Yorke, on the contrary, was cheering up. Bad as these opening ten minutes had been, he fancied his team was not going to do so badly after all. The new players were working like mad in the scrimmage. Ranger was as quick on his feet in the wet as in the dry; and Corder at half-back had been surprisingly steady.
Before kicking off again he made one or two changes. He moved Ridgway, who was a heavy weight, up into the forwards. Corder, greatly to his delight, was entrusted with the goal, and Fisher major moved up to half-back. The forwards were ordered on no account to break loose, but if necessary to keep the ball among them till time was called.
Then, with his well-known “On you go!” he lacked off.
The ball was almost immediately locked up in a tight, fierce scrimmage. The boys took the captain’s advice with a vengeance, and held the ball among their feet doggedly, neither letting it through on their side, nor forcing it out on the side of the enemy.
At length, however, it could be seen filtering out sideways, just where the captain was hovering outside the scrimmage.
“Let it come!” he whispered. “Look out, Ranger!”
Next moment the ball was under his arm, and before any one realised that the scrimmage was up, he was off with it and among the enemy’s half-backs. The half-backs knew Yorke of old, and closed upon him before he could double or get round them.
“Pass!” shouted Ranger.
It was beautifully done, while Yorke was falling and Ranger brushing past. The enemy’s half-backs were not in it with the fleet Fellsgarth runner, nor was their back; and to their own utter amazement, three minutes later the School placed to their credit an easy goal.
Then did Clapperton and Dangle and Brinkman gnash their teeth till they ached, and Fullerton, standing near, had his gibe.