"Frank hasn't been beaten once this year!" they kept repeating; and the fact seemed to give them astonishing confidence.
"All right," replied one of the Clifford backers, "this is just where he gets his bumps then."
"Yes," called out another, "from to-day this will be called the Harrapin Field of Waterloo, because your Young Napolean met his first great defeat here."
"The boys haven't got over the bitter pill he rubbed in last summer and fall, when his crowd drew the prizes in baseball, rowing and football games. Oh! you poor Columbias, you're up against it hard to-day!" came from a third rooter.
There seemed to be thousands of spectators present, for a close game was expected, even though the chances were five to one in favor of the unbeaten Clifford Seven. Of course most of these people were wise enough to find places on the two rising banks of the river; for they distrusted the ice; and if it ever broke with that crowd on it the result would be a tragedy.
Still hundreds skated hither and thither, waiting for the great game to begin. Already those in charge were marking off the field, the spot where the ice promised best results having been selected.
Hastings and Allen, as the respective captains of the rival teams, were talking certain matters over;
