But then he saw the other girl glance toward him, toss her head and say something in a spiteful manner to her companion, which caused Zadia to shake her head and blush. Then he knew that Dora Deland also fancied Zadia had waved to him.
The cheering broke out again after Uncle Ike’s little speech, and Don looked about for his father. In time he found the doctor, who was watching his son steadily. The doctor smiled a bit and waved his hand, but Don seemed to feel reproach in the smile and it hurt him.
“But I’ll do my best,” he muttered. “Perhaps I may be able to make him proud of me some way.”
The excitement was still great when the two captains drew aside with the referee, who sent a coin fluttering into the air.
“Heads,” said Walker, the Highland captain, and the Goddess of Liberty looked up at him from the ground.
“Your choice,” smiled Sterndale, as the referee picked up the piece of silver.
The wind was now blowing quite strongly from the west, and the Highland captain immediately selected the west goal to defend, giving the ball to Rockspur. The pigskin was placed on the spot in the exact centre of the field, and the two teams lined up amid another uproar of cheering and all kinds of noises.
There was a sudden lull. Those two lines of youthful tigers were gathering themselves for the clash, crouching a bit, leaning forward, teeth set, muscles taut. Sterndale eyed the ball critically, settled himself carefully, went at it and smashed it down the field against the wind with a beautiful kick.
With the plunk of Sterndale’s foot against the leather, which sailed into the air in a long graceful curve, the uproar broke forth again.
The game was on.