to happen when Darrell was sent back of the line; but Merriwell broke through, leaped into the air, and blocked the kick in a hair-raising manner.
Darrell felt aggrieved. To him it seemed that he had been singled out by Dick Merriwell, who had taken special pains to spoil his efforts. He did not reason that it was all in the game, and that he had first tackled Dick and handled him in a manner that was not to be expected.
So, when the practise was over, he was not feeling in a most agreeable mood as he walked off the field. To add to his displeasure, he saw Zona Desmond intercept Dick Merriwell and call him over to where she was standing with Doris.
Dick smiled on Zona, but bowed with what seemed slight coldness to Doris.
Hal, who had been approaching, stopped. He was seen, however, by Zona, who laughingly called to him.
"Well, sir," she said, as he drew near, "you see you were mistaken, don’t you? You were given a chance."