Dick Hamilton's Football Team; Or, A Young Millionaire On The Gridiron

by Howard Roger Garis

  CHAPTER XVI

  A DARING PLAN

  "Well, what do you boys think of yourselves?" asked Coach Martin the dayafter the game with Dunkirk, when the football eleven and its supportershad gathered in the gymnasium preparatory to going out to practice.

  "Why, did we do so rotten?" asked Innis.

  "Had we ought to have piled up a bigger score?" inquired George Hall.

  "We did make a few fumbles--at least I did, and once I didn't take careof my man," admitted Jim Watkins. "But----"

  "No, I haven't a bit of fault to find," went on Mr. Martin. "I was justwondering whether you felt more confident of your playing ability thanyou did before we came. I want to get a sort of line on my ability."

  "Yes," put in Mr. Spencer, "we are far from finding fault with you, for,on the contrary I think you did exceptionally well. We couldn't ask forany better results, but what Mr. Martin means is whether or not youyourselves feel satisfied."

  There was a moment's hesitation. The boys did not know exactly how totake the questions.

  "I wish we could beat Blue Hill to a standstill," murmured Captain Dick.

  "And then wallop Mooretown," added Ray Dutton.

  "Say, can't we challenge Blue Hill now?" asked John Stiver eagerly.

  "Yes, let's do it!" came a chorus of voices.

  "Better wait," advised Mr. Martin with a laugh and a quick look at hiscolleague. "If you sent Blue Hill another challenge so soon, they'd onlylaugh at you, and very likely they would say you arranged the wholecoaching plan merely to beat them. If you will permit us to suggestsomething, we have another scheme."

  "What is it?" sung out Innis with engaging frankness.

  "We will play some other strong team before we again ask Blue Hill tolet us have a chance at them," suggested Mr. Martin. "Then, if we win,as I hope we shall, we will be more in their class. Beating Dunkirkhardly put us there, even though we made a bigger score against themthan Blue Hill did. And then, after you get your second wind, so tospeak, we will consider getting into the Military League. Do you agreeto that plan?"

  "Sure!" came instantly from all present. The boys would have agreed toanything that would have paved the way to tackling Blue Hill.

  "Then we'll go ahead on that understanding," proceeded the coach. "Andnow for the second part of the plan. You know it is of little benefit toplay some team weaker than you are. What you want to do is to take onsome eleven that you know is going to be hard to beat. That will bringout whatever good points we have not yet discovered. Is that clear?"

  Once more the boys looked at each other in some astonishment. What wasthe coach leading to?

  "Am I making myself clear?" he asked again.

  "Yes. Sure. Go ahead," were some of the answers.

  "Then the plan of Mr. Spencer and myself is this," went on Mr. Martin."We will put you through some hard practice in the next week, and thenwe will challenge Haskell University."

  For a moment there was a period of intense silence in the room. Thenseveral half-astonished gasps could be heard. Once more the boys lookedat one another, but this time, instead of with puzzled glances, it wasmore with looks of fear, or at least uncertainty.

  "Haskell University," murmured Dick Hamilton.

  "Champions of the Military League year before last," added Innis.

  "And likely to be again this year," put in George Hall.

  "And he wants us to tackle them--us the tail-enders," muttered JimWatkins. "It can't be did! We'd all be in the hospital, fellows, andour team would be crippled."

  Talk was flying thick and fast now, and almost every remark seemed to beagainst the daring plan of the coaches. Then Dick realized that he, ascaptain, ought to say something. It would not do to knuckle under inthis craven fashion. A team to do anything must do or dare.

  "If Haskell will take us on, we'll play them," he said simply, as hearose in his seat. "But will they, after Blue Hill turned us down?"

  "I'm glad that at least your captain isn't afraid," spoke Mr. Spencer,for he and his colleague had heard the half-suppressed whispers ofobjection. "I know it sounds like a big thing to you, for I know what astrong team Haskell has. But I believe it will do you good to play thateleven. Of course if you don't feel that you could stand the pace,or----"

  "Go on! Challenge 'em! We'll play 'em."

  "Of course we will."

  "And beat 'em, too!"

  These expressions took the place of those heard a few minutes before. Itargued a good change of heart.

  "I'm glad to hear that," commented Mr. Martin. "Then if Manager Hatfieldwill confer with us after the meeting and practice, we will arrange toget a date with them."

  "But will they play us?" asked Dick. "You know they always like toarrange big games, and they may not want to take us on."

  "Oh, I fancy that can be arranged," spoke Mr. Martin easily. "Mr.Spencer and I know the coach there and he is a good friend of ours. I amacquainted with the captain, too, and I am almost sure they will give usa game. Now let me congratulate you once more on the showing you madeyesterday, and suggest that we get out to practice. We can't get any toomuch if we are to play Haskell--and beat them." He concluded his remarkswith a grim smile.

  "Beat 'em! We'll be lucky if we hold 'em down to as much as the score bywhich we beat Dunkirk," remarked George Hall, as he stepped out besideCaptain Dick.

  "Here! None of that!" cried the young millionaire, half seriously.

  "None of what?" asked George.

  "That treason talk," replied Dick. "I want you all to feel that we'regoing to win, or there isn't much use playing."

  "Oh, well, just as you say," agreed George with a laugh. "Do you thinkwe'll win, Paul Drew?"

  "Of course," was the answer, for Paul was always loyal to his chum.

  As several of the cadets were lame and stiff from the unusual exertionin the Dunkirk game, only light practice was indulged in. Several minorfaults were corrected, and then the coaches put their charges throughsome wing-shift plays, and gave them a chance to improve their work inthe on-side kick and the forward pass, in both of which the Kentfieldlads were a trifle uncertain.

  "Oh, we'll have you in shape to tackle Haskell before you know it," saidMr. Martin encouragingly.

  If any of the players were doubtful about this they did not say so, andthey took heart from the confident air Dick Hamilton assumed.

  In the days that followed the practice gradually became more and morerigorous, and, as a result, fast, snappy playing became the order of theday.

  "Have you heard whether or not Haskell will play us?" asked Paul of Dickone night, as they sat in their room studying and waiting for "taps" tosound.

  "No, I haven't. I meant to ask Hatfield to-day whether he had heard fromtheir manager, but I was so busy drilling a squad of raw recruits that Ididn't get a chance. Guess I'll go to his room now and ask him. I'llhave time I think."

  As Dick arose there sounded the mournful yet sweet notes of the buglethat was a signal for "lights" out.

  "Too late!" exclaimed Paul.

  "I'll chance it," ventured Dick. "I can cross to his dormitory by therear path, and the sentries are hardly posted yet. Besides, I guess theywon't report me when they know it's football matters. I'm anxious toknow."

  "Better stay here--morning will do," counseled Paul.

  "No, I'm going, I'll be right back," replied his roommate, and off Dickstarted before the last notes of the bugle had died away.

  Rules regarding being out of the academy after taps were very strict,except at certain times when more liberty was allowed. But this was notone of those occasions, and Dick knew he would have to be careful. Hedid not mind indulging in a few pranks occasionally, but now, as he wason the eleven, and captain as well, it behooved him to be careful, sothat he would not be barred from athletics.

  He swung quietly along the tree-shaded path leading to the dormitorywhere Hatfield had his rooms. The path was not so well shaded now as insummer, for the trees were almost leafless save for certain oaks, the
brown foliage of which rustled in the night wind.

  "Sounds like a storm," mused the young millionaire. "I hope it keepsclear long enough for the Haskell game--that is if they'll play us."

  As he strolled along he kept a lookout for any sentries, for sometimesnew cadets were picked for this duty, and they took delight in reportingtheir older comrades. But the coast seemed to be clear.

  "Guess I'll go see how Grit is, before I go to Hatfield's room," saidDick half aloud, for his pet was now kept in one of the stable barracks."Poor old fellow, I wish they'd let me keep him with me nights; but theywon't."

  He swung off in the direction of the building where the cavalry horseswere kept, and, as he neared the one where his dog slept he saw a darkfigure step out from behind a tree. The figure was that of a cadet witha rifle.

  "Hope that's a friend of mine," mused Dick grimly.

  A moment later came the command:

  "Halt!"

  Dick obeyed.

  "Who goes there?" was the inquiry as the rifle was swung around.

  "Friend."

  "Advance friend, and give the countersign."

  Dick was startled. Though this was strictly in accordance with therules, it was something that was seldom enforced. And, to tell thetruth, Dick did not have the countersign.

  "Well?" came the impatient query. Dick wondered who his challenger couldbe, for the face was in the shadow.

  "I--I'm afraid I haven't the countersign," faltered Dick, who wassomewhat annoyed. "Is it actually necessary?"

  "Of course it is," was the snapping answer. "Otherwise I shouldn't haveasked for it. If you haven't it, you're under arrest."

  "I'm Dick Hamilton," said our hero, "and I was on my way to see Hatfieldabout some football matters. Besides taps have only just sounded."

  "Some time ago," was the curt reply. "Besides Hatfield's rooms aren't inthe stable."

  "I know, but I wanted to see if my dog Grit was safely fastened."

  "Oh. Well, I'm sorry," but there was no contrition expressed in thevoice, "but I'll have to place you under arrest for trying to run guard,Captain Hamilton," and with that the sentry stepped out from under atree, revealing himself as Sam Porter.