Certainly the fault was Paul's, and not his; but the thought contained small comfort.
Next day's practise, in preparation for Erskine's last game before the Robinson contest, proved Paul's fears far from groundless.

Gillam, Neil, and Mason started work when the line-up was formed, and Paul looked on heart-brokenly from the bench.

It was not until Neil had failed twice and succeeded once at field-goals, and Gillam had been well hammered by the second's tandem plays, that Paul secured a chance.

Then Neil was taken out and his friend put in.
Neil wrapped a frayed gray blanket about his shoulders and reflected ruefully upon events.

He knew that he had played poorly; that he had twice tied up the play by allowing his thoughts to wander; that his end-running had been slow, almost listless, and that his performance at goal-kicking had been miserable.