The boys had only a hazy notion of the way a real game of football was played, but they kept their eyes desperately on the ball. They had no team to play against, as Palmer said it was hard enough to get boys for one team, let alone two, but they had often had great fun knocking the ball around among their own eleven.
“Six-ten-nine-nought,” read Palmer.
He dashed forward, Bobby after him. Together they fell on the ball and rolled over. Then Bobby rose with it tucked neatly under his arm, and began to run. Tim Roon and Charlie 101 Black tried to head him off, slipped, and tripped him.
Bobby had fallen on the ball and he meant to keep it under him. He managed to shake off Charlie Black and half rose, watching his chance to run. Just as he was ready for a dash, a stout, heavy shoe struck him in the side and knocked him down again.
“Foul!” shrieked Bertrand excitedly. “Tim Roon, you’re a cheat!”
Bobby struggled to his feet, blind with anger.
“You––you–––” he sputtered, and rushed at Tim fiercely.