Page:The secret play (1915).djvu/334

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a falling off in the power of the attack. The removal of two linemen also suggested that the Blue was approaching its limit of endurance. For his own team Dick had no fears. They had stood the hard smashing of the Springdale backs excellently. Not a player had weakened under the strain and none of those taken out had sustained injuries sufficient to prevent his reinstatement. Dick expected the Purple to play better in the next two periods, expected it, in fact, to finish stronger than it had begun, for there was no denying that it had played a slower and more listless game than it had showed against Weston the week before.

While the fellows were being rubbed and having their bruises attended to, Dick conferred with Lanny and Chester Cottrell. Lanny was pretty well keyed-up, Chester unusually grim and silent.

"We've got to have Tupper back, Dick," declared the captain. "Hansard doesn't get into it."

"All right, Lanny. And look here, you've got to hump that line up on defense. Do you get me? They're getting the jump on us every time. What's the trouble?"

"I don't know," replied Lanny rather wildly. "They've been letting every blessed play through on