the tussle for it, however, both players tripped or stunbled and sprawled along the ice, and the Conrad goal-tender drove the puck out of danger. How the Conrad rooters shouted for joy! Cheer after cheer arose for Dutchy, but he got up, unmindful of the acclamations from a thousand throats, and joined his team.
Again the game raged about the center, and then it was Langton who started forth from the mêlée with a clear field. Alexander overtook him and captured the puck. Again a ringing cheer arose from the supporters of the blue and green. But Dutchy was equal to the emergency, and after a fierce but short struggle between the two, away the Conrad champion sped, with the whole Marston team at his heels. He rapidly increased the distance between them and him, however, every second nearing the goal. Langton took care of Alexander, and so, With no one near him, Dutchy, with a well-directed drive, sent the puck between the goaltender’s legs. Red and white flags filled the air and the Conrad cheer resounded on every side, ending with “Dutchy! Dutchy! Dutchy!”
The elated members of the Conrad school jumped up and down and waved their hats for joy, while Dutchy, with a flushed face, received the enthusiastic congratulations of his fellow-players. So ended the first half.
In the second half, Marston entered the game with a new energy. Slowly the puck, by a series of splendid plays, was driven toward the goal, then, with a brilliant dash, Alexander darted out from among the surging players and succeeded in making a goal. The score was tied, and now only a short time remained to play.
“We ’ve got to beat them, Dutchy,” said Langton to his friend; “last year they drubbed us, and now we ought to turn the tables. We have got to, that ’s all there is to it.”
“Vell,” replied the Hollander, “dat means much more vork dan pefore, I t’ink.”
Again the game began, and as time went by without either side scoring, it looked as if the game would end in a tie. With grim determination Dutchy played, and seeing his chance for the third time that day, made another of his brilliant plays. Escaping the mêlée, he put his whole strength into his speed and started for the Marston goal. Langton managed to keep up with him, warding off Alexander, now close behind. Then Duchy fell down in a heap on the ice, his skate having struck a twig. A groan burst forth from the spectators, but it
“Dutchy, now the hero of town and school, was carried home on triumphant shoulders.” (See page 204.) changed to a cheer when Langton was seen with lightning speed continuing with the puck. A little later he drove it for the goal, but the goal-tender struck it squarely with his hockey and sent it far behind Langton.