For the first time, a little appalled, he felt the weight of the seriousness, the deadly seriousness of the American spirit, which seizes on everything that is competition and transforms it, with the savage fanaticism of its race, for success.
CHAPTER VII
After a week of grueling practise, the first game of the season came like a holiday. Stover was called out after the first few minutes, replacing Bangs, and remained until the close. He played well, aided by several fortunate opportunities, earning at the last a pat on the back from Dana which sent him home rejoicing. The showing of the team was disappointing, even for that early season. The material was plainly lacking in the line, and at full-back the kicking was lamentably weak. The coaches went off with serious faces; throughout the college assembled on the stands was a spreading premonition of disaster.
Saturday night was privileged, with the long, grateful Sunday morning sleep ahead.
"Dink, ahoy!" shouted McNab's cheerful voice over the banister, as he entered the house.
"Hello, there!"
"How's the boy wonder, the only man-eating Dink in captivity?"
"Tired as the deuce."