CHAPTER XXIII--THE WRESTLING MATCH
Less than half a minute elapsed before the game was resumed.
The players went at it with unabated energy and enthusiasm, and theexcitement was more intense than ever.
This round would settle it.
Whirling Bear was in a bad humor. Although one of the white lads had wonthe first set with a drive, it seemed to Whirling Bear that the secondone had been lost because Hodge had not hit the ball as skillfully as hemight.
In fact, Hodge had done well to reach it at all.
Frank and Whirling Bear both rushed at the ball and came face to face.As Frank struck, he saw the Indian swing his bat.
Whirling Bear did not strike at the ball, although he pretended to doso.
He struck straight at Frank Merriwell's head.
Merry saw this and dodged.
He succeeded in hitting the ball, and he escaped Whirling Bear's bat atthe same time. The bat whizzed through the air.
In another moment Frank was ready to meet the Indian's assault, but,seeing he had failed in the first attempt, the Pueblo darted away.
"That fellow is treacherous," Merriwell decided. "He has a grudgeagainst me for some reason, and I'll have to keep my eye on him. If hehad hit me, my skull would have been cracked."
Inza witnessed Merriwell's peril, and she caught her breath, uttering alittle cry of terror. When Frank dodged, she breathed again, and shepanted:
"Go for him, Frank--don't let him get away!"
Whirling Bear, however, got away like a leaping cat, and continuedgiving orders to his men as if nothing unusual had happened.
Faster and more furious waxed the game. Spurred on by the shouts andyells of the spectators, each side was exerting itself to the veryutmost.
It was really very exciting, and the skill of the players aroused theadmiration of all. The Indians handled themselves in a remarkablemanner, and, with one or two exceptions, the white boys were doingalmost as well.
On Whirling Bear's side Merriwell and Hodge were the most conspicuousamong the white players, while Mulloy and Diamond showed great skill andjudgment on the other side.
"Hurro!" the Irish lad was heard to shout. "It's hot shtuff we are, an'don't yez fergit thot! Erin go braugh! Th' United States an' OuldOireland feriver!"
For some moments there was a furious volleying, so fierce at momentsthat the eye followed the movements of the players and the flying ballwith no little difficulty.
Inza Burrage was greatly excited. She clapped her hands and waved herhandkerchief.
"Oh, aunt!" she cried; "it's almost as good as a football game! Isn't itjust perfectly splendid!"
"It is confusing--very confusing," said Miss Abigail, severely. "Itseems to be a genuine savage game."
At last Hodge saw his opportunity, and he drove the ball toward anopening in the ranks of the opposing players. It was skillfully done,and, almost before any one could realize it the game was over, WhirlingBear's side having conquered.
Then the Indians danced and sang songs of victory.
Swiftwing seemed to take his defeat gracefully, and he insisted that thewhite boys, Merriwell and Hodge, and not members of his own race hadbrought it about.
Frank told Swiftwing that he was astonished to find the Indians playedthe game with so much skill.
"It is great sport," he said. "I feel well satisfied for my trouble invisiting Taos."
"You feel satisfied now," said Swiftwing, in a peculiar manner. "You maynot be so well satisfied when you depart."
Frank was puzzled by this remark.
"I wonder what he means by that," he muttered, as the Indian walkedaway.
"Begobs! Oi think he m'anes we'll be beaten at iverything ilse we thry,"nodded Barney.
But Frank fancied that was not just what the Indian had meant.
The boys found the Indian who had charge of their clothes, and soon theywere in sweaters.
Whirling Bear sought the party, and, standing with his hands on hiships, eying them insolently, he said:
"What white boy think he want to wrastle?"
"Gol darn his eyes!" muttered Ephraim, who did not like the appearanceof the Indian. "I'd like ter thump him betwixt ther eyes!"
"What white boy dare to wrastle with Whirling Bear?" asked the Indian.
With a spring the impulsive Irish lad landed before the insolentredskin.
"It's mesilf that'll thry yez a whirrul!" he cried.
"You?" said Whirling Bear, contemptuously. "You no wrastle! Go 'way!"
That, as he afterward confessed, made the Irish boy "hot." He toldWhirling Bear he could stand him on his head in a minute.
"All right," said the Indian, with a wicked gleam in his black eyes."You strip off and try. Come."
Immediately Barney began to "peel."
"Look out for him," warned Frank, assisting the Irish lad to get out ofhis sweater. "He is treacherous, and he dislikes all whites. I can seethat. He may try to injure you seriously."
"Oi'll kape me oie on th' spalpane, Frankie. Av he gits th' bist av meit's a smart chap he is."
In a short time the Irish lad was ready.
The challenge had been heard, and there was a rush of the spectators towitness the wrestling match.
A ring was formed, and the crowd was kept back by some of the spectatorswho appointed themselves for that purpose.
Soon all were ready, and, at opposite sides of the ring, the white boyand the Indian crouched, their hands on their knees, watching each otherlike hawks.
Suddenly, as if moved by the same impulse, they rushed at each other andgrappled.
Both obtained good holds, and a terrific struggle began.
Barney knew considerable about the science of wrestling, and heimmediately discovered that the Indian was not a novice.
As soon as holds were secured Whirling Bear leaned heavily to the leftand pinned Barney's right arm close to the elbow, at once causing theIrish lad trouble.
Barney tried to straighten the Indian, but saw that Whirling Bearfancied he had an advantage and was determined to hold it.
Now the Irish lad knew that, for all that the redskin was bothering himby this trick, Whirling Bear could not be firm in such a position, andit would not be difficult to throw him if the trick came right.
Barney knew that a wrestler who leans to the left always lays himselfopen to the cross-buttock, and he immediately began to work to use thattrip on his opponent.
In order to work the cross-buttock successfully it is necessary to havea hold that is loose at first and yet firm and then to move with theutmost rapidity. The least hitch or false move may prove fatal to theaggressor.
As the Indian and the Irish lad strained and squirmed and sought to tripeach other, Barney worked his hold looser and looser, all the whilewatching for the opportunity he sought, although pretending to beworking for something else.
The crowd watched the movements of the contestants with the greatestinterest.
Dan Carver was on hand, and, after a moment, he offered to bet evenmoney that the Irish boy would take the first fall. He was able to getup a small amount, and then, hands in pockets, he calmly regarded thecontest.
Barney was tempted once or twice to try the trip, but was not quitesatisfied with his opportunity. If he tried and failed, the Indian mightthrow him heavily by sharply jerking him backward.
Twice Whirling Bear jerked Barney forward to get him off his guard andthen tried the inside click, but failed to throw the sturdy Irish youth.
This seemed to anger the redskin, for it was plain he had looked on thewhite boys with no small contempt, and had anticipated securing an easyvictory.
Furiously he went at Barney, and this gave the white boy the veryopportunity he sought.
Quick as thought Barney turned his left side toward his opponent, gothis hip partly beneath him, and then, with a rapid movement, crossedboth his legs and lifted him from the ground.
Down went Whirling Bear, with Barney uppermost!
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p; It was a pretty fall, and it awoke the admiration of the spectators sothat they cheered the Irish lad heartily.
Barney sprang up, but the Indian arose almost as swiftly, and, beforeany one realized it, the struggle was on again.
This time Whirling Bear was fiercer than before. The muscles stood outon his bare limbs and back, while the cords of his neck were drawn tautand there were knots in his forehead. The look on his face was notpleasant to see. He looked as if he longed to murder the Irish lad.
Frank was watching every movement closely. He was well pleased withBarney's success, but it seemed that the Indian had been taken bysurprise, and it was doubtful if the Irish boy could repeat the trick.
Barney tried the backheel trip, and his failure to throw Whirling Bearnearly resulted in his own downfall.
Next Barney attempted the hip stroke, but that was another failure, andWhirling Bear now seemed like a cat on his feet.
All the while Barney was forced to look out for various trips and heaveswhich the Indian attempted in rapid succession.
Some one offered to bet Carver even that the Indian took the secondfall, and the sport shook his head.
"I knew the Irishman was going to surprise him at the start," he said."Now he is out for blood. I'll go something he takes this fall."
All at once, in some astonishing manner, the Indian got under Barney andraised him into the air directly across his back.
Then Whirling Bear lifted Barney above his head to hurl him to theground!
Frank Merriwell's Athletes; Or, The Boys Who Won Page 23