"When the old wagon went to smash we thought we were surely out of the game," said Dave. "But a few minutes later a man came along in that automobile, and we stopped him and got him to promise to bring us here. We would have gotten here in time for the first half only something got the matter with the auto's batteries."
"Dave, some enemies played that trick," said Phil.
"No doubt of it."
"They wanted us to lose the game."
"Of course," said Babcock.
"Do you suspect any of the Rockville fellows?"
"Not yet. I am going to investigate after this game is over."
"And I am going to investigate, too," added Dave. "Why, we might have been killed!"
The youth who had taken Dave's place on the eleven was perfectly willing to retire, feeling that Oak Hall was going to lose anyway. Babcock took his old place.