Nursing it carefully, he dashed in, that he might have a less difficult angle from which to try for goal.
“Get him! Block him! Don’t let him score!” cried Socker to his team-mates, and with a rush they skated down upon Harry with tremendous momentum.
For several moments, Jerry watched the strange play of his opponents—for they had left their positions uncovered; then it dawned on him what their purpose was and he charged down to Harry’s rescue, at the same time shouting:
“Shoot it across, Watson! Shoot it across!”
With a deft twist of his wrist, Harry sent the rubber spinning over the ice just in front of Socker and his players.
But instead of checking themselves and going after it, they continued straight at the new student.
Surprised, but believing that their speed was such that they were unable to turn quickly, Harry grinned at them, wheeled on his right skate with a suddenness that would have done a professional proud, and sought to go around them.
Clever as was his move, however, it came too late.
With terrific force, Socker, Elmer and another boy crashed into him—and as they all went down, there was a resounding whack.
“Pretty raw work, Craven!” snapped Jerry, as he caught the richest boy in Rivertown High School by the collar and jerked him off the pile.