Thousands of ex cited spectators were congregated round the enclosure. Wrigglesworth and his myrmidons were doubtless there, busily plying their profitable vocation. Elsie was there; Edgar Tuck was there—there as a reserve goal-keeper; and his services were very nearly requisitioned, too. Ah! that was an anxious moment for me. ‘What is the matter with you, Jim f asked our president, addressing me ; ‘ you are as pale as a ghost!’ ‘ So he is,’ observed a director; ‘ I really think he should stand out in favour of Tuck.’ ‘No, no,’ chimed in our trainer; ‘he’s only got ‘Cup-tie fright.’ I know the symptoms well. He’s young

and inexperienced, and I’ll wager that his fright will take wing three seconds after the kick-off.’ Then, directly addressing me, the trainer continued, ‘ Come, come, young man: buck up ! You’re not the only man in the team, you conceited ass. There are ten others, you know.’ Play was commenced. Before half time my spirits rose considerably. We were playing with a very strong wind in our favour, and thirty-five minutes had elapsed without a goal being registered by either side. Four times I was called upon to defend, and on each occasion I cleared the goal with ease. It was in the second-half that I should have to play the traitor— necessarily—and it was a pleasure to do my best for a time. Still, the pleasure was not altogether without alloy. I found myself actually rejoicing in my comrades’ inability to score, and then I suddenly realised what an awful cad I was. Just before the interval our centre half scored luckily with a rather long shot, and then the referee blew his whistle, with the score standing — Dashleigh Rangers. 1 goal. Blankborough Wanderers 0 goal. Five minutes after the re-start our goal was heavily bombarded. I could not restrain my natural impulses, and I saved the citadel on two or three oc casions when things looked very black indeed. Our fellows worked like heroes, and as I admiringly noted their heroic efforts and realised that all was in vain, I felt sick at heart. The sensation was indescribably horrible, and I then and there resolvech that I would never—oh, Heavens ! Never, never—accept a bribe again. 