The number sounded ominous; so did the cheer that was designated by it. The Gridley H.S. boys on the grand stand responded hardly more than half-heartedly:
_"Com-pan-nee served first!
That's our steady rule!
Manners the best are taught
In Gridley school!
"But he who waits laughs best!
'Tis but a distance short
'Twixt laugh and weep—-
Your joy'll be short!"_
"H.S. cheer!" exhorted Prescott, at once.
It came, with a more thundering volley. Yet Gridley folks stirred uneasily.
"That's what comes of putting a freshman, without judgment, on the calling job," muttered Fred Ripley sarcastically.
The whistle blew. Cobber got the ball, and kept it moving. Once there was a brief setback when Gridley got the pigskin and sought to push it back. After four yards, however, Cobber took it and moved down the field with it.
It seemed impossible to offer effective resistance to the heavy college men now.
Gridley hearts sank from sheer weight. Gridley had met more than its match!