The teams held each other down well, during the second half, and then Hike got around the San Dinero end with the ball. He had practically a clear field before him. The Santa Benicians were ready to spring up and yell their “hike, Hike, hike!”
But on his shoulder Hike felt the touch of Left Ear’s hand. Left Ear had followed him, close and swift, as interference. There was a kind of thrill in this support from Poodle’s old enemy. Left Ear could make the touch-down, with this clear field and—
Hike suddenly passed him the ball and yelled, “Beat it!” Dazed, Left Ear seized the ball and ran faster than he had ever run before. He was winded when he dropped on San Dinero’s goal-line, but he had made the touch-down that won the game.
A few minutes more of playing, and the Santa Benicians flocked on the field, yelling “Victory!” and carried off Pink Eye, Bill McDever, Left Ear and Hike on their shoulders—though Poodle still declares that it was Hike who got most of the cheers.
What Hike cared for more was the hand-shake of three people: Left Ear, who looked curious about the eyes as he said, “Thanks, old Hike”; Poodle; and—Lieutenant Jack Adeler!
“Just got back in time for the game,” the Lieutenant said. “The country’s been pacified, and the robber bands broken up. But there’s one piece of bad news. Captain Welch got free, and he’s disappeared again.”
“Got free?!”
HIKE PASSED “LEFT EAR” THE BALL AND YELLED “BEAT IT!”
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