Indeed, they scored three times against one more goal for the visitors; and when the first half of the match had been finished the game stood at five to three against Scranton.
Hugh was in a dilemma.

He knew that to win out he must have an infusion of new blood, for those husky players of the local school were too rapid for the Scranton boys.

But, according to the rules of the game, substitutes can only be allowed in case of serious injury.
So, unless one of his player chanced to be hurt in such a way as to necessitate his withdrawal from the game there could be no changes made in the line-up.
This is so hedged about with safeguards against fraud that even if a player is hurt he must be examined by someone competent to say whether he may be able to commence work again inside of seven minutes; and if so, the game must proceed.

Should he be excused from further participation in the contest his captain may have the privilege of putting in another man; or, if he chooses to play with only six on the ice, the other side must also eliminate a player, so as to make the line-up equal.
Perhaps some of Hugh's comrades must have guessed what was gripping their leader around that time.

Nothing else could have induced Smith, for instance, to say, as he did to Hugh, while they were resting in preparation for the last half of the game to start in: "I'm awfully ashamed of that rotten run I made, Hugh, when you handed me the rubber so handsomely.