Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/182

 Jennings thanked him. Three of the Hastings players appeared and began to throw a ball around. Capt. Littlefield called a "Ready, Coach," and Jennings swung around and faced the squad, and searched their faces for something that was not there.

"You're going out to play Hastings," he said. "Usually the coach talks about how sure victory will be if every man will only play the game. I'm not going to give you any of that; I wouldn't fool you with it if I did. You're going to take a licking to-day, and you know it."

A strangled cry of protest came from the captain to be instantly hushed. The realization came to Littlefield that whatever Jennings was saying was being said for a purpose. Players shuffled their feet and looked away. Only Post's eyes met the coach's, level and clear.

"This nine has been shot for more than a month. Why? Because Martin was dropped. And who was Martin? A good ball player, but never at heart a Northfield fellow. Oh, I know he went to the school; so did Benedict Arnold wear the uniform of the Colonial army. I warned Martin he was heading for trouble. I asked him to see the Owl weeks before he was dropped after the Owl had agreed to tutor him. Did he take my advice? He did not. He sacrificed this nine,