The other players, spread out and strung out, were coming after him. In that moment, when success seemed certain, Dick slipped. He had kept his feet in turning, twisting and dodging, but now he slipped and came near going down. He was up and away again, but Austin was close upon him.
“He’ll make it!”
“No, he won’t!”
“Austin has him!”
It was true that Austin had made a beautiful tackle, catching Dick about the legs and bringing him down so near the goal-line that another bound would have carried the ball over.
Then the pursuing players came pouring down upon them. In the lead was Porter, New Era’s right end.
Porter jumped into the air to come down on Dick with both feet, evidently hoping to put Captain Merriwell out of the game.
As Porter jumped into the air Dick rolled to one side, seeking to break Austin’s hold on his legs.
That saved him from serious injury. Porter struck him with one foot only, and then, as he reeled to fall, Brad Buckhart booted him with all the strength of a muscular leg, lifting him clean over the goal-line.
There was a mad roar of rage from the cadets who had witnessed Porter’s dastardly act. Another roar of satisfaction as they saw Buckhart lift the fellow with a swinging kick. Then it seemed that those watching lads would rush down from the seats and come pouring on to the field.