[CHAPTER XXI.]
TRYING TO BE FRIENDLY.
During the forenoon of the day that was to witness the preliminary skirmish with Gold Hill, Frank’s mind was not wholly on his studies. He had been disturbed by his examination of the severed rope, and by the professor’s remarks concerning Jode Lenning and Bleeker. It was impossible for Frank to get away from the ugly suspicions of foul play that had taken hold of him. He felt relieved when Fritz sang out the dinner call, and books and recitations could be dismissed for the rest of the day.
Following the noon meal, Merry collected the football squad and started in to give them a little talk.
“Now, fellows,” said he, “we’re going to have thirty minutes of play with Gold Hill this afternoon, and I want every one of you to be right up on your toes. Gold Hill is going to watch you to see whether you have improved any over last year, and we’re going to keep our eyes peeled for weak points in the Gold Hill team. I don’t think they’ll find out any more about us than we will find out about them, so honors will be easy. Play the game, that’s all. The mesa isn’t quite so good as the O. A. C. athletic field, but it’s plenty good enough for this little try-out. I’m not at all particular whether you win a little sawed-off preliminary set-to like this one, but I am mighty particular that you don’t let Gold Hill win. Hold them.
“Another thing: There has been too much knock-down and drag-out in this rivalry between Gold Hill and Ophir. A petty feeling of partisanship has crept into all the contests between the two clubs, and it has reached a point where it has become a disgrace. It’s up to you, by your actions to-day, to wipe out the bitterness. Colonel Hawtrey is anxious to have an era of good feeling crop out between the rival clubs, and I guess it’s about time something of the sort did crop out if every contest doesn’t end in a free-for-all rough-house. The colonel says the Gold Hill fellows will meet us halfway in friendly sport, and I know that you will do your part to have everything pleasant and agreeable. Mr. Bradlaugh wants it that way, too. He told me so himself, and what he says ought to carry a good deal of weight. Let’s be true sportsmen, fellows, and when the other squad comes over here, just remember that bygones are to be bygones, and that, with this afternoon, we’re setting a new mark in the competitions with Gold Hill.”
A cheer, which tried to be hearty, greeted Merriwell’s remarks. Handy, the captain, stepped out to ease himself of a few words.
“Most of you were up the cañon with me yesterday afternoon,” said he, “and heard the talk I had with Colonel Hawtrey. The colonel’s as fine as they make ‘em, fellows, and he’ll do his part to keep the Gold Hillers in line. I reckon we’ll do ours. From now on, instead of being licked by Gold Hill, every clatter out of the box, we’re going to do some of the licking ourselves. It’s a fine thing to be a good loser, but it’s just as fine, according to my notion, to be a good winner, and show some consideration for the other fellow. Gold Hill never showed us much consideration, but we’re going to forget the habit they used to have of ‘rubbing it in.’ All we’re to remember is that we’re making a cut for a new deal to-day, and that we’re meeting on neutral territory— which is a good place to start the good work. We’re to play thirty minutes, with a fifteen-minute interval between the quarters. Be a credit to Ophir. That’s all.”
The cheering still lacked the vim and heartiness which Merriwell would like to have seen, but the Ophir fellows had a long string of bitter defeats to live down, and they were human, and the remembrance of their fights with the rival club could not be wiped out in a minute. It would take a good many friendly competitions, with both sides showing consideration and forbearance, to bring the relations of the clubs into the zone of true sportsmanship. But that would come, Merriwell felt certain, and to-day would mark the beginning.
It was one-thirty when Colonel Hawtrey rode into camp. He had been notified by telephone that the game was to be played, and he had come personally to help inaugurate the “era of good feeling.” Mr. Bradlaugh had also been notified, but business matters compelled him to remain away from Tinaja Wells. He sent his regrets, however, and warned the Ophir lads that he would expect them to prove that they were true sportsmen in every sense of the word.