Barbour Ralph Henry - For the Honor of the School: A Story of School Life and Interscholastic Sport стр 8.

What are those? asked Wayne.

Oh, those are nerves; when you cant keep still, you know. Thats whats the matter with Greene to-day. And I dont much blame him; the weathers unfit for practice, and every chap on the team feels like a sausage, and the St. Eustace games a week from Thursday. I heard March tell Gardiner

Is Joel March here? asked Dave.

Yes; see him over there talking to Pigeon Wallace? He said to Gardiner a few minutes ago, Theres one great trouble with that eleven, Mr. Gardiner, and that is that its not the kind that wins. He didnt know I could hear. Of course I wouldnt tell Greene for a house and farm. But March is right; Ive felt that way all the fall. And if March says we cant win, were not going to. Paddy sighed dolefully.

Tommyrot, Paddy! answered Dave. Joel March isnt infallible, and the team may take a big brace before Thanksgiving.

Whos Joel March, anyway? asked Wayne.

Joel March? Why, Joel March is is Say, havent you ever heard of March? exclaimed Dave, in deep disgust. Wayne shook his head.

I reckon not; if I have Ive forgotten it. What did he do run a mile in eighteen and three-fourth seconds or throw an iron ball over Academy Building?

Neither, my sarcastic and ignorant young friend from the Sunny South, answered Paddy, with asperity. But hes the finest half-back in college; and if you knew anything about the important affairs of the day you would know that he made the only score in the Harwell-Pennsylvania game last Saturday, and that he ran over fifty-five yards to do it! Also, and likewise, and moreover, continued Paddy, with great severity, when I was a little green junior, two years ago, I sat just about here and watched Joel March kick a goal from the field that tied the St. Eustace game after they had us beaten. And I yelled myself hoarse and couldnt speak loud enough at dinner to ask for the turkey, and Dave ate my share before my eyes! Thats who Joel March is.

You dont say, responded Wayne, without displaying the least bit of awe. And whos the swell with him?

Thats West, his chum. West is the father of golf here at Hillton, answered Dave, with becoming reverence. I used to follow him when he went around and wish that I could drive the way he could. He was a member of the team that Harwell sent to the intercollegiate tournament last month. Is March going to coach the backs, Paddy?

Dont know; but they could stand it. Theres going to be a shake-up next half, Ill bet. Gardiner says if the second scores on us again before Thanksgiving hell send it to Marshall instead of the first. Gardiners a great jollier. Here we go again like lambs to the slaughter, added Paddy as the whistle blew.

You remind me of a lamb, said Dave; youre so different.

Paddy playfully pommeled the others ribs and then cantered off to the center of the gridiron, where Gardiner, Greene, and March, the old Hillton half-back, were assembled in deep converse.

Want to go back, asked Dave, or shall we stay and see the rest of the practice?

Lets stay, said Wayne. I suppose Paddy is sure of his place, isnt he? I mean they wont put him off, will they?

No; I guess Paddys all right for center. But the big chap next to him, at left-guard, is sure to go on the second, I think. They ought to have made Paddy captain last fall. Greenes an awfully decent fellow, but hes liable to get what Paddy calls the springums. Hes too high-strung for the place. Watch Gardiner now; hes doing things.

The head coach was a big, broad-shouldered man, with a face so freckled and homely as to be attractive. Many years before he had been a guard on the Hillton eleven and his name stood high on the Academys roll of honor. As Dave had said, he was doing things. Four of the first eleven players were relegated in disgrace to the ranks of the second, their positions being filled by so many happy youths from the opposing team. Wayne noted with satisfaction that Paddys broad bulk still remained in the center of the first elevens line when the two teams faced each other for the last twenty minutes of play. Joel March, with coat and vest discarded, took up a position behind quarter-back and from there coached the two halfs with much hand-clapping and many cheery commands. Greene appeared to have recovered his equanimity, and the first eleven successfully withstood the onslaught of the opponents until the ball went to Paddy and a spirited advance down the field brought the pigskin to the seconds forty-yard line and gave Grow, the full-back, an opportunity to try a goal from a placement. The attempt failed and the ball went back to the second, but the firsts line again held well, and a kick up the field sent the players scurrying to the thirty-five-yard line, where, coached by March, Grow secured the ball and recovered ten yards ere he was downed. Later the first worked the ball over for a touch-down, from which no goal was tried, and the practice game ended without the dreaded scoring by the second eleven, much to Paddys relief.

The three boys hurried back together, and Wayne, parting from his companions at the gymnasium, sought his room, reflecting on the athletic mania that seemed to possess every fellow at the school.

Ill have to do something that way myself, he thought ruefully, or Ill be a sort of what-yer-call-it?  social outcast.

Then he recollected that he had forgotten to consult Dave regarding his proposed declaration of right, and was rather glad that he had; because, after all, he told himself, Dave Merton was not a chap that would sympathize with a protest against gymnastics and such things. But that evening, as the two sat studying in their room after supper, Wayne told his plans to Don and asked for an opinion. And Don looked up from his Greek text-book and said briefly and succinctly:

Dont do it!

But, I say, Don, Ive got some voice in the business, havent I? What right has Professor Beck or Professor Wheeler or or any of them got to make me develop my muscles if I dont want my muscles developed? When it comes to study, you know, why, thats another

Well, if youll take my advice youll stop worrying about your rights and obey the rules.

But

Because if you dont, Wayne, youd much better have stayed at home. I I tried asserting my rights once and it didnt pay. And since then Ive tended to my own affairs and let the faculty make the laws.

Just the same, answered Wayne, with immense dignity, I dont intend to put up with injustice, although you may. I shall tell Professor Wheeler just what Ive told you, and

Don looked up from his book with a frown.

Wayne, will you shut up?

But Im telling you

But I dont want to hear. Its all nonsense. And, besides, if youre going to say it all to Wheels whats the good of boring me with it? Talk about injustice, groaned Don, look at the length of this lesson!

Wayne opened his book and, as a silent protest against his friends heartlessness, began to study.

CHAPTER V

PRINCIPAL AND PRINCIPLES

Waynes opportunity to protest came earlier than he expected. When he entered Bradley Hall in the middle of the forenoon to get his French grammar he found an official-looking note in the mail box. It proved to be from the principal and requested Waynes presence at the office at noon. The latter made hard work of the French recitation, and took no interest in the doings of Bonaparte in Egypt for thinking of the approaching interview and strengthening the arguments which were to confuse the principal and put the iniquitous school law to rout.