Miss Kate Harston and even the doctor began to reflect some of the interest and excitement which showed itself on every face around them.

The youth alone seemed to be unaffected by the general enthusiasm, and spent the time in endeavouring to explain the principles of the game to his fair companion, whose ignorance of it was comprehensive and astounding.
"You understand," he said, "that there are fifteen players on each side.
But it would not do for the whole of these fifteen men to play in a crowd, for, in that case, if the other side forced the ball past them, they would have nothing to fall back upon--no reserves, as it were.
Therefore, as we play the game in Scotland, ten men are told off to play in a knot.

They are picked for their weight, strength, and endurance.
They are called the forwards, and are supposed to be always on the ball, following it everywhere, never stopping or tiring.

They are opposed, of course, by the forwards of the other side.

Now, immediately behind the forwards are the two quarter-backs.