“Well, you can’t ask me to break up my team just because you happened to have some trouble with one of the men on it.”
“I don’t ask you to break the team up; but you may find it a good plan to give Porter warning to play straight football. Those fellows up there on the seats won’t stand for crooked work.”
“That’s all right,” came with a sneer from Huckley. “We’ll have a snap with your little team to-day, Captain Merriwell. There won’t be any need of our resorting to anything but the simplest kind of football.”
“That remains to be demonstrated. Perhaps you may change your mind later.”
“Time is passing,” said the referee. “The game will begin late now.”
“We’re ready,” announced Dick grimly. “Flip the coin. Mr. Huckley may call it.”
“Heads,” said Huckley, as the coin spun in the air.
“Tails,” announced the referee. “Your choice, Captain Merriwell.”
There was not much wind, and Dick decided to kick off. So Fardale took the ball and the eastern goal to defend.
Singleton kicked, but, in spite of the fact that there was no wind, the ball flew off to one side and went out of bounds. When it was brought back the big fellow took plenty of time and smashed it hard and fair.