Taken all together, the material that composed the team was as good as most small country towns could furnish. It remained to be demonstrated what Sterndale and Renwood could make of the material.
When every player was in position, the ball was placed on the ground between Chatterton’s feet, and the crouching men waited for the signal.
“I want you to form and run forward with the ball ten or fifteen feet, just the same as if you were in a game,” said Dick, now taking command of them. “Ready!”
They crouched in anticipation, and then Dick quickly called off several numbers, whereupon, with a skillful movement, Chatterton snapped the ball into Renwood’s hand and he passed it to Mayfair, who started like a flash, hugging it under one arm and plunging after the men who formed in front of him and rushed forward as interferers.
Jotham Sprout seemed rather bewildered, and, as a result, he blocked Linton and fell over his own feet, while the others surged across his body, giving him several knocks and kicks, which caused him to sit up and howl.
“Say, what in time do you fellers take me for? Ev’ry dinged one of you kicked me or stepped on me! I bet a dollar my wish-bone is dislocated!” he moaned, rubbing his fat stomach.
“You’ll have to keep awake if you’re going to play this game,” sharply declared Renwood. “Better try that over again, Captain Sterndale.”
“Line up again,” ordered Dick. “Now mind your p’s and q’s. You’ll have to start quicker, Bubble.”
“I can’t start as quick as Chat,” confessed Jotham; “but it’s going to take more to stop me when I get going.”
When the men were lined up again, the signal was repeated and the play was carried out in a far more satisfactory manner. Then the signal was changed so the ball was passed to Scott for practically the same kind of a play.