Pirate Blood

Pirate Blood

By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Introduction

THE FIRST HALF WAS DRAWING TO A CLOSE. NEITHER TEAM had scored. They were closely matched; so closely that the best informed rather expected a scoreless tie. Johnny Lafitte, at quarter, was running the Glenora team. The game was the last of the season, and it would decide the championship. Also, it was Lafitte's last game, for he would graduate in June. It was Johnny's big chance.

For three years he and Frank Adams had been fighting for the quarterback position. It had been a friendly rivalry but nonetheless seriously contended; but Frank seemed to get all the breaks. Johnny knew that in a pinch the coach always put Adams in, and he knew the coach was right; but he didn't know just why. And that troubled him. Everyone admitted that they were the two greatest quarters Glenora had ever known.

Why was Adams just a shade better? Johnny Lafitte did not know, but he was out on the field today to prove that it was not so. It was Johnny's big chance.

Louis Lafitte, who repaired Glenora's old shoes in a little shop just off Main Street, was in the grandstand to watch his son in this last game. Henry Adams, small-town attorney, was there also to watch his son. Daisy Juke and Shirley Huntington were there to watch both the sons. Shirley was very much in love with Frank Adams, Daisy liked both the boys, and both boys were in love with Daisy. But Frank Adams got all the breaks; so when the four (who were much together) went places, Frank took Daisy, and Shirley and Johnny paired off; which wasn't so bad after all because they were very fond of one another, and the four always had a good time wherever they went.

"Only about two minutes left to play in this half," remarked Billy Perry, who was sitting with the girls. "He ought to kick." It was Glenora's ball.

"What down is it?" asked Shirley.

"Third, and eight to go. "

The Glenora team was in a huddle; the ball lay squarely on their own thirty-yard line. The men came out of the huddle, took their positions, and shifted to the left; the ball was snapped. Lafitte took it and faded back.

"Cripes!" exclaimed Perry. "He's goin' to pass!" They stood up; everyone in the stands stood; it was very quiet, as though the spectators had been suddenly stricken dumb.

Glenora's left half was racing down the field. He was in the clear; there was no Webster player near him. Lafitte had faded back to his own fifteen-yard line. Two Webster men were almost on top of him when he passed, but it was a perfect pass. And then, from out of nowhere, raced the Webster right end to intercept it. Before him was an almost clear field down which he streaked to a touchdown.

The Glenora coach dug a heel into the turf in front of the bench. "Adams," he directed, "go in and send Lafitte out."

At the beginning of the second half the score was six to nothing in favor of Webster, and Frank Adams was calling signals for Glenora. Never again that day was Glenora's goal seriously threatened, and in the fourth period a series of smart plays carried the ball to a touchdown. The Glenora fullback added the extra point that meant victory.

Four years had passed since that high school football game, and during the last three John Lafitte had sat on the sidelines during most of the important games that his college had played and watched Frank Adams steer the varsity to victory. The two men were still rated great quarters, but there was just that little difference between them that impelled the college coach to use Adams in pinches and against their stronger opponents.

The two men were still the best of friends; even their rivalry for the affections of Daisy Juke had not altered the friendly relations that had existed between them since they had entered grade school together.