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 managed to break up the interference after a fashion, and finally, somewhat winded, we were one family again.

"But the captain of the Kinackers absorbed a pint of stimulus and I could see we were in for livelier doings. The first two plays had foozled 'em a trifle, but now they were up and ready and very wise. So far they had suffered no injury, thanks to our teaching the bears to use but little strength in anticipation of the college games to come. Ergo, they waxed confident and decided that Nenook had lost his medicine.

"They didn't seem to realize that their spear-work had excited the home team and that our right guard's ugly, dark-stained shoulder was a source of annoyance to him as he compared it with its silvery-white companion. But they got an inkling when a rash tackle from their side ducked in and received a crack that sent him thirty feet. As our big boy handed out this bunch of sleep-germs he turned in the middle of a growl and seemed to apologize to Minnie for his rudeness.

"But the jab had puzzled the poor beggar, and only Tib's shriek of approval kept him from chasing his man. And I jumped four feet on high just to pat his head. Then, perfectly reassured, he made a scythelike sweep and knocked a midget out of sight.