"I am afraid our boys will have their work cut out for them in this game," remarked Mr. Crews to Colonel Colby.
"Well, our boys look pretty fit," answered the master of the Hall.
By the toss of a coin, Columbus Academy won the choice of position, and took the west goal, the slight wind that was blowing being in their favor. Then the two teams lined up for the kick-off.
"Now then, boys, show 'em what you can do!" yelled the Colby Hall cadets, and then the school slogan rang out on the air.
"Put it all over 'em, boys!" yelled one of the Columbus Academy followers. "Come on now, all together!" he added, and started up a song, the refrain of which contained the line: "We're here to-day to bury them!"
"What an awful song to sing!" remarked Ruth.
"Oh, you mustn't mind that," returned Andy, gaily. "He sings best who sings last, as the cat said to the bird."
It must be confessed that both teams were rather nervous at the outset of the contest. The play was decidedly ragged, and one or two mistakes were made, which, however, profited neither side anything. The ball was carried first to the Colby Hall 10-yard line, and from there it went back to the Columbus 15-yard line, and then it sawed back and forth until eight minutes of the first quarter had passed.
"Gee! this begins to look like a blank," was Spouter's comment.
"So it does," returned Dan Soppinger. "Say! can any of you tell me why the——"