"Twelve-nine-seventeen—-twenty-eight—-four!" called Dave Darrin.
Then the scrimmage was on in earnest. As soon as the play had properly developed Mr. Morton blew his whistle, for this was practice only in the signal part.
Then Hudson took the ball and Dalzell called off:
"Nine—-eight—-thirteen—-two!"
Again the ball was put in play, to be stopped after ten seconds.
So it went on through the afternoon's work. The substitutes on the side lines watched with deep interest, for they, too, had to learn all the signal work.
Within three afternoons of practice Dick had nearly all of his players so that they knew every signal, and were instantly ready to execute their parts in whatever was called for.
But there was no danger of knowing the signals too well. Captain
Prescott still called out the squad and gave signal work unceasingly.
"The Gridley boys never jumped so swiftly to carry out their signals before, Captain," spoke Mr. Morton commendingly.
"I want to have this line of work ahead of anything that Tottenville can show next Saturday," Dick replied.