Bert"s head was buzzing with the impact of that mighty plunge, but his eyes blazed with the light of coming triumph.
"Not an inch, boys, not an inch," yelled Halliday. "Throw them back.
It"s their last down."
But their hour had struck. Once more the ball was pa.s.sed and, charging hard and low, Bert went into the line. The "Maroons" hurled themselves savagely against him, but a regiment could not have stopped him. He crumpled them up and carried the fragments of the broken line on his head and shoulders, coming at last to the ground five yards over the goal for the touchdown. And the Blue stands promptly went stark raving mad.
Bruised and dizzy but smiling, Bert rose to his feet. At that moment he would not have changed places with an emperor.
The ball was carried out to the twenty-five yard line and d.i.c.k, lying flat on the ground, steadied it for the kick. Bert took careful aim and lifted it unerringly over the goal. It had scarcely touched the ground when the whistle blew and the game was over. The Blues had triumphed, ten to nothing, but only after a desperate battle that left the "Maroons" vanquished, but not disgraced. Their gallant foes gave them a rousing cheer that was returned by the victors with interest.
Then the crowds swept down like a tidal wave from the stands and submerged the doughty fighters. The Blues, all muddy and disheveled as they were, were hoisted on the shoulders of their exulting comrades and carried from the field. And it was all they could do to get away from them and repair to their shower and rubdown, never before so needed or so welcome.
The campus blazed that night with bonfires and resounded with noises that "murdered sleep." But all the pleading that the team might take part in the festivities fell unheeded on the ears of the two inexorable tyrants, Hendricks and Reddy. Happy and exulting tyrants just then, but tyrants none the less.
"Not until they lick the "Greys,"" was "Bull"s" decree. "If they do that they can split the town wide open. Until then the lid is on."
There was no appeal from his decision, and by nine o"clock the weary warriors were tucked away in bed to dream of past and hope for coming victory.
d.i.c.k was just dropping off when a voice came from Bert"s bed:
"Say, d.i.c.k, what"s the greatest game in the world?"
"Football," was the prompt reply.
"And, d.i.c.k, what"s the greatest team in the world?"
"The Blues," averred d.i.c.k stoutly.
"Right," a.s.sented Bert. "Now go to sleep."
CHAPTER XII
THE COACH ROBBERY
ONE morning Bert received a letter that caused him to emit a wild whoop of joy, and then set off post haste to find Tom and d.i.c.k. He discovered them at last on the campus, kicking a ball around, and rushed toward them waving the open letter over his head.
"Say, fellows," he shouted when he got within speaking distance of them, "whom do you suppose this letter is from? Bet you a million you can"t guess right in three guesses."
"From the way you seem to feel about it," grinned d.i.c.k, "it must contain money from home. I don"t know what else could make you feel as happy as you appear to be."
"No, it isn"t money," replied Bert, "but it"s something better."
"Come off," chaffed Tom, "there "ain"t no such thing." But tell us what it is and get it out of your system."
"It"s a letter from Mr. Melton," explained Bert, "saying he"s on his way East, and is going to visit us here. What do you know about that, eh?"
"Great!" exclaimed d.i.c.k and Tom in chorus, and d.i.c.k asked, "When does he say he"ll get here?"
"Monday or Tuesday of next week," replied Bert, consulting the letter.
"Either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. He"s going to stop at the "Royal," and wants us to be on hand to meet him. He says in all probability he"ll arrive on the 7:45 Monday evening. And just make out we won"t be on hand to give him a rousing welcome, what?"
"I rather guess we will," said Tom, "and then some. I move that we hire a bra.s.s band and do the thing up right."
"That"s a good idea all right," laughed Bert, "but I rather think Mr.
Melton would prefer to dispense with the bra.s.s band. But we"ll manage to make him know he"s welcome, I have no doubt of that."
"I"d deserve to be hung, drawn, and quartered if _I_ didn"t," said d.i.c.k with feeling. "He was certainly a friend in need if there ever was one."
d.i.c.k alluded to a never-to-be-forgotten time when Mr. Melton had, at the risk of his own life, rendered timely aid to Bert and Tom in rescuing d.i.c.k from a band of Mexican outlaws. The three comrades were not ones to forget such a service, and from that time on Mr. Melton had always occupied a warm place in their regard. In addition to his personal bravery he was genial and good natured, with a heart as big as himself.
He had taken part in many enterprises, but was now a prosperous rancher in the Northwest, calling many a fertile acre his own.
He had traveled extensively and knew much of the world. His stock of experiences and anecdote seemed inexhaustible, and he was never at a loss for some tale of adventure when called upon to tell one. His bluff, hearty manner gained him friends wherever he went, and it was with feelings of the keenest antic.i.p.ation that the three comrades looked forward to his coming. It was only Wednesday when Bert received the letter announcing his coming, so they had several days of inevitable waiting.
However, "all things come to him who waits," and the day to which the boys looked forward with so much antic.i.p.ation was no exception to the rule. They were at the station long before the train was due, and it seemed hours to them before they heard its whistle in the distance.
"The chances are though," said Tom pessimistically, "that something has happened to delay him and he won"t be on this train at all, but on the one that comes in to-morrow morning."
"That"s the way it usually works out," agreed Bert with a grin, "but somehow I have a hunch that Mr. Melton is going to be on this train. He said in the letter you know, that in all probability he would be on the earlier train."
"Yes, I know," said Tom, "and I only hope that my fears are groundless.
But we won"t have to wait long now to find out at any rate."
He had hardly ceased speaking when the train puffed into the station.
They scanned the long line of cars carefully, and it was d.i.c.k who first discerned the burly form descending the narrow steps of one of the rear Pullmans.
"There he is, fellows," he shouted and made a dash in the direction of the approaching figure, followed closely by Bert and Tom. Mr. Melton saw them coming and stretched out his hand. "Well, well!" he exclaimed, after shaking hands all around. "I"m certainly glad to see you once more, my boys. You don"t look as though the grind of college work has interfered much with your health," with a twinkle in his eyes.
"No," laughed Bert, "we"re not actually wasting away under the strain.
But as far as that goes," he continued, "you look pretty fit yourself."
"Yes, and I feel it, too," replied Mr. Melton. "I"m not quite as spry as I used to be, but I never felt better in my life. There"s nothing like an open air life to keep a man young."
While this talk was going on, the little party was making its way toward the hotel at which Mr. Melton had said he was going to put up, and were not long in reaching it.
"Well, boys," said Mr. Melton as they ascended the handsome flight of steps leading up to the entrance, "I don"t suppose you"ve had supper yet, have you? If not I want you all to keep me company. It"s on me, and the best in the house is none too good for us."
"Well," replied Bert, "speaking for myself, nothing would give me greater pleasure. But we"re all three slaves of the training table, you know, so I"m afraid you"ll have to excuse us this time."
"That"s right!" exclaimed Mr. Melton in a disappointed tone, "for the moment I had forgotten all about that. But duty is duty, and far be it from me to put temptation in your path."
"What I think we had better do," said Bert, "is to see you safely installed here, and then hustle back to college and eat. Then we can come back here and spend the evening with you."
"I guess that will be the best plan," agreed Mr. Melton, "but you must promise me to get back soon."