Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/111

Rh licity and violence, to shame him before the crowd.

And in the next mix-up, when Rupert made a dash toward tackle to help in the interference for a "centre" play, he received a sudden heavy blow in the side just under the heart; and he went down in the scrimmage with the breath quite knocked out of him.

He got up feeling a little weak, and walked round for a moment before going to his place.

When he did go to it, he did not settle down at once, but stood for a moment looking deliberately into Herrick's eyes with a faint smile. Foul play was something that had never been countenanced in these school games, and the boy who had now committed it was receiving from his victim as much surprise as scorn.

The humiliation of having to meet such a look from Rupert and of realizing that he had not been deceived as to the source or intention of the blow did not improve Herrick's temper. He dropped his eyes and crouched in position, and muttered, "Oh, play ball!"

Rupert made no answer. He got into posi-