Jabez walked away without speaking.
CHAPTER VIII.
MERRIWELL’S RUNNING TACKLE.
The ball was brought out, and, laughing his satisfaction, Captain Nunn gave the honor of a try for goal to the dashing, dark-eyed chap who had made the touch-down.
The cheering of the visitors was stilled as young Merriwell paused before making the kick. For an instant Dick turned, and it was seen that he looked toward the spot where his brother was standing. Frank smiled, and the approval in that smile filled Dick’s heart with a glow.
"He’s proud of me!" thought the boy. "At last he’s proud of me!"
That was all the happiness he asked.
He went at the ball, and sent it over the cross-bar with a most graceful kick, and Fardale was a point ahead of her powerful antagonist.
Two minutes of play remained in that half, and Rivermouth kicked off without delay.
It was the object of Steve Nunn to kill time during those two minutes. Fancying he saw a good opening for a run with the ball, which came directly to him, he caught it and started. But Captain Rogers had avoided every interferer, and Nunn did not make eight yards before Rogers pounced upon him and slammed him to the ground.
Steve went down with such violence that he was somewhat stunned, and the ball escaped from his grasp.