But alas! for Sam's hopes.

At nine o'clock a staggering blow fell when Vial, his partner on the right wing of the forward line, rode over with the news that Coleman, their star goal-keeper, their ultimate reliance on the defence line, had been stepped on by a horse and rendered useless for the day.

It was, indeed, a crushing calamity.

Sam spent an hour trying to dig up a substitute.
The only possible substitutes were Hepworth and Biggs, neither of them first class men but passable, and Fatty Rose.

The two former, however, had gone for the day to Calgary, and Fatty Rose was hopelessly slow.
Sam discussed the distressing situation with such members of the team as could be hastily got together.
"Dere's dat new feller," suggested Joe.
"That's so," said Vial, familiarly known as Bottles.