第18章
Itwasanhourafterthematch。Theyweregatheredintheoldrendezvousofthehockeyteamsinpre-wardays。AndtheywereallwildlyexcitedovertheGreatVictory。
“Justthinkofit，Mamma，dear，“Patriciashouted，pirouettingnowononefootandthenontheother，“Eighttosix！Oh，itistooglorioustobelieve！Andagainstthatwonderfulteam，theCornwalls！Nowlistentome，whileIgiveyouacalmandconnectedaccountofthegame。Ishallalwaysregretthatyouwerenotpresent，Mamma。Victory！Andathalftimeweweredown，fivetotwo！Iconfessdisasteranddespairstaredmeintheface。Andwestartedoffsogloriously！CaptainJackandSnoopyinthefirstfiveminutesactuallyputintwogoals，withthatbackgoalplayoftheirs。Youknow，Iexplainedittoyou，Mamma。“
“Yes，dear，Iknow，“saidhermother，“butifyouwillspeakalittlemorequietlyandslowly——“
“Iwill，Mamma，“saidherdaughter，sittingdownwithgreatdeliberation，infrontofher。“Iwillexplaintoyouagainthat’roundthegoal’play。“
“Iamafraid，mydear，thatIcouldhardlygraspjustwhatyoumean。“
“Well，nevermind，Mamma。ItisaparticularandspecialplaythatCaptainJackworkedout。Theyrushdowntothegoalandinsteadoftryingtoshoot，theonewiththepuckcirclesroundthebackanddeliversthepuckimmediatelyinfrontofthegoal，whereanothertakesandslipsitin。Twogoalsinaboutfiveminutes，wasn’tit，Hugh？“
“Abouteightminutes，Ishouldsay，“repliedHughMaynard，thebigCaptainoftheEagles。
“Well，eightminutes，“continuedPatricia，takingupthetale，“andthentheybegantheroughhousebusiness。JumboLarson——aterriblybigSwede，Mamma——putitalloverlittleSnoopy。Chuckedhimabout，wipedtheicewithhim！“
“Mydear！“exclaimedhermother。
“Well，youknowwhatImean。Agreatbig，two-hundred-poundmonster，whosimplythrewSnoopyandGeorgieRossallabouttherink。IttookCaptainJackallhistimetostandupagainsthim。
Andthentheyraningoalsataperfectlyterrificrate。Two——
three——four——five！AndonlyFattyFindlay’smarvelousplaykeptdownthescore。IadoreFatty！Youknow，Mamma，thatdearoldScotchwoman——“
“Scotchwoman？“exclaimedMrs。Templeton。
“Yes。Oh！youdon’tknowabouther。CaptainJackbroughtheralong。Mrs。Mc-something。“
“McNish，“suppliedAdrien。
“Yes，McNish，“continuedPatricia，“aperfectdear！Shedideverythingbutswear。Indeed，shemayhavebeenswearingforI
couldnotunderstandhalfofwhatshesaid。“
Adrieninterrupted:“Sheisperfectlypriceless，Mother。Iwishyoucouldmeether——sodignifiedandsweet。“
“Sweet！“exclaimedPatricia，withalaugh。“Well，Ididn’tseethesweetness，exactly。Butathalftime，Mamma，fancy！theystoodfivetotwoagainstus。Itwasatrulyawfulmomentforallofus。
Andthen，afterhalftime，didn’tthoseCornwallswithinfiveminutesruninanothergoal，and，worsethanall，JumboLarsonlaidoutSnoopyflatontheice！Nowthegamestoodsixtotwo！Thinkofit，Mamma！“
ThenAdrienputin:“Itwasatthispointthattheoldladymadearemarkwhich，Ibelieve，savedtheday。Whatwasitexactly，Hugh？“
“Ididn’tquitegetit。“
“Iknow，“saidlittleVicForsythe，himselfastaroftheEagleforwardline。“YoupoorSassenach！Youcouldn’tbeexpectedtocatchthefull，fineflavourofit。Maitlandwastryingtocheertheoldladyupwhenshesaidtohim:’Yonhalfbacks，A’mthinkin’’——shewasasoccerfanintheoldland，Ibelieve——’yonhalfbacks，A’mthinkin’，aregeyconfident。Itisapeetytheycudnabeshakenabitintheirnerves。’ByJove！Maitlandjumpedatit。’Mrs。McNish，you’reright！you’reright。IwonderIdidnotthinkofitbefore。’“
ThenAdrienbrokein:“Yes，fromthatmomenttherewasachangeinourmen’stactics。“
ThenPatriciabrokein:“Well，then，letmegoon。CaptainJackknewquitewelltherewasnouseofallowingthoselittlechaps，SnoopyandGeordieRoss，tokeepfeedingthemselvestothosehorridmonsters，JumboLarsonandMacnab，sowhatdidtheydobutmoveup“Jack“JohnsonandMacnamara。Thatis，yousee，Mamma，theforwardswouldtakedownthepuckandthenupbehindthemwouldcomethebacks，Macnamaraand“Jack“Johnson，likeaperfectstorm，andtakingthepuckfromtheforwards，whowouldthenfallbacktodefence，wouldsmashrightontheCornwalldefence。Theveryfirsttimewhen“Jack“JohnsoncameagainstJumbo，Jumbofoundhimselfsittingontheice。Oh！itwaslovely！Perfectlylovely！Andthenexttimetheydidit，Jumbocameathimlikeabull。Butthatadorable“Jack“Johnsonjustliftedhimclearoffhisfeetandflunghimagainsttheside。Itseemedtomethatthewholerinkshook！“
HereVicbrokein:“Youdidn’thearwhattheoldladysaidatthispoint，Isuppose。Iwassittingnexttoher。Shewasreallyawholeplaybyherself。WhenJumbowentsmashingagainsttheside，theoldladygaveagrunt。’Hum，thatwullsortyeadoot。’Oh！
sheisapeach！“
“Andthenexttimetheycamedown，“criedPatricia，takingupthetaleagain，“Jumboavoidedhim。ForMacnamara，’Jack’JohnsonandCaptainJackcameroaringdowntheiceataterrificpace，andwithneverastop，smashedheadonintoJumboandMacnabandfairlyhurledtheminonHepburn——thatistheirgoalkeeper，youknow——andscored。Oh！Oh！Oh！Suchayell！Sixtothree，andtenminutestoplay。“
“ButPatricia，“saidMrs。Templeton，“domoderateyourtone。Wearenotintherink。Andthisterribleexcitementcan’tbegoodforyou。“
“Goodforme？“criedPatricia。“Whatdifferencedoesthatmake？
Tenminutestoplay，Mamma！ButthatwastheendoftheroughhousegamebytheCornwalldefence。“
ThenHughsteppedin:“Itreallydidbreakupthatdefence。Itwasawonderfulpieceofgeneralship，Imustsay。Theyneverseemedtogettogetherafterthat。“
“Letmetalk，Hugh，“exclaimedPatricia，“IwanttotellMammawhathappenednext，forthiswasreallythemostterriblyexcitingpartofthegame。AndIthinkitwasawfullycleverofCaptainJack。
Youknow，nexttime，Mamma，whentheycamedown——Imeanourmen——
theypretendedtobeplayingthesamegame，buttheyweren’t。ForCaptainJackandSnoopywentbacktotheiroldspecialty，andbeforetheCornwallsknewwheretheywereat，theyraninthreegoals——one-two-three，justlikethat！Oh！yououghttohaveseenthatrink，Mamma，andyououghttohaveheardtheyelling！Iwishyouhadbeenthere！Andthen，justatthatlastgoaldidn’tthathorridJumbomakeaterribleandcruelswingatSnoopy’sankle，justashepassed。KnockedhimcleanoffhisfeetsothatpoorSnoopylayontheicequitestill！Hewasreallynearlykilled。
Theyhadtocarryhimoff！“
“Well，Iwouldn’tsaythatexactly，“saidHugh。“Thefactofthematteris，SnoopyisacleverlittlebeggarandIhappenedtocatchhiswinkasMaitlandwasbendingoverhim。Iwashelpinghimofftheice，youknow，andIheardhimwhisper，’Don’tworry，Captain，I’mallright。Getmeanotherpairofskates。Itwilltakealittletime。’“
“Doyoumeanhewasn’thurt？“exclaimedPatriciaindignantly。
“Indeedhewas；hewasalmostkilled，Iamsurehewas。“
“Oh，hewashurtrightenough，“saidHugh，“buthewasn’tkilledbyanymeans！“
“Andthen，“continuedPatricia，“therewasthemostterribleriotanduproar。Everybodyseemedtobeontheiceandfighting。Hughranin，andVic——Ishouldlovedtohavegonemyself——Hughwasperfectlysplendid——andalltheEagleswerethereand——“
ThenMrs。Templetonsaid:“Whatdoyoumean——afight，ariot？“
“Arealriot，Mother，“saidAdrien，“thewholecrowddemandingJumbo’sremovalfromtheice。“
“Yes，“continuedPatriciaimpatiently，pushinghersisteraside，“Hughwentstraighttotheumpireanditlookedalmostasthoughhewasgoingtofight，thewayhetorein。Buthedidn’t。Hejustspokequietlytotheumpire。Whatdidyousay，Hugh？“
“Oh，“criedVic，“Hughwasperfectlycalmandsuperior。Heknowstheumpirewell。Indeed，IthinktheumpireoweshislifetoHughandhisprotectingbandofEagles。“
“Whatdidhesay，“criedPatricia。“IwishIcouldhaveheardthat。“
“Oh，“saidVic，“therewasaninterestingconversation。’Keepoutofthis，Maynard。Yououghttoknowbetter，’theumpiresaid，’keepout。’’Baker，thatmanLarsonmustgooff。’’Rubbish，’saidtheumpire，’theywerebothroughingit。’’Lookhere，Baker，that’srotandyouknowit。Itwasadeliberateandbeastlytrick。
Puthimoff！’’Hestayson！’saidtheumpire，andhestucktoit，I’llgivehimcreditforthat。ItwasoldMaitlandthatsavedtheday。Hecameupsmiling。’Ihopeyouaretakingoffthetime，umpire，’hesaid，withthatlittlelaughofhis。’IamnotgoingtoputLarsonoff，’shoutedtheumpiretohim。’Whoaskedyouto？’
saidMaitland。’Goonwiththegame。’Thatsavedtheday。Theyallstartedcheering。Theicewasclearedandthegamewenton。“
“Oh，thatwasit。Icouldn’tunderstand。Theyweresosavagefirst，andthensuddenlytheyallseemedtoquietdown。ItwasCaptainJack。Well，Mamma，ontheycameagain！ButwhenpoorSnoopycameout，allbandagedroundtheheadandthebloodshowingthrough——“
“Quiteacleverlittlebeggar，“murmuredVic。
“Clever？Whatdoyoumean？“criedPatricia。
“Oh，well，goodpsychology，Imean——that’sall。Bloodybandages——
demandingvengeance，Jack’steam，youknow——Macnamara，forinstance，entreatinghiscaptainfortheloveofheaventoputhimoppositeJumbo——shakingthemoraleoftheenemyandsoforth——
mightygoodpsychology。“
“Idon’tknowexactlywhatyoumean，“saidPatricia，“buttheCornwalldefencewascertainlyrattled。Theypulledtheirmenbackandplayeddefencelikeperfectdemons，withtheMillmenontothemliketigers。“
“ButPatricia，mydear，“saidhermother，“thoseareterriblewords。“
“But，Mamma，nothalfsoterribleastherealthing。Oh，itwasperfectlysplendid！Andthenhowdiditfinish，Hugh？Ididn’tquiteseehowthatplaycameabout。“
“Ididn’tsee，either，“saidHugh。
“Didn’tyou？“criedAdrien，“Idid。JackandGeordieRossweregoingdownthecentreataperfectlyterrificspeed，bigMacnamarabackingthemup。OutcameMacnabandJumboLarsonfollowinghim。
MacnabcheckedGeordie，whopassedtoJack，whoslippeditbacktoMacnamara。DowncameJumbolikeaperfectthunderboltandfairlyhurledhimselfuponMacnamara。Idon’tknowwhathappenedthen，but——“
“Oh，Ido！“criedVic。“WhenoldJumbocamehurtlingdownuponMacnamara，thiswasevidentlywhatMacnamarawaswaitingfor。
Indeed，whathehadbeenprayingforallthroughthegame。Isawhimgatherhimself，crouchlow，lurchforwardwithshoulderwelldown，awrestler’strick——youknowMacnamarawasthechampionwrestlerofhisdivisioninFrance——hecaughtJumbolow。Result，aterrificcatapult，andthebigSwedelayonhisbacksometwentyfeetaway。Everybodythoughthewasdead。“
“Oh，itwasperfectlylovely！“exclaimedPatricia，rapturously。
“But，mydear，“saidhermother，“lovely，andtheythoughtthemanwasdead！“
“Oh，buthewasn’tdead。Hecameto。Iwillsayhewasveryplucky。Thenjustastheyfacedoff，timewascalled。Sixtosix！
Thinkofit，Mamma，sixtosix！Andwehadbeenfivetotwoathalftime！“
“Sixtosix？“saidMrs。Templeton。“ButIthoughtyousaidwewon？“
“Oh，listen，Mamma，thisisthemostwonderfulthingofthewholematch，“saidAdrien，tryingtobreakinonthetornadoofwordsfromheryoungersister。
“No，letme，Adrien！Iknowexactlyhowitwasdone。CaptainJackexplainedittomebefore。ItwasCaptainJack’sspecialty。Itwaswhattheycallthedouble-circle。Hereisthewayitwasworked。“Patriciasprangtoherfeet，arrangedtwochairsforgoalandproceededtodemonstrate。“Yousee，Mamma，inthesinglecircleplay，CaptainJackandSnoopycomedown——saySnoopyhasthepuck。JustastheygetnearthegoalSnoopyfoolstheback，rushesroundthegoalandpassestoJack，whoisstandinginfrontreadytoslipitin。ButofcoursetheCornwallswerepreparedfortheplay。Butthatiswherethedouble-circlecomesin。ThistimeGeordiehadthepuck，withCaptainJackimmediatelyathisleftandSnoopyfurtherout。Well，Geordiehadthepuck，yousee。Herushesdownandpretendstomakethecircleofthegoal。Butthistimehedoesn’t。Hetearslikemadaroundthegoalwiththepuck，Snoopytearslikemadaroundthegoalfromtheotherside，thedefenceallrushovertothelefttocheckthem，leavingtherightwideopen。SnoopytakestheballfromGeordie，rushesaroundthegoaltheotherway，Mamma，doyousee？——passesbacktoReddy，hispartner，whoslipsitin！AndpoorJumbowasunabletodoanything。Ibelievehewasstilldazedfromhisterriblefall！“
ThenHughbreaksin:“Itreallywasbeautifullydone。“
“Itcertainlywas，“saidVic。
“Seventosix，Mamma，thinkofit！Seventosix，andtwominutesofthefirstovertimetoplay。Twominutes！Itjustseemedthatourmencoulddoastheyliked。Thelasttimethewholeforwardlinescamedown，withMacnamaraand’Jack’Johnsonroaringandyellinglike——like——Idon’tknowwhat。Andtheydidthedouble-