By this time the West Point captain was beginning to wonder what
ailed his men. The cadet players themselves were worried. If
the Navy could play like this through the game, it looked as though
Annapolis might wipe out, in one grand and big-scored victory,
the memory of many past defeats.
"Brace up, Army!" was the word passed through West Point's eleven.
"Good old Darry!" chuckled Wolgast, and, though he did not like
to work Darrin too hard at the outset, yet it was also worth while
to shake the Army nerve as much as possible. So Wolgast signaled
quarterback to send the ball once more by Midshipman Dave.
Another seven yards was gained by Darrin. The West Point men
were gasping, more from chagrin than from actual physical strain.
Was it going to prove impossible to stop these mad Navy rushes?
Then Wolgast reluctantly as he saw Dave limp slightly, decided
upon working Page and Farley a little harder just at present.
So back the ball traveled to the right flank was making, however,
the Navy cheermaster started a triumphant yell going, in which
nearly eight hundred midshipmen joined with all their lung power.
Of course, the Army cheermaster came back with a stirring West
Point yell, but one spectator, behind the side lines, turned and
bawled at the Army cheermaster:
"That's right, young man! Anything on earth to keep up your crowd's
courage!"
In the laugh that followed many a gray-clad cadet joined simply
because he could not help himself.
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