"Can't we avenge our Gideon?"
It was then that Martin, standing timidly on the outskirts of the crowd and drinking in every word of the great ones, remarked boldly:
"For Gideon and the Lord."
He raised a roar of laughter. The school had been working at Judges that term in divinity and the story of Gideon was familiar to all. Martin's allusion to the Israelites' act of revenge was distinctly opportune. The ringing of the prep bell abruptly ended the conversation.
On the following day Randall's put it across Smith's, scoring twenty-eight points to nil. Again the victory was due to forward rushes.
"Not a decent movement in the match," said Spots angrily to Martin. "It's scandalous that the pot can be won by a pack of well-drilled louts."
Randall's began to stink in the nostrils of the whole school, for their elation at their successes was always characteristic. They revelled with a serious, unconvincing revelry. Other houses always celebrated the occasion by demanding and obtaining ices (in mid-December) at the school tuck-shop: it was a tradition and a noble one. Randall's gorged themselves with lumps of bread and ham.
Martin happened to walk back to Berney's just behind Cullen and Neave. He would not have spoken to them had they not turned and addressed him. It was condescension, and he appreciated it.
"Hullo," said Cullen. "What about old Gideon?"
"I don't know," answered Martin. "Can't anything be done."