The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7883, 27 July 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

•. the pull back. (Continued). . For awhile he lay without moving. Ttr.n, Httle by little, he noticed that it was growing brighter, and a gasp earns from bis lips. Why, Urn was morning ; In most haw slept all Soon it would be daylight, an,l—then be renumbered the game. With a cry tbat echoed through tbe loom b« sat up, and reaching forward orer bis bed-clothes hj« placed bis fingers tenderly round his bandaged ankle. The sua rose ooi o! the east and ipiit its light sret the earth. The world outside was awakening. In another hour the air was full of talk, of laughter, and of College •beers. He expected the doctor any moment. But tbe aornißg drifted on slowly, unrelenting, without Doctor Nr-lson coming near him. One of tiie school attendants came with bis dinner, but he sent it back untasted. Little by little the noise died away, and he knew the crowd was off to the game. The thought sent a pang to his heart. With a •ob he pressed lire fingers into (lie tendons ef his ankle. There was no grin now, not soreness. If the octor bed come, he would surelv : have played. After a wbil# he reached over the side of the bed an) picked up his watch from a table. Half-past three? !*. the fiat half must he about over. And than, ae theogh in keeping with tbe thoeght, a faiat cheer that was akin to a shout of rielory, came roiling in with the breeze. Drawing himself np, hj» listened. Was it the heavy "Rah! RahT Rah!" of the Rhlgefield School 1 At first he could not bear, but in a moment it cause •gain, indistinct but unmistakeable, tbe joyous shout of the rival Dean Academy boys: J ' "Brek-eo-ax-co-ax-eo—'" He lay back and stared up at the ceiling. Suddenly he heard the patter of quick, nervous footsteps outside bis room, and as he turned his face towards the door, it swung violently open. Doctor Nelson was r standing on the threshold. "Yqut toot —" be began abruptly, and in a flash Roberts swung out of bed, -hesitated a moment, and then I walked rapidly aeross the room. The pain began to shoet through his leg again, but he foreed a smile to his lips. "All right," he said. ; "Sure ?" i The boy took another step forward K~ ami the Doctor heaved a sigh of res lief.

' Dress," he cried. "Hnrry, Bobbie hurry ! We need you. We held them down to one touch-down, but the boys are weikoaUg. Hurry !" Roberts laughed, joyously and began fumbling for his football togs. Tho cKrtb binding was taken from bin ankle, an clastic bandage took its place, and then, with his shin protectors strapped on and a nose guard in his band, he followed the Doctor out into Mm tall. A feeble, stifled cheer greeted him as he came out on the field. The stands and blecchcru seemed to be a waring field of yellow ; only here and there eould tw catch a glimpse of the RMgefietd blue. He shut his teeth bard , he would win. Urek-co-ai-co-ai-co-ax" rolled out from U» stands and he turned away. He wanted to have a few words with the professor, but before he cr.uld find him In the crowd, the whistle blew, and with the eleven at at bis-hack, he trotted out on the gridiron.. Litths-x Englistf, the quarterback kicked 08, and bv magnificent dodging, a Dean palyer ran the ball back to the centre of the field. The yellow stands were cheering again, and Roberts's lips began to tremble. "Hold them," he muttered. "Hold them !" But on the first play they went past Davis, the guard, for five yards and Roberts groaned. Now hurdling tlie lino, now pounding the centre, little by Httle the Dean players carBed the ball down the field. His eyes were on the ball, and as the Dean quarterback fumfclcd, a cry of triumph broke from his lips. ."Davis be cried. "Davis !" A dozen Dean hands were reaching for the bounding pig-skin, but, bursting past his own centre, he threw himself is their way. Out the corner of bis eyes he saw Davis stoop abruptly, and then begin to run and M a sudden wild "Rah ! Rah ' Rah !" broke out in the stands, he struggled to his feet and trotted to where the two elevens were piled high in a squirming mass. Great patches of wavisg Mue could now be seen around the field, and as they lined up again, a grim little smile wan on his lips. Davis bad been downed on Dean's fifteen yard line. Roberts and little Knglish took in the situation at a -glance. Their own players were tirP* yd Panting, the Dean boys were fresh and eager. It would be folly to 9&H] the Rtdgefeld boys against ihaMino. There was only one thine to do. 6 Roberts stepped back, and the teams bent down. Suddenly the eleven strained forward, and catching the significance »l the movement, he tltrust out his hands anil caught the bill an it snapped back to him He *aw the Dean line rise, he saw his own players scattered like dull before the wind, and then, lifting his loot he tooted the hall over the treads of the advancing' host. One moment he saw it sail free toward trie bar, then the Dean line struck him and carried him to earth. The field was a sea of waving blur when be regained hijj. [ret anil he knew he had kicked his goal. The score was now si* to five. Ridgelieid was only a point behind. It was now a sighi for bin.-:! Roberts's heart was healing with the joy of battle ; the cheering of 11.\crowd and the waving of the flags sent the wine of life through lib veins. He looked at the eleven. \ moment before, the Dean rush had trampled them on the ground ; now ffieir faces ware alight with hope, and their eyes were dancing with excitement. The full-bark drew a deep breath and clinched his fists. 'We'll wis," he told himself, "we •will win." Again the ball was put in plav.

how pushing relentlessly down the iiuld, now sturdily resisting the j rushes of their opponents, the Khlgefleld elr\cn contested every foot of ground. Twice the Dean boys saved their goal by kicking; once they, held for downs on their five yard line, and then carried the ball to the centre of the field by straightline plunges. it was their last effort, for they had shot their bolt. Back to the attack eame Ridgefield, unresistable, undeniable. Now Browning would hit ttie centre, now Roberts would circle the end. Steadily the Dean line rolled back ; slowly but surely, the ball was carried down the field. Yellow and blue flaps were Hying everywhere. The people were cheering themselves hoarse, and the voices oi the linemen could not be heard. In one of the stands the professor was fumbling with his glasses and trembling with excitement. Out on the side-lines, the Doctor, watch in hand was following every play. A lull came in the storm oi cheering. He threw back his head and began to shout. "Roberts ! Roberts ! Only two more minutes to play -!" The iull-fcack heard and understood. The eleven was just rising from a scrimmage, and leaning forward, lie whispered in the quarter-back's ear. Little English noddid The teams lined up again. Then, from out that packed mass, came tinquarter's piping voice : "Seven, fourteen, B, twenty-four—" In a flash the ends and centre had shifted, and the tackles had torn a hole in the Dean line. With his interferes all around him, Roberts took tbe ball as he ran, and plunged into tl<e opening. Some one l.eid him by the thighs, but he broke the hold. Then, dodging, squirming, hi' ploughed through tbe backs and shook himself free. In a moment he was flying down the field. A mighty roar sounded in his ears. Behind i him he could hear tlie quick, heavy patter of pursuing footsteps, and gritting his teeth, he burst forward with renewed speed. For a moment the sound fell behind, and then it crept «p again, nearer, nearer, nearer— The goal posts swayed before his eyes, and he tried to move his tired . legs faster. He roar had now given place to a steady, frantic organised cheer : "Roberts! Roberts ! Roberts!" They were calling to him, and catching his brrath, he tried to lengthen his stride. For a moment longer he ran blindly on, and then, as another mighty roar sounded in his ears, something clutched his legi and with a groan lie crashed headlong to the ground. After what seemed to be an age, some one threw water in his face ami lie opined his eyes. People were all around him, staring and talking, and tbe professor and Doctor Nelson were kneeling by bis side. Davis, Browning, and the rest of the boys, were gathered to one side. Reaching out he caught the Doctor's arm am; drew himself up. "DM 7" "Yes," said the Dector, "we won—you won. How's your ankle "My ankle ?" The boy stated. "Why," he stammered at last, "why I never thought of it." Then some one in the crowd began to cheer, and in a moment lie had turned from the Doctor and was w * T * n S a nose guard over Iris heart. "We won," he' cried, "we won Come on, boys. Rah ! Rah ' R-i-d----g^f-i-e-l-d." The cry echoed ami re-echoed across imj gridiron. Professor Hendricks brushed his hand across his eyes. "All," he said softlv, "he's a fine boy." "No," said the Doctor, "he's a hero.