“What fellow was it that started the yelling?” demanded Ted huskily.

“Why?” challenged three or four of the Souths.

“I want to know who he is—–­that’s all,” muttered Ted.

In a moment there was a mix-up.  But Teall wasn’t popular at that moment.  A captain who had led his men into a whitewash was entitled to no very great consideration.

“Let go of that bat!” roared Ted, as he felt it seized.  “Let go, or I’ll hit some one with it.”

“That’s what he wants to do anyway,” called out one of the boys.  “Yank it away from him!”

The bat torn from him, Ted Teall was fighting mad.  He was so ugly, in fact, that he was borne to the ground, three of his own classmates sitting on him.

“You’re all right, Ted,” announced one of his classmates.  “All that ails you is that you’ve got a touch of heat.  Cool off and we’ll let you up.”

“There’s one guyer who has lost his hold on his favorite pastime of annoying other people,” remarked Tom Reade grimly.

“Dick’s trick was the slickest that ever I saw done in that line,” chuckled Dave Darrin.  “But I wonder how our fellows tumbled to the idea of calling ‘bang’ first, and then following it up with ’ow-ow-ow’?”

“Want to know very badly?” Tom questioned.

“I surely do,” Darry nodded.

“Well, then,” Tom declared, “I put some of the fellows up to that trick.”

Chapter VIII

TWO RIVALS PLAN DIRE REVENGE

“I wonder what Ted Teall will do after this when he wants to play rattles on the other side?” inquired Harry.

Dick & Co. were now making the most of Saturday afternoon.  Having no money to spend, and no boat in which to enjoy themselves on the river, they had gone out of Gridley some distance to a small, clear body of water known as Hunt’s pond.

When sufficient time after dinner had passed, they intended to strip and go in swimming, for this pond, well in the woods, was, by common understanding, left for boys who wanted to indulge in that sport.

“I don’t believe Ted will get very funny, in the immediate future,” replied Tom reflectively.  “His fellows came to the field, all primed with a lot of funny remarks they were going to shoot at us during the game.  Yet the only fellows who got hit by any flying funny talk were the Souths themselves.  I have been wondering if ‘Bang—–­ow-ow’ was what cost the Souths the game?”

“I don’t quite believe that,” replied Dick.  “Yet I am certain that it took a lot of starch out of Ted himself.  Do you remember that time when he went over and spoke to his fellows?”

“Yes,” nodded Greg.

“Well,” Dick pursued, “I’ve heard since that that was the time when Ted went over and begged his fellows to ‘can’ all funny talk until the game was over.”

“But they didn’t,” chuckled Dan.

“That was why Ted was so angry at the end.”