The visitors had played a rushing, thumping, rough-house game. At first the cadets had met them in this business, but they lost spirit when Uniontown kept the ball in the territory of the home team nearly all the time, seeming altogether too heavy and strong.
Dick was desperate. He was determined to do something to bring about a change. With the team as it was, he had small hopes of winning. Strangely enough, all through the first half, for all of the rough tactics of the visitors, no man was knocked out so that he was forced to retire from the game.
Brad walked off the field by Dick’s side when the half was over. The gym was near enough for the men to run over to it, and this they did.
“The jig is up, pard,” said Buckhart. “They’ve got us! And it is all the work of that dirty dog Arlington! He has ruined the team! I swear it would have been better if I had cheated and kept him from getting on the committee!”
Dick did not seem to hear Buckhart’s words. He was thinking swiftly just about then.
“We must win this game! I am determined to do it!” he muttered.
“No matter how determined you are,” said Brad, “you can’t do it with this team as it stands.”
Dick heard this, for he nodded. Reaching the gym, Dick found two fellows ready to give him a rubbing if he wished it.
“We’ll cut it out,” he said. “You fellows go for Hal Darrell. Bring him here.”
Then he turned to Brad, asking: