Page:The secret play (1915).djvu/309

 to you that when I undertook this job I didn't appreciate what it meant. It's been—well, it's been hard work, fellows; harder work than I expected. And there have been lots of discouraging moments. And that's why I say that you've helped me, just as you've helped us all, by letting me know, as you have let me know, that you had confidence in me in spite of my—my limitations."

"Now, fellows, your part—your share in this isn't done yet. It won't be done until the final horn squawks Saturday afternoon. You can do a lot from now on, quite as much as you've done already. I want you not only to believe thoroughly that we're going to win, but I want you to make the team understand that you believe it, and I want you—I ask you particularly to make Springdale know that you believe it. There's a lot of talk nowadays about psychology—whatever that is—and some of it's probably poppycock. But I firmly believe that there's such a thing as so impressing the adversary with your confidence that he will be affected by it. It isn't just a theory, either; I've seen it work out more than once!"

"I suppose you'd like me to tell you what I really think about our chances to win on Saturday. Well,