"After that"--Laurie half closed his eyes and shook his head slowly--"after that I don't really know what did happen. I have a sort of a hazy recollection of Hop shouting some signals that didn't mean a thing in my young life, and kneeling on the ground a couple of yards ahead of me. I didn't dare look at the goal, though I knew it was ahead of me and about twenty yards away. Then there was a brown streak, and things began to move, and I moved with them. I suppose I swung my foot,-probably my right one, though it may have been my left,--and then I closed my eyes tight and waited for some one to kill me. Next thing I knew, I was being killed--or I thought I thought I was, for a second. It turned out, though, that the fellows weren't really killing me; they were just beating me black and blue to show they were pleased.
"Of course, it was all the biggest piece of luck that ever happened, Ned. Hop aimed the ball just right, and somehow or other I managed to kick it. Maybe any one would have done just as well, because I guess it was an easy goal. Anyway, the honor of the Turners was safe!"
"You're a regular brick," said Ned, a bit huskily. "What--what happened afterward? I didn't stay."
"Afterward Hop looked at me kind of queer and said, 'I guess that'll do for you, Turner,' and I beat it away from there as fast as I knew how, and Mulford sent in some other poor unfortunate. There were only half a dozen plays after that, and we kicked whenever we got the ball."
"Do you think any one but Hop found out?" asked Ned, anxiously.
"Not a one. And I'm not sure, mind you, that Hop did. You see, he didn't _say_ anything. Only, he did call me 'Nid' at first, and then 'Turner' the next time. I haven't seen him since. I guess I never will know, unless I ask him. One thing's sure, though, Ned, and that is that Hop won't talk."
"You don't think I'd ought to fess up?" asked Ned.
"I do not," replied Laurie stoutly. "What's the good? It wasn't your fault if you went to sleep out in the country. If any one's to blame, it's me. I oughtn't to have hoaxed them. No, sir; if Mulford or any one says anything, just you tell them you fell asleep and couldn't help getting there late. But I don't believe any one will ask questions now. They're all too pleased and excited. But, gee, Neddie! I certainly am glad I made that goal instead of missing it. I'd be a pretty mean feeling pup to-night if I hadn't!"