Now or never! The lad felt that he would sacrifice anything to pass the three men who stood between him and the English goal.

He passed Evans like the wind before the half-back could disentangle himself from Tookey.

There were but two now to oppose him.

The first was the other English half-back, a broad-shouldered, powerful fellow, who rushed at him; but Tom, without attempting to avoid him, lowered his head and drove at him full tilt with such violence that both men reeled back from the collision.

Dimsdale recovered himself first, however, and got past before the other had time to seize him.
The goal was now not more than twenty yards off, with only one between Tom and it, though half a dozen more were in close pursuit.