But what could Fardale do? The question was soon answered. Captain Nunn realized it would be a very bad thing to permit Rivermouth to secure the ball again in that immediate neighborhood, and he resolved to see what Dick Merriwell could do in the line of punting. So the ball was snapped back and passed to Dick.
In that most exciting moment the boy seemed cool as a cake of ice. With those Rivermouth fellows tearing their way through to tackle and slam him to the ground, Dick turned the ball till it was just right, dropped it correctly, and kicked it at precisely the proper second. He did not see the result of the kick, for three wolves of the Rivermouth pack came through and slammed him down. He saw stars, though.
The spectators uttered a cry of admiration, for never before had such a beautiful punt been made on that field. Through the air the ball sailed until it was caught by a Rivermouth player one yard from the center of the field.
Kent had made a fast run down beneath the ball, and he was on hand to bring to earth the right half-back of the home team before the latter had advanced more than six yards.
Exasperated by the success of Fardale, Rivermouth attempted to resume their heavy mass-plays; but now there was a change. The first effort secured no ground. The second made a gain of five yards; but right there Rivermouth stuck.
A double pass was tried, but Fardale discovered the trick and spoiled its effectiveness. Still the home team was confident and refused to kick, whereupon the ball went to Fardale on downs twelve yards from the center of the field.
By this time Captain Nunn realized that something out of the ordinary must happen to save the day. Rivermouth had a lead of four points, and she had kept Fardale fighting on the wrong side of the field fully nine-tenths of the time during this half.
In his heart, Jabez Lynch had one satisfaction, for he felt that Fardale had no show of winning. Like Zeb Fletcher, however, he was angry because Merriwell had found so many opportunities to make brilliant plays. Unlike Fletcher, he did not leave the field.
Having secured the ball, Fardale smashed into Rivermouth with such sudden energy that a clean gain of seven yards was made. Still the ball remained in Fardale territory.
But now came a clever piece of passing and a fake assault on the center of Rivermouth’s line. Apparently Nunn had the ball, but he passed it behind him to Merriwell, who slipped like a flash round the home team’s right end and was off. The trick was discovered quickly, and after Dick started the whole pack.