ball was put into play and now the work on both sides became more earnest. Several of Gus Plum's players became rough and Plum himself tried to "spike" Dave with his shoe. Dave gave the bully a shove that sent him headlong.
"A foul! Time!" was the cry.
"He tried to spike me!" cried Dave, hotly.
"I didn't!" roared the bully.
"He did – I saw it!" put in Roger.
"Have you spikes in your shoes?" demanded the umpire.
"No," muttered Gus Plum, but his face grew red.
The umpire made him show the bottoms of his shoes. Each had a small spike in it – something quite contrary to the rules, as all football players know.
"Change your shoes at once, or get out of the game," was the decision rendered, and Gus Plum ran off the field with a redder face than ever.
The first half of the game closed with the score 12 to 0 in favor of Gus Plum's eleven. A safety for Roger's team had been made by Dave, who saw it was the only thing to do when crowded by Babcock, Henshaw, and two others. The second touchdown made by the Arrows came through Babcock aided by several others.
"We could whip them if it wasn't for Babcock and Henshaw," said Luke Watson. "Those two chaps are dandy players and no mistake."
During the intermission it was seen that Gus Plum was having another lively interview with Babcock and Henshaw. But the two expert players would not listen to the bully of Oak Hall.
"Something is wrong in their camp, that's certain," was Phil's comment.
"Look here, if you say anything, I'll put you off the team!" cried Gus Plum, to Babcock and Henshaw, so loudly that many standing around could hear him.
"All right, put me off if you wish," answered Babcock sharply.
"I'll never play with you again anyway!" added Henshaw. "I've done my best to-day, but this ends it, if I never play again as long as I stay at Oak Hall."
"You're out of it, both of you!" roared Gus Plum, in a sudden rage. "Dawson, take Henshaw's place, and Potter, you take Babcock's place. I'll show you that I can run a team to suit myself."
"Very well," said Babcock, and turning on his heel he left the field. Henshaw, without saying a word, followed his friend.
All who witnessed the scene were curious to know what it meant, but none of the other Arrow players would explain. Soon it was time for the second half of the game. Two of Roger's players had been slightly hurt, and their places were filled by two substitutes, which weakened the eleven still more.
"Henshaw and Babcock are out of it!" cried Phil, to Roger and Dave.
"That gives us a better chance to win," said the senator's son.
"If it isn't too late," returned Sam Day; "12 to 0 is a pretty hard lead to overcome."
"We'll do our best," said Dave. "Let every man go in for all he is worth!"
The play was fast and furious from the very start, and inside of two minutes Roger's players had the leather close to the Arrows' goal line. But then Nick Jasniff with extreme roughness hurled Sam Day to the ground. Jasniff was off-side at the time and his movements were consequently contrary to the rules.
"You may retire from the field," said the referee, after he and the umpire had talked the matter over.
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