Both Army and Navy cheermasters now refrained from inviting din.
Those of the spectators who boosted for the Army were now silent,
straining their vision and holding their breath. It began to
look, this year, as though the Navy could do with the Army as
it pleased.
Wolgast lined his men up for a fierce onslaught Darrin and Dalzell,
panting, looked like a pair who would die in their tracks ere
allowing the ball to go by them.
In a moment more the Army signal was being called out crisply. The
whistle sounded, and both elevens were in instant action.
But the cadets failed to get through. The middies were driving
them back. In sheer desperation the cadet with the ball turned
and dropped behind the Army goal line---a safety.
CHAPTER XIV
THE NAVY GOAT GRINS
All at once the Navy band chopped out a few swift measures of
triumphant melody.
The entire Brigade of Midshipmen cheered under its cheermaster.
Thousands of blue and gold Navy banners fluttered through the
stands.
That safety had counted two on the score for the Navy.
Given breathing time, the Army now brought the ball out toward
midfield, and once more the savage work began. The Navy had gained
ten yards, when the time-keeper signaled the end of the first
period.
As the players trotted off the Navy was exultant, the Army depressed.
Captain Douglass was scowling.
"You fellows will have to brace!" he snapped. "Are you going
to let the little middies run over us?"
"I shall have no bad feeling, suh, if you think it well to put
a fresh man in my place, suh," replied Cadet Anstey.
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