"You played like a veteran, my boy! Keep it up!"
Darrell choked a little, for this was the fellow he had declared unfair and prejudiced—the fellow he had believed would refuse to give him a fair show.
"Thank you," he said huskily.
But Dick Merriwell did not give him as much as a look. In fact, since the night Dick had saved him from the ruffianly sailors, Merriwell had treated Darrell like an utter stranger. Hal had been compelled to express gratitude, but Dick declared he did not deserve it, as he had not known who it was he was helping. And the incident had appeared to create a still wider breach between the two, instead of bringing them nearer together.
Frank Merriwell talked to the players during the intermission. He told them that Fairport would be sure to make a desperate attempt to rush them from the very outset of the second half, and he gave a number of the players definite instructions. To Captain Nunn and Quarter-back Shannock he said:
"Don’t forget the ends-around play. It’s a good thing to change your style of playing in the second half, as the enemy will talk over the way you have played, and make preparations to meet your style. If you spring a surprise by new plays, you will have them guessing. They are tricky, and you’ll have to be on the guard all the time, as they are clever in making running passes."
The crowd on the raised seats were singing "Fair Fardale" when the team trotted out for the final half. The band struck up when the young gladiators appeared.
Fairport was waiting, having come out a moment before. No time was spent standing around in the cold. The time for the second half had arrived, and the teams were called onto the field by the whistle.
Now the goals were changed, and Fardale had the advantage of the wind. It was the home team’s kick-off, but now Merriwell was chosen to kick, instead of Singleton. Dick advanced steadily on the ball and lifted it handsomely, sending it full forty-five yards.
Darrell and Kent were off like greyhounds at the proper moment, and they had Marley cornered when he attempted to run back with the ball. It was Kent who brought him down, about twenty yards from the goal-line.