The coming of Dan Soppinger and his crowd filled the Rover boys and their chums with pleasure, and they did all they could to make the new arrivals feel at home.
“We got to Beldane quicker than we thought,” explained Dan. “And there was a boatman at the hotel who said he knew where your bungalow was, so we thought we’d come right up instead of staying in the town over night.”
“And you did just right!” answered Gif. “And we want you to stay here for a few days at least.”
“And we want you to help out in a baseball game. That is, if we can have our challenge accepted,” put in Jack. And thereupon the other boys were told about the rival camp on the other shore of Big Bear Lake.
“Gee, that will suit me!” cried Walt Baxter.
“I’d like to stay here. But don’t ask me to play ball,” puffed Fatty Hendry. “You know that exercise is too violent for me. I’m willing to root, but that’s all.”
“I’ll be glad to play,” came from Ned Lowe. “It’ll be a change from touring. I get rather cramped sitting in the car all day. Since we started we’ve done nothing but ride, making a hundred and fifty miles or more a day.”
“Maybe we can get the motor-boat fellow to take a challenge across the lake before he goes back to Baldane,” suggested Gif. The man was still at the dock awaiting orders from the lads he had had for passengers.
“That’s the talk! We’ll send the challenge right away!”
The boatman was consulted and readily consented to leave the challenge at the Willoughby camp before returning to the Beldane hotel.
“We want you to put our baggage on check in the cloakroom until we get back,” said Dan. “And take good care of our auto, too. You can come back for us next Monday,” he added, after consulting Gif. And so it was all arranged.
In the letter to the Longley boys Gif explained about the arrival of the other lads and challenged their rivals to a game of baseball on their own grounds on the coming Saturday afternoon. If the challenge was accepted the cadets from both schools were to go to Beldane and there select an umpire.
The arrival of the challenge from the Colby boys created a great stir in the Longley camp. Ted Maxwell and a number of others were in favor of an immediate acceptance, but Flanders and his cronies demurred.
“I didn’t come here to play ball. I came to take it easy,” growled Flanders.
“I don’t want anything more to do with them,” put in Halliday.
“You were willing enough to go over there and rough-house the place,” came from Maxwell. “Why not be a real sport? If we don’t play them, when we get back to school they’ll tell everybody we were afraid.”
A hot discussion lasting fully an hour followed. Then a vote was taken and eight of the Longley boys were found to be in favor of the game while only three were openly opposed. Thereupon Flanders and his cronies finally said they would play.
“And remember,” said Ted Maxwell, “if you do play you’ve got to do your best.”
“Oh, don’t worry! We’ll wipe ’em off the face of the earth,” growled Halliday.
“You let me pitch and I won’t let ’em get in a single run,” added Flanders.
“I’ve got an idea,” went on Maxwell. “We might make this game quite an affair. They’ve got a regular ball grounds down at Beldane, and this week they’re holding a drive for a hospital that’s to be located there. Why can’t we arrange to play at Beldane for the benefit of the hospital? That ought to give us a good audience.”
“You’ll have to talk to Gif Garrison’s crowd first,” said Bob Mason.
Then came the question of getting an answer back to Gif. On account of what they had done at the bungalow scarcely any of the lads wished to go over to the other shore. They were much surprised, however, when they landed to find that not a word was mentioned regarding the “rough-housing” that had taken place.
“It would be a splendid scheme to play at Beldane for the benefit of the hospital!” cried Jack. “That suits me exactly.”
“Let’s do it, by all means,” put in Fred.
And thereupon three boys from each camp set out in a rowboat for the lower end of the lake to make the necessary arrangements.
As luck would have it, the ball grounds were not to be used on the following Saturday, and the local authorities were only too glad to have the exhibition game take place for the hospital’s benefit. No admission fee was to be charged, but it was understood that during the game a silver collection would be taken for the benefit of the proposed institution. “And a silver collection doesn’t mean that you can’t drop a bill in the basket,” added one of the committee.
Some of the boys had their baseball uniforms with them, while others managed to either borrow or rent uniforms, so that on the day set apart for the game both sides made quite a creditable appearance. They had new balls and bats, and the Rover boys and their chums had spent all their spare time in practice.
As in years gone by, Jack was to pitch for the Colby Hall team, as it was called, while Tommy Flanders was to fill the box for Longley Academy. Fred was to be first baseman, with Randy at third and Andy in center field. Gif went to second and also captained the nine.
“You’ll have to act as a substitute, Fatty, whether you want to or not,” said Gif.
“All right,” answered the stout cadet. “But please don’t call on me. Finish the game among yourselves. I’ll be a high and mighty rooter,” and he grinned.
It was advertised around the lake that two well-known military academies would play a game of ball for the benefit of the new hospital and this brought to the grounds a large number of people, including quite a few automobile tourists. When the boys trotted out on the field they were greeted with applause.
“There are the Colby Hall boys.”
“And there are the cadets from Longley Academy.”
“Looks as if we might see a pretty good game.”
The manager of the local ball team had consented to act as umpire, and promptly on time the game started. Longley was first at the bat and in a second more Jack found himself facing Mason.
“Now then, Bob, knock it over the fence!” cried one of the Longley boys.
“That’s it, Bob! Bring in a homer first clap!”
Although he had not been on the Colby nine since the new rule concerning officers had gone into effect, Jack had not given up his baseball practice and he felt himself in excellent condition when he caught the ball that the umpire tossed to him. Then came the command, “Play ball!” and he gave a warm up-swing and threw the ball over the plate. Mason was on the alert and promptly knocked the sphere down to center field where it was stopped by Andy and quickly sent to first.
“He’s out!”
“Hurrah! First blood for Colby Hall!”
It was a splendid beginning, but such a fine showing could not last. Before the inning came to an end the Longley boys had scored two runs, much to their delight.
“Now, Colby, show ’em what you can do!”
Although the left-handed pitcher who had battled against Colby Hall during the games at the schools was at the camp, Tommy Flanders had insisted upon filling the box and now he came forward with his usual confident air.
“Go at ’em, Tommy! Eat ’em up!” cried Codfish, who had been playing center field.
Flanders was on his mettle and it must be confessed that he did very well—so well, indeed, that the Colby boys were retired in that first inning without getting further than first base.
“Hurrah! That’s the way we’ll do ’em up!” shouted one of the Longley supporters.
After this the game went along without either side scoring until the fifth inning. Then Andy managed to get a single, followed by a double from Gif, and then came another single by Walt, and when the inning came to an end the score was a tie, 2 to 2.
“Some game, I’ll say,” said one of the men from the hotel. “Almost as good as the professionals put up.”
“Fine young pitchers, both of them,” said his gentleman friend.
After that the game seesawed along until the eighth inning, when the score stood 4 to 4. Both Jack and Tommy Flanders had pitched well, and the support on each side had been almost flawless.
“Some game, I’ll say,” remarked Fred, as he came in to the players’ bench. “Why can’t all of us put up a game like this when we’re at home?”
The only flaw in the proceedings had been when Flanders had been cautioned by the umpire for stepping out of the box when about to deliver the ball.
“You’re mistaken. I didn’t step out,” growled Flanders, and became quite angry.
“You heard the warning,” was all the umpire said, but the tone of voice was such that the Longley pitcher knew he must pay attention to what was told him.
When the Longley boys came to the bat for the last time their best stick men were to the front, and as a result they managed to get in two more runs, much to their delight.
“Hurrah! Six to four!” cried one of the Longley boys enthusiastically. “Now then, hold ’em down to another goose egg and the game is ours!”
“We’ve got to do something, fellows,” said Gif earnestly. “Who is at the bat?”
“I am,” answered Fred.
“Well, do your best.”
“I certainly will,” responded the stout young Rover, as he grasped the ashen stick and walked to the plate.
Two balls and a strike were called on Fred. Then the sphere came in just where he wanted it. Crack! went the bat, and the ball went sailing between first and second base. Away flew Fred, reaching the bag in a cloud of dust.
“Hurrah! A single! Now then, pile up a few more, fellows!”
Randy was to the bat next, and it must be confessed that he was just a bit nervous, for he realized that their chances of winning the game were slim. Nevertheless, after having a strike and two balls called upon him, he managed to land on the horsehide for another single, which took Fred safely to second.
Spouter now came forward and managed to dribble the ball down close to first base. He was put out, but Fred managed to slide to third while Randy reached second.
The next fellow to the bat was Ned Lowe. He knocked a pop fly, which the second baseman gathered in with ease.
“Two out! Now hold ’em down and the game is ours!”
“Hit it, Jack, hit it for all you’re worth!” whispered Gif, as Jack came forward with his bat.
The major of the Colby Hall battalion did not answer. But he set his teeth and took a firm grip on the ashen stick as he faced Tommy Flanders. A ball was called and then a strike, and then another ball and a strike. All those in the grandstand seemed to hold their breath for what might be coming. The game might be won or lost in a few seconds more. Tommy Flanders wound up with care and the ball came in just a trifle low. Crack! went the bat, and the horsehide sailed upward far into the left field.
“Run, boys, run! It’s a two-bagger!”
“No, it isn’t! It’s a home run! Run!”
Fred, playing well off third, came in with ease and Randy followed almost immediately. Jack was racing down to second, and as he did this he saw that the fielder was still running to gather the bouncing ball. Up he tore to third and there hesitated for an instant.
“Go in! Go in!” yelled Gif. “You can make it, Jack! Run! Run!” And with leaps and bounds Jack came in over the home plate.
“Three runs! Colby Hall wins the game!”