Dick was disgusted, for once before during the season had the same trick been worked on Fardale, and the members of the team had talked it over till they felt certain that they were fully prepared for a repetition of it. Both Cogswell and Buckhart had been fooled by the clever passing of the enemy, and that explained why they had made the opening at center.
Dick was off after Emerson like a flash, but the full-back of the opposing team had obtained a big start. However, the watching crowd was electrified by seeing Dick Merriwell fairly flying in pursuit of the runner and swiftly closing the gap.
Two girls on the seats rose and screamed in excitement.
"He’ll catch him!" cried Zona. "I know he will!"
"He’ll catch him!" echoed Doris, waving her flag. "Oh, how he can run!"
Dick strained every nerve, for he saw the case was desperate. Emerson was a swift runner, and he drew nearer and nearer to the Fardale line.
The spectators were shrieking as Dick Merriwell shot forward through the air and tackled Emerson, dragging him to the ground. Then it seemed that half the players on the field, who had been trailing out after the runners, came and slammed themselves down on the two.
When the piled-up mass of humanity had untangled it was found that Emerson, although thrown inside the line, had managed to reach out with the ball and was holding it on the ground six inches beyond the line.
"A touch-down!" shouted the Fairport crowd in joy.
Dick Merriwell’s splendid run had not availed to stop this score.