Corporal Cameron
out over the Inverleith grounds. The Scottish line was sagging!-that line invincible in two ye
d's glory! Cameron going back! A hush fell on the thronged seats and packed inner-circle,-a breathless, dreadful hush of foreboding. High over the hushed silence that vibrant cry rang; and Camer
ers the tow-headed Welshman rushing joyously at him, and delivered his ball far down the line safe into touch. But after his kick
Scots now fighting for life rather than for victory. And under their captain's directions these fierce, victory-sniffing Welsh are delivering their attack upon the spot where he fancies he has found a yielding. In vain Cameron rallies his powers; his nerve is failing him, his strength is done. Only five minutes to play, but one minute is enough. Down upon him through a broken field, dribbling the ball and following hard like hounds on a hare, come the Welsh, the tow-head raging in front, bloody and fearsome. There is but one thing for Cameron to do; gri
have carried with them off the field of their defeat, vanishes into gloom.
tten! The rank qu
so?" It was the captain's
I know it's rotten to say this, but I can't help it. Cameron los
you are and I forgive you that; but I don't want to hear from you or from any man on the team that word aga
l, lanky, with a pale, gaunt face, plastered over the forehead with damp w
ve it all. It's tough for them, but God knows I've got the wo
"Don't be an ass! Your first big ga
ol. I let myself down and I wasn't fit. Anyway, I'm through with it." His voice
nn. "Next year you'll be twice the ma
is men rallied
t you
o man gets into th
eans next year, C
them had spoken. But this business was serious. To lose a game was bad enough, but to round on a co
Dunn kept his eye on him, hurrying his own dressing and chatting quietly the while. But long before
ou; I'm with you in
ameron, searching wi
! Wait for me, Cameron. Wher
d the lad, slamming
awfully sorry I made that break, Dunn. It was beastly l
say, men!" When Dunn said "men" they all knew it was their captain that was speaking. Everybody stood listening. Dunn hesitated a moment or two, as if searching for words. "About the dinner to-night: I'd like y
ical student from Canada, who played qua
er-line but also at the dinner table the li
rade on the quarter-line, and his greatest friend. "We kno
e to cut the van. I'm afraid my gove
outcry. There were
ptain; h
ptain! Don't
n, see us throu
," sang out Martin. "Come on, fellows, let's
for the International players, and were bent on carrying their great captain down the street, shoulder high; for the enthusiasm of the Scot reaches the point of madness only in the hour of glorious defeat.
a tam-o'-shanter. "In fac', Docthor," he arg
houted young Rob, standing in front of
laughed
can easy lick him," sai
was a great friend of the family, and w
cock! I doubt ye'll hae to be content," said
impatiently. "You're not going to make
sudden charge, but checked by
shanter; you're stopping the procesh! Now then, wait for the line, everybody!" It was Little Martin on top
d Dunn, old D
old Dunn
Dunn, old Du
old Dunn,
et, two men at the heads of the doctor's carriage horses, holding them in place behind the van. On went the swaying crowd and on w
a girl's voice reac
they lov
eauty of perfect health rather than of classic feature in her face. T
l you not come up? We
r of the procession, following the band and the chariot wheels o
led Dunn. "Not mu
e? What matters the game? I
" said the doctor. "T
Dunn. "Look at that young
odie, deliberately. "I'm sure I know him; anyway I'm going to en
sweeping bow, still keeping up the beat. The crowd, following his ey
Good-bye! I'm off!" And she darted back to the
held up both arms a
houted, "second vers
t done, old Du
old Dunn a
t done, old D
old Dunn a
Colonial version, and rende
' done, old Du
old Dunn's
' done, old D
old Dunn's
g the van till they neared Queen Stre
can't they be choked
signalled J
e'll just slip thro
o do Princes Street,
ou born ass!" crie
ght in the glory of his hero had been beyond all
. "Jock," he said quietly, "just
d Jock with great regret
after some struggling, got them safely into the clear space, leaving the procession to follow the van, loudly cheering thei
in disgust, as the carriage bore
en't they, Father?" said yo
or Dunn, his old eyes shining, for his son's triumph t
ickly, "but it's rather embarrassing,
ts to young Rob. "But it was terrible; an
re at all," sa
errible," sa
terrible?" said his fath
b, his lip trembling. "I don
g brother in a voice shar
ked as if he-" the lad could not bring himself to say the awful
the captain's voice was
brother's knee and stood with face white and quivering. He had given utterance to the terrible suspicion that was torturing his heroic
ather's face, "Cameron is no quitter. He didn't funk. I think," he continued, while Rob's tear-stained face lifted eagerly, "I know he was out of condition; he had let himself run do
ly in a severe tone, "it was very reprehensible for a man on the International to l
afraid," said Dunn, regre
self. Control, to be of any value, must be u
kept pretty close to him up t
trainer's business is to scho
been making a mistake," said Dunn though
nly. "He had no business to get out of
er heart was beating hard against his little ribs, "and he looks awful.
ens. It is so without calculation, without qualification, and without r
d, "and I have no doubt he regrets it no
im, Sir. He'll get
d stiff, was indulging in a long-banished pipe, Nes
had your tub yet?"
know I feel awfully about t
t freshened up for to-night. I'll look after Cameron. You know he is down for the pipes. He's
ed what he could not fulfil, went off to hi
is coat Rob came in, dis
, Jack?" he asked timidly. "I
he distress in the lad's face checked his words. "Now, Rob," he
aught his brother's arm. "Say, Jack, are you sur
fit,-he ought to have been, but he wasn't,-and because he wasn't fit he came mighty near quitting-for a moment, I'm sure, he felt like it, because his nerve was
fine! I'm awfully glad he didn't quit, 'specially when he felt lik
aid his big brother. "Yo
I'm fit,
! Keep fit-tha
rithing in an agony of self-contempt; for in the face of all Scotl
dinner. Mightily his captain laboured with him, plying him with varying motives,-the honour of the team was at stake; the honour of the country wa
ef, and then gave his half-back the boy's message. "I promised to tell you, and I almost forgot. The little beggar was terribly worked up,
ud, while Dunn, knowing that he had reached his utmost, s
ood little soul! I'll go; I'
ll, Cameron was that night in his place, fighting out through the long hilarious night the fierc
'specially when