Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/92

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

hour, I appeared upon the scene in a costume of the most immaculate whiteness. As soon as the captain beheld this apparition on the field of play, he came to me and said insolently: 'Northcote, what do you mean by getting yourself up like this? Go back at once and put on the School colors.' I rejoined: 'I play for the School in my own colors on my own terms. I would like you to understand that if I am with you, I am not of you.' There was a hurried consultation among my fourteen fellow players, and although their sense of outrage was enormous, that was neither the time nor the place to indulge it.

"The French were 'taken on' as they had never been 'taken on' before. But the debacle was the work of one man. Such a game as was played on that occasion by Cad Northcote was never seen before or afterwards. According to tradition, which to this day invests his pious memory, he spent half his time in crossing the line of his adversaries, and the other half in standing the opposing three-quarters on their heads. He felt himself to be equipped for the part of the man of destiny. I believe the rout of our hereditary rivals on that occasion came near to approaching three figures."

"You don't mean to say," exclaimed the solicitor, "that you are the great Northcote, the fellow who led the English pack while he was still at school?"

"No less."

"Why, then I saw you play at the Rectory Field sometime in the 'nineties. I remember you had those damned Welshmen over the line three