the major-第24节

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Aw；　shut　up；　can　that　cackle。　　We　know　the　Master　hates　football　an'　this　is　goin'　to　be　a　real　fightin'　game。　　He'll　get　all　knocked　about　an'　I　don't　want　that。　　You　know　he'll　be　takin'　all　kinds　of　chances。〃

〃Oh；　quit；　Sam。　　I　am　in　pretty　good　shape；〃　said　Larry。　　〃They　can't　kill　me。　　That's　the　best　I　can　do　anyway；　so　let's　get　to　them。〃

The　situation　was　sufficiently　gloomy　to　stir　Joe　to　his　supremest　efforts　and　to　kindle　Sam's　spirit　to　a　blazing　flame。　　〃We　don't　need　Sykes　nor　nobody　else；〃　he　shouted　to　his　men　as　they　moved　on　to　the　field。　　〃They　can　wear　their　boots　out　on　that　defence　line　of　ours　an'　be　derned　to　'em。　　An'；　Bottles；　you　got　to　play　the　game　of　your　life　to…day。　　None　of　your　fancy　embroidery；　just　plain　knittin'。　　Every　feller　on　the　ball　an'　every　feller　play　to　his　man。　　There'll　be　a　lot　of　females　hangin'　around；　but　we　don't　want　any　frills　for　the　girls　to　admire。　　But　all　at　it　an'　all　the　time。〃　　Sam's　little　red　eyes　glowed　with　even　a　more　fiery　hue　than　usual；　his　rat…like　face　assumed　its　most　belligerent　aspect。

Before　the　match　Larry　took　the　Eagle　Hill　captain；　a　young　Englishman　who　had　been　trying　for　ten　years　to　make　a　living　on　a　ranch　far　up　among　the　foothills　and　was　only　beginning　to　succeed；　to　his　mother；　who　had　been　persuaded　to　witness　the　game。　　They　found　her　in　Kathleen's　care　and　under　instruction　from　young　Farwell　as　to　the　fundamental　principles　of　the　game。　　Near　them　a　group　of　men　were　standing；　among　whom　were　Switzer；　Waring…Gaunt；　and　Jack　Romayne；　listening　to　Farwell's　dissertation。

〃You　see；　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　he　said；　〃no　one　may　handle　the　ballhead；　feet；　body；　may　be　used；　but　not　the　hands。〃

〃But　I　understand　they　sometimes　hurt　each　other；　Mr。　Farwell。〃

〃Oh；　accidents　will　happen　even　on　the　farm；　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　For　instance；　Coleman　this　morning　had　a　horse　step　on　his　foot；　necessitating　Larry's　going　on。〃

〃Is　Lawrence　going　to　play？〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　〃Ah；　here　he　is。　Lawrence；　are　you　in　good　condition？　　You　have　not　been　playing。〃

〃I　am　not　really　very　fit；　Mother；　not　very　hard；　but　I　have　been　running　a　good　deal。　　I　don't　expect　I　shall　be　much　use。　　Sam　is　quite　dubious　about　it。〃

〃He　will　be　all　right；　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　said　Farwell　confidently。　　〃He　is　the　fastest　runner　in　the　team。　　If　he　were　only　twenty　pounds　heavier　and　if　he　were　a　bit　more　keen　about　the　game　he　would　be　a　star。〃

〃Why　don't　they　play　Sykes？〃　inquired　Kathleen。　　〃I　heard　some　of　the　boys　say　this　morning　that　Sykes　was　going　to　play。　　He　is　quite　wonderful；　I　believe。〃

〃He　is；〃　replied　Larry；　〃quite　wonderful；　but　unfortunately　he　is　not　eligible。　　But　let　me　introduce　Mr。　Duckworth；　Captain　of　our　enemy。〃

Mrs。　Gwynne　received　the　young　man　with　a　bright　smile。　　〃I　am　sorry　I　cannot　wish　you　victory；　and　all　the　more　now　that　my　own　son　is　to　be　engaged。　　But　I　don't　understand；　Larry；〃　she　continued；　〃why　Mr。　Sykes　cannot　play。〃

〃Why；　because　there's　a　League　regulation；　Mother；　that　makes　a　month's　residence　in　the　district　necessary　to　a　place　on　the　team。　Unfortunately　Sykes　has　been　here　only　two　weeks；　and　so　we　are　unwilling　to　put　one　over　on　our　gallant　foe。　　Got　to　play　the　game；　eh；　Duckworth？〃

Duckworth's　face　grew　fiery　red。　　〃Yes；　certainly；〃　he　said。　〃Rather　an　awkward　rule　but〃

〃You　see；　Mother；　we　want　to　eliminate　every　sign　of　professionalism；〃　said　Larry；　〃and　emphasise　the　principle　of　local　material　for　clubs。〃

〃Ah；　I　see；　and　a　very　good　idea；　I　should　say；〃　said　his　mother。　〃The　Eagle　Hill　team；　for　instance；　will　be　made　up　of　Eagle　Hill　men　only。　　That　is　really　much　better　for　the　game　because　you　get　behind　your　team　all　the　local　pride　and　enthusiasm。〃

〃A　foolish　rule；　I　call　it；〃　said　Switzer　abruptly　to　Kathleen；　〃and　you　can't　enforce　it　anyway。　　Who　can　tell　the　personality　of　a　team　ten；　twenty　or　fifty　miles　away？〃

〃I　fancy　they　can　tell　themselves；〃　said　Jack　Romayne。　　〃Their　Captain　can　certify　to　his　men。〃

〃Aha！〃　laughed　Switzer。　　〃That's　good。　　The　Captain；　I　suppose；　is　keen　to　win。　　Do　you　think　he　would　keep　a　man　off　his　team　who　is　his　best　player；　and　who　may　bring　him　the　game？〃　　Switzer's　face　was　full　of　scorn。

〃I　take　it　they　are　gentlemen；〃　was　Romayne's　quiet　rejoinder。

〃Of　course；　Mr。　Romayne；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　〃That　gets　rid　of　all　the　difficulty。　　Otherwise　it　seems　to　me　that　all　the　pleasure　would　be　gone　from　the　contest；　the　essential　condition　of　which　is　keeping　to　the　rules。〃

〃Good　for　you；　Mother。　　You're　a　real　sport；〃　said　Larry。

〃Besides；〃　replied　his　mother；　〃we　have　Scripture　for　it。　　You　remember　what　it　says？　　'If　a　man　strive　for　masteries　yet　is　he　not　crowned　except　he　strive　lawfully。'　　'Except　he　strive　lawfully；'　you　see。　　The　crown　he　might　otherwise　win　would　bring　neither　honour　nor　pleasure。〃

〃Good　again；　Mother。　　You　ought　to　have　a　place　on　the　League　committee。　　We　shall　have　that　Scripture　entered　on　the　rules。　　But　I　must　run　and　dress。　　Farwell；　you　can　take　charge　of　Duckworth。〃

But　Duckworth　was　uneasy　to　be　gone。　　〃If　you　will　excuse　me；　Mrs。　Gwynne；　I　must　get　my　men　together。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Duckworth；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne；　smiling　on　him　as　she　gave　him　her　hand；　〃I　am　sorry　we　cannot　wish　you　a　victory；　but　we　can　wish　you　your　very　best　game　and　an　honourable　defeat。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Duckworth。　　〃I　feel　you　have　done　your　best。〃

〃Come　and　see　us　afterward；　Mr。　Duckworth。　　What　a　splendid　young　man；〃　she　continued；　as　Duckworth　left　the　party　and　set　off　to　get　his　men　together　with　the　words　〃except　he　strive　lawfully〃　ringing　in　his　ears。

〃She's　a　wonder；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃I　wonder　how　it　is　she　got　to　me　as　she　has。　　I　know。　　She　makes　me　think〃　　But　Duckworth　refused　even　to　himself　to　say　of　whom　she　made　him　think。　　〃Except　he　strive　lawfully〃　the　crown　would　bring　〃neither　honour　nor　pleasure。〃　　Those　words；　and　the　face　which　had　suddenly　been　recalled　to　Duckworth's　memory　reconstructed　his　whole　scheme　of　football　diplomacy。　　〃By　George；　we　cannot　play　Liebold；　we　can't　do　it。　　The　boys　will　kick　like　steers；　but　how　can　we？　　I'm　up　against　a　fierce　proposition；　all　right。〃

And　so　he　found　when　he　called　his　men　together　and　put　to　them　the　problem　before　him。　　〃It　seems　a　rotten　time　to　bring　this　matter　up　just　when　we　are　going　on　to　the　ground；　but　I　never　really　thought　much　about　it　till　that　little　lady　put　it　to　me　as　I　told　you。　　And；　fellows；　I　have　felt　as　if　it　were　really　up　to　me　to　put　it　before　you。　　They　have　lost　their　goal　man；　Colemanthere's　no　better　in　the　Leagueand　because　of　this　infernal　rule　they　decline　to　put　on　a　cracking　good　player。　　They　are　playing　the　game　on　honour；　and　they　are　expecting　us　to　do　the　same；　and　as　that　English　chap　says；　they　expect　us　to　be　gentlemen。　　I　apologise　to　you　all；　and　if　you　say　go　on　as　we　are；　I　will　go　on　because　I　feel　I　ought　to　have　kicked　before。　　But　I　do　so　under　protest　and　feeling　like　a　thief。　　I　suggest　that　Harremann　take　Liebold's　place。　　Awfully　sorry　about　it；　Liebold；　and　I　apologise　to　you。　　I　can't　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am；　boys；　but　that's　how　it　is　with　me。〃

There　was　no　time　for　discussion；　and　strangely　enough　there　was　little　desire　for　it；　the　Captain's　personality　and　the　action　of　the　Wolf　Willow　team　carrying　the　proposition　through。　　Harremann　took　his　place　on　the　team；　and　Liebold　made　his　contribution　that　day　from　the　side　lines。　　But　the　team　went　on　to　the　field　with　a　sense　that　whatever　might　be　the　outcome　of　the　match　they　had　begun　the　day　with　victory。

The　match　was　contested　with　the　utmost　vigour；　not　to　say　violence；　but　there　was　a　absence　of　the　rancour　which　had　too　often　characterised　the　clashing　of　these　teams　on　previous　occasions；　the　Eagle　Hill　team　carrying　on　to　the　field　a　new　respect　for　their　opponents　as　men　who　had　shown　a　true　sporting　spirit。　　And　by　the　time　the　first　quarter　was　over　their　action　in　substituting　an　inferior　player　for　Liebold　for　honour's　sake　was　known　to　all　the　members　of　the　Wolf　Willow　team；　and　awakened　in　them　and　in　their　friends　among　the　spectators　a　new　respect　for　their　enemy。　　The　match　resulted　in　a　victory　for　the　home　team；　but　the　generous　applause　which　followed　the　Eagle　Hill　team　from　the　field　and　which　greeted　them　afterward　at　the　dinner　where　they　occupied　an　honoured　place　at　the　table　set　apart　for　distinguished　guests；　and　the　excellent　dinner　provided　by　the　thrifty　Ladies'　Aid　of　All　Saints　Church　went　far　to　soothe　their　wounded　spirits　and　to　atone　for　their　defeat。

〃Awfully　fine　of　you；　Duckworth；〃　said　Larry；　as　they　left　the　table　together。　　〃That's　the　sort　of　thing　that　makes　for　clean　sport。〃

〃I　promised　to　see　your　mother　after　the　match；〃　said　Duckworth。　〃Can　we　find　her　now？〃

〃Sure　thing；〃　said　Larry。

Mrs。　Gwynne　received　the　young　man　with　hand　stretched　far　out　to　meet　him。

〃You　made　us　lose　the　game；　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　said　Duckworth　in　a　half…　shamed　manner；　〃and　that　is　one　reason　why　I　came　to　see　you　again。〃

〃I？〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Well；　you　quoted　Scripture　against　us；　and　you　know　you　can't　stand　up　against　Scripture　and　hope　to　win；　can　you？〃　said　Duckworth　with　a　laug