doesn’t seem so
“I’ve read,” said Amy, “that freezing was a pleasant death, but it
doesn’t seem so. Maybe, though, it’s painful just at first.” He arose
with a groan and followed Clint down the slope. There were more briers,
and now and then they stumbled over outcropping rocks. The field seemed
interminable, but after awhile Clint bumped into a wall. They climbed
over it and started on again.

“There’s something here and I want to see what it is,” said Clint. As he
spoke he moved forward a step or two and felt around in the darkness.
“It feels like a fence,” he muttered, “a board fence. No, it isn’t, it’s
a house! Here’s a window.”

that it mattered very much if I stayed away once
“I meant that–that I’m not much use out there and it didn’t seem to me
that it mattered very much if I stayed away once. I’m sorry, though, if
I’ve done wrong.”

That scoreless tie did not take place just yet, however. Just now the
second was only finding itself and the ‘varsity romped through or around
it almost at will. The final scrimmage before the Morgan’s School
contest was on Friday and the Varsity had no trouble scoring twice in
twenty minutes of actual playing time. But even then the second was
beginning to show possibilities and the first team fellows were forced
to work hard for the two touchdowns they secured. Coach Robey was
unusually grim that afternoon and so many changes were made in the
line-up of the ‘varsity that Assistant Manager Morton’s brain reeled as
he tried to keep track of the players. It was suspected that the head
coach was far from satisfied with the first-string backs and it was
predicted on the stand that afternoon that before the season was much
older there would be considerable of a shake-up in their ranks. Freer
was looked on as having a good chance to displace Kendall, and St.
Clair, who although he had been playing but one year was developing
rapidly into a clever half, had many partisans who considered him the
equal of the veteran Still.

“An awfully fit-looking lot,” he said. “I like them rangey, don’t you,
Thayer?”

cuts
“Well, I think you will unless you get Robey down on you by too many
cuts.”

“Cheer up!” said Amy. “Faint heart ne’er won the ‘varsity! I’ll bet
you’ll make ‘em open their eyes, Clint, when you get there. One trouble
with you is that you’re too modest. You need to have more–more faith in
yourself, old top. And don’t take ‘Boots’ too seriously, either. If you
decide to return to his aggregation of world-beaters you’ll find he’ll
do a heap of scolding and then fall on your neck. But you won’t do
anything of the sort. I’m no football connoisseur, whatever that is, but
I have a feeling, Clint, that you can play all around Trow and Tyler.
Besides, after Joe Detweiler gets hold of you he’ll do wonders for you.
Joking aside, Clint, I’m awfully pleased. It’s great! And–and it’s so
mighty unexpected, too! That’s what gets me! Of course, I’ve always
known you were bound to become famous some day, but I didn’t suppose it
was going to happen so soon!”

Beaufort turned to Penny again, and again they went at it. It was
in-fighting now. Short, quick jabs for the face and head followed each
other in rapid succession. Then they clinched, Beaufort’s stout right
arm holding Penny against him and his left fist seeking lodgment against
Penny’s face. But Penny, squirming, kept his head down and the blows
fell harmlessly on his skull. Then, wrenching himself free, Penny
stumbled out of the way, pale and dizzy. Beaufort plunged toward him
again wildly. Penny stood still then. A feint at the stomach, and
Beaufort for an instant dropped his guard. Then, and it all happened too
quickly for Clint to follow, Penny’s left shot out, there was a grunt
from Beaufort, another lightning-like blow straight from Penny’s
shoulder and the bully went down on his back, one big leg waving in air
as he tumbled. And in the same instant a voice, cold and measured, broke
the stillness.

“Yes.” Clint had to suppress a smile. “Yes, I’ve heard it often, Durkin.
It did have a good tone; nice and–and clear.”