Part 15 (1/2)

The man looked up and waved a hand cheerily, and it gave Elmer a queer little sensation, altogether pleasant, in the region of his boyish heart to realize that that young fellow was laboring honorably there that bright morning, instead of languis.h.i.+ng in jail with a forlorn outlook before him, thanks to the kind heart and generous impulse of the man who owned the estate. And it also pleased Elmer to feel that he, too, had had something of a share in what seemed like the reformation of Phil Lally.

And when noon came around the skies still smiled, guiltless of clouds; while a delightful breeze gave promise of a grand afternoon for the great game.

CHAPTER XIII.

READY FOR THE GREAT GAME.

”WHAT'S the matter with this for a corker?”

Lil Artha, the long-legged first baseman of the Hickory Ridge nine, put this question to his mates as the big carry-all containing the team, with several subst.i.tutes, came in view of the fine field at Basking Ridge on the afternoon when the great game was to be decided.

No one tried to answer.

The reason was plain, for they were utterly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the immense crowd that had a.s.sembled to see the antic.i.p.ated spirited contest between the rival teams of Boy Scouts.

In every direction were great ma.s.ses of people, all decked out in their holiday attire. Girls in white and every color of the rainbow waved parasols, gay handkerchiefs, and little flags on which the name of their favorite team had been emblazoned.

”Why,” gasped Ted, when he could catch his breath, which had been actually s.n.a.t.c.hed away from him by his amazement, ”there must be a thousand of them here!”

”Better say millions and be done with it,” laughed Red, eager for the fray.

”The whole county has turned out to do us honor, it seems,” remarked Matty.

”And because of that, fellows,” put in Elmer, ”every Hickory Ridge scout ought to shut his teeth hard and make up his mind to win out; never to give up; and if he makes an error, do something right afterward to atone for it.”

”Right you are, my boy,” remarked Mr. Garrabrant, the efficient scout master, who fortunately was enabled to accompany the boys on this trip.

”I was just going to say something along those same lines myself when you took the words out of my mouth. Hickory Ridge is watching you to-day, fellows; and Hickory Ridge expects every one of her sons to do his duty. n.o.body can do more.”

”Well, here we are, safe and sound,” remarked Ty, as the vehicles came to a stop in the midst of the tremendous throng.

”Wow! listen to that, would you?” said Toby, as cheers started that seemed to rock the very earth.

The team from Fairfield had arrived some time before. They were busily engaged in building up their batting abilities by sending out hot ones that a number of local baseball enthusiasts caught in the field.

”Say, they're a lot of hustlers, now, let me tell you,” declared Red, as he stood for a minute watching the actions of the others.

”Oh, they're big enough,” remarked Lil Artha, indifferently; ”but since when did size count for everything in baseball? You'll see the smallest fellow step up and knock out a homer, where a big stiff like me swings at three wide ones and sits down on the mourners' bench.”

”Like anything you will,” said Red, disdainfully.

”The pitcher who strikes you out has got to get up early in the morning, that's what”; since the gaunt first baseman was noted for his keen batting eye and could pick out a ”good one” as well as any in the business.

”Come on, fellows, let's get busy,” called Elmer, as he pa.s.sed a ball to one of the others, and in almost a twinkling the whole bunch was tossing back and forth, gradually widening out.

Then a few of them fraternized with their opponents, as they happened to know most of the Fairfield fellows, and in this way a number of Elmer's team found a chance to take a turn at bat.

It was a sight that would not soon be forgotten in Basking Ridge. They certainly did have a splendid field for the sport; and the grand stand was a little gem in its way, but on such an occasion it did not begin to hold one fifth of the spectators who would have been glad of a chance to use it.

”Ground rules to-day, that's sure, Elmer,” remarked the field captain of the Hickory Ridge team, as he stood alongside the pitcher, receiving the ball at intervals and returning it.