Now the Fardale crowd broke into cheers, for this stand of their team showed that there was no reason to lose courage so soon.
Rivermouth had learned that Fardale’s center was not as weak as had been expected. The reports of previous games had led Rivermouth to believe it would find no difficulty in walking straight through the center of the visitors.
As the teams lined up, the Fardale crowd cheered in unison:
"Ha! ha! ha! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Rigger-boom! Zigger-boom! All hail—Fardale! Fardale! Fardale!"
And the Rivermouth rooters retorted with:
"Riv—mouth! Riv—mouth! Riv—mouth! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! Riv—mouth!"
There was another sudden swaying and clashing; a running figure, aided by interferers trying to get round the end, players in red and black trying to tear their way to the runner, one breaking through and clutching him, and then——
The ball was down, Blair having stopped an effort to go round the left end. No gain had been made, and the oval went to Fardale on downs.
How the visitors cheered then! What was the matter with their team? It was all right! Those Rivermouth fellows hadn’t made such a big thing after all in trying to walk over Fardale!
"Good gracious!" gurgled Teddy Smart. "How sorry I am that they didn’t keep right on rushing through our line! Isn’t it a shame!"