They were simple words, but the way in which they were spoken, and the look that accompanied them, thrilled the youth to the heart, and he went down to the dressing room on feet that seemed to be walking on air.
"Now then, boys, I expect every one of you to do his level best," said Gif. "Hixley High has been bragging everywhere that it has a superior team this year and is going to walk all over us. I want you to play with vigor from the very start;" and then followed a number of directions concerning plays and signals, to all of which his eleven listened earnestly.
When the Colby Hall team came forth, they were given a loud round of applause, and this was repeated when Hixley High showed itself. The high school boys were nearly all seniors, and a glance sufficed to show that, player for player, they were quite a few pounds heavier than the cadets.
"If our eleven wins this game they will be going some," was Fatty's whispered comment to a fellow cadet.
"You're right there," was the answer. "Those chaps certainly look pretty husky."
It is not my intention here to give the particulars of this game with Hixley High, interesting as it proved to be. It was not the big game of the season—that was to come later. During the first quarter, the playing on both sides was rather rough and ragged, each school doing its best to wear its opponent out at the very start. In these onslaughts the weight carried by Hixley High told, so that when the whistle blew the score was 6 to 3.
"Hurrah! Hurrah!" came from the supporters of the high school. And again and again they boomed out with their slogan.
"This game isn't over yet!" cried one of the followers of Colby Hall.
"We haven't begun to play yet! Just watch us in the second half!" added another cadet.
"Oh, dear! I thought Colby Hall would score, sure!" pouted Ruth.