Dick had his men pretty well warmed up at the end of ten minutes and plays were going off fairly smoothly. Then, down near the east goal, came the first serious mix-up in the back field. Showers, playing full-back, had received the ball from centre direct and was to make the wide-turn run outside his own left end, the two half-backs going ahead as interference. It was a play that had already been gone through half a dozen times that afternoon. But now for some unknown reason Halden, instead of sweeping around to the left in the wake of the other half, plunged straight ahead at the right guard-tackle hole and emerged triumphantly beyond. His triumph ceased, though, when he saw Showers and the right half-back trotting along a good fifteen yards distant. He pushed through toward Dick, who had been engaged with a mythical opposing back, scowling darkly.
“You called for a straight buck!” he challenged.
“Wrong, Halden,” replied Dick quietly. “I called for a run outside left end and you were supposed to be in advance of the ball.”
“You got your signal wrong, then!”
“I don’t think so. Everyone else understood it. We’ll try it again presently, Halden. See if you can get it right next time.”
“I got it right that time. I heard the signal, and it was——”
“Hire a hall, Sandy,” advised a lineman. “You were all wrong.”
“I was not! Bates doesn’t give the signals so anyone can get them, anyway. He talks down in his boots!”
“Never mind that, Halden. Signals! 9—11—You’re out of position, Halden. Come on, come on!”
“What’s eating you? I’m in position!”