“You mean fellow!” hissed Ted, his fists clenching.  “You-----”

“Teall, when you play jokes,” warned Martin coolly, “you always want to be sure to look out for the flare-back.  Don’t forget that.  Good evening, father!”

Hi slipped off by the side of his parent just in time for Ted to slow down and realize that he couldn’t very well thrash Hi with the elder Martin looking on.

Tom and Greg began to laugh.

“Oh, cheer up, Ted,” Dick smiled.  “All’s well that ends well, you know.”

“But this matter isn’t ended yet,” cried Ted Teall excitedly, shaking his fist at Hi Martin’s receding back.  “It isn’t ended—–­no, sir!—–­not by a long shot!”

Chapter XII

THE NORTH GRAMMAR CAPTAIN GRILLED

Nor was Teall long in finding his opportunity to be revenged.

On the following Tuesday, immediately after school, the North and South Grammar nines met on the field.  It was an important meeting, for, under the rules governing the Gridley Grammar League, whichever of these two teams lost, having been twice defeated, was to retire vanquished; the victor in this game was to meet the Central Grammar to contest for the championship.

On the toss Captain Ted Teall won, and elected that his side go to bat forthwith.

The instant that Ted stepped to the plate a score of North Grammar fans yelled: 

“Bang!”

From another group of Norths came: 

“Ow-ow-ow!” This was followed by some fantastic jumping.

“Huh!  Those fellows don’t show much brains!” uttered Teall wearily.  “They have to steal a josh from the Centrals.”

It did not annoy Ted to-day.  He had expected this greeting, and had steeled himself against it.

Dick & Co., with a lot of other fellows from Central Grammar, looked on in amusement.

“It’s a pity one of Hi’s fellows hasn’t ingenuity enough to work up a new ‘gag,’” Tom remarked dryly.

“They’ll never rattle Teall again with a ‘bang,’” smiled Prescott.

When the Souths went to grass, however, and the Norths took to the benches, all was in readiness for Hi, who came forth third on the batting list.  The first two men had been struck out.

“Come on in!” yelled a dozen tormentors from South Grammar onlookers.  “The water’s fine!”

In spite of himself Hi frowned.  He had been expecting something, but had hoped that the events of the preceding Saturday afternoon would be left out.

Hi made a swing for the ball, and missed.

“Who’s seen my duds?” went up a mighty shout.

“Confound the hoodlums!” hissed Martin between his teeth.

As mascot, the Souths had brought along a small colored boy, who attended to a pail of lemonade for the refreshment of Ted’s players.  Ere the ball came over the plate a second time this mascot was seen running close to the foul lines.  Over one arm he carried jacket and trousers; in the other hand he bore a pair of shoes and of socks.  That the clothing was patched and the shoes looked fit only for a tramp’s use did not disguise the meaning of the scene from any beholder, for the news of that Saturday afternoon had traveled through the school world of Gridley.