"Now for the goal, Morr!"
"There she goes!"
"Hurrah! Score one for Oak Hall!"
"Now then, you've struck your gait, fellows! Keep up the good work!"
It was true. Oak Hall had scored on a beautiful strike by Roger, aided by Shadow. But Dave had started the thing by getting the rubber away from Mallory, much to that star player's chagrin.
The goal warmed the hearts of the Oak Hall seven wonderfully, and when the puck was again placed in position, they went for it like hungry cats after a mouse. The exchange of blows was rapid, and the disc was stolen and recovered half a dozen times in as many seconds. Then came a long drive by Ben, and another by Dave, and then a Rockville player sent it out of bounds. Bringing it back gave the lads time to recover their breath, and again they went at it with a determination that was terrific.
"Oh, somebody will be killed!" cried Vera, as several came together with a crash.
"What a rough game!" murmured Mary. "But look, Dave Porter has the rubber!"
"Yes, and he is carrying it to the Rockville goal!"
"Oh, look at the others after him!"
Dave had the puck, and with almost a clear field ahead of him he was "worrying" it along, while the whole of the Rockville team was following on his heels. He waited until they were almost on him, then made a half turn, raised his stick, and let drive with all his power.
"Say, look at that!"
"What a beautiful drive!"
"Another goal for Oak Hall!"
"Three cheers for Dave Porter!" came from some of the Oak Hall supporters, and the cheers went echoing far and wide across the river. Vera and Mary cheered with the rest, and so did a number of other girls.
"Now then, Oak Hall, tie the score!"
"We will!" murmured Roger.
"That's the talk!" cried Dave. "Everybody in the game now, and on the jump!"
Fearing they were losing their hold on the game, Mallory spoke to the others of his team. He gave the signal for a trick play on the left side. But Dave was on the alert, and the trick was blocked, and then Dave gave a signal to try the same trick on Rockville. Neither Mallory nor his followers dreamed this would be done, and they were so neatly caught that every old ice-hockey player who witnessed the play had to smile. The trick took the puck halfway down into the Rockville territory, and though the cadets worked hard to send it back, it was not to be, and Phil knocked the goal that tied the score.
"A tie! A tie!"
"Now, Oak Hall, one more to win!"
"Rockville! Rockville! One more! One more!"
By this time everybody was thoroughly worked up over the contest. All who had been seated were on their feet and cheering wildly for their favorites.
"Whatever you do, don't let them score again!" said Dave, to his players. "Keep the rubber away from our goal."
"We'll send it down to their goal," answered Shadow.
"So we will!" cried Ben.
"This is our game--we have got to have it," was Phil's response.
"It's win or bust," muttered Roger.
Once more the puck was placed in position. Rockville now played as they had never played before, and twice the disc came dangerously close to the Oak Hall goal. But each time Luke Watson drove it back. Then it came forward swiftly to the other end of the field. Here there was a battle-royal between Mallory and Roger. Dave came whizzing up, and managed to steal the rubber, and sent it to Ben. He got it within three yards of the goal, and then Shadow took hold, and landed it safely in the net.
"Hurrah! One more for Oak Hall!"
"That makes the score four to three!"
"Wake up, Rockville! Six minutes more to play!"
"Now hold 'em!" cautioned Dave, as the puck was brought forth once more. "Hold 'em, I tell you!"
"We'll do more!" answered Roger, grimly. "That is, if we get the chance."
"Of course--but don't run any risks."
Back and forth flew the rubber disc. Rockville was wild to tie the score. This made one of the players take a "long chance." Roger saw it, and in a twinkling he rushed forward and upset the fellow's calculations, and sent the puck again into the Rockville territory. Then came a rush of players, and back and forth swung the human mass. Then of a sudden the rubber disc flew up into the air, to land almost at Sam Day's feet.
It was Sam's chance, and like a flash he improved it. Down the icy field went the rubber with Sam behind it.
"Stop him!"
"Send it back!"
Dave was behind Sam, and now he swept ahead. Then came a mix-up with Mallory. But Dave got the puck and sent it straight for the net.
"Another goal for Oak Hall!"
"Two minutes more to play!"
"Rockville can't win now!"
With saddened faces Rockville lined up once more, and again the disc was put in action. The fight was hot, and the puck moved rapidly in the center of the field. Then the whistle blew, and the wonderful contest came to an end.
Final score: Oak Hall 5, Rockville 3.
It was assuredly a well-earned victory, and Dave and his team were warmly praised by all their followers. Even Doctor Clay came up to shake each player by the hand.
"I am proud of you," he said. "This will be quite a feather in the Oak Hall cap."
"Can we celebrate to-night, Doctor?" asked Roger, quickly.
"You can--up to twelve o'clock. But please don't wreck the school building," and the master of Oak Hall smiled indulgently.
"Oh, it was just too lovely for anything!" cried Vera.
"The best ever!" added Mary.
"I got a number of good snap-shots of the game," said Polly Vane, who was quite an amateur photographer. "I'll have the pictures developed and printed, and give each of you copies to take home."
"That will be splendid, Polly," answered Dave. Later on Dave received his set of pictures, and took them to Crumville, where he showed them to Jessie and the others with much pride.
"That contest was harder than the one on the gridiron," remarked Phil, when they were returning to Oak Hall in one of the big sleighs.
"Rockville meant to win," said Buster. "And it looked as if they would win, at first."
"They have a star player in Mallory," said Ben. "But one star doesn't make a team."
"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," began Shadow. "Once three fellows----" But then he broke off short, as a handful of soft snow thrown by Roger took him full in the mouth.
"Keep your stories for to-night, Shadow!" cried Dave. "Now for a song!" And then the crowd in the sleigh began singing at the top of their lungs.
It was assuredly a grand victory, and that evening the whole school celebrated, with bonfires, singing, and dancing. Dave was called on for a speech. Plum took part in the celebration, for he was not seriously injured.
"And now for the holidays and home!" said