Jabez scowled and remained silent.
The teams lined up. Off at one side, just as Captain Nunn began to give the signal, Dick Merriwell carelessly knelt upon one knee and started to tie the lacing of his shoe. It seemed a foolish piece of business, for, to all appearances, he was utterly unprepared to take part in the scrimmage to follow.
"Now, look at that fellow Merriwell!" said Jabez Lynch, loudly enough to call attention of those about him. "That shows just how much he knows about this game! He’s had luck, but he’s green as unripe cucumbers. He isn’t ready to——"
Jabez stopped short, with a gasp of astonishment. He had not been the only one who regarded Dick Merriwell as unprepared. The Rivermouth crowd had fancied Dick would not be in the coming clash.
What was the astonishment of everybody but the Fardale players to see Shannock deftly whirl and send the ball flying through the air toward Merriwell!
It was a long pass to the side, and looked like a very bad break. But up from his crouching position shot Dick in time to receive the pass handsomely, and like a wild colt he dashed forward, having the oval hugged to his heart.
Rivermouth was taken off her guard. She had fancied the attack would come from the other side.[side.] Before she could recover, aided by very successful interference, Dick Merriwell went round the right end and planted the ball back of the goal-line.
Then Fardale woke up. It was a touch-down! How they did cheer!
And Teddy Smart yelled in the ear of Jabez Lynch:
"Isn’t it too bad that fellow Merriwell is so green! I’m ashamed of him, aren’t you? I think he ought to be fired right off the team for doing anything like that, don’t you?"