“Oh, that’s a part of it, yes,” Dalzell agreed.  “But the real cause of my happy feeling is that I’m going to find out what the man on the clubhouse steps said.  That’s what I’ve been aching to know ever since some time last winter.”

“The time will pass shortly now, Danny Grin,” Prescott remarked comfortingly.

By this time a score of spectators had arrived.  Then came a few High School boys, among them Ben Tozier, who was again to umpire.  “Tozier, what’s the High School delegation for?” Dan asked.  “To find out who’ll be handy for the High School nine next year?”

“Perhaps,” Ben replied gravely.  “There’s some good, young material in the two nines, all right.  The trouble is that a lot of you fellows won’t go to High School.”

“All of Dick & Co. are going to attend High School,” Dave proudly informed Tozier.

Two more High School boys now appeared who were not as welcome.  Fred Ripley and Bert Dodge walked on to the field side by side.

“What are they doing here?” asked Dave.

“We are in luck,” spoke up Tom, “if they haven’t come here to start mischief.”

“If they do, if they even try it,” Dick predicted grimly, “they’ll be the ones out of luck.  We’ll turn the boys of two Grammar Schools loose on them and run them off the field.”

Down the street sounded a noise that could come from only one cause.  Central Grammar School had “let out.”  All the boys and many of the girls were now hurrying toward the ball field.  It was natural to take the biggest sort of interest in this game, which was to decide which school was the “champion.”

“I’m sorry to see your crowd in such high spirits, Prescott,” said Ted Teall, coming up.  “It’ll be all the harder for Central Grammar to bear when the score is announced.”

“You’re sure of winning, then, Teall?” Dick inquired.

“Absolutely certain!” Captain Ted rejoined.

“We’re going to set off a big bonfire this evening, Ted,” Captain Prescott rejoined.  “If we win to-day will you agree to be on hand to light the fire?”

“Yes; if you win,” agreed Ted.  “But you can’t!”

Chapter XVI

“Ted’s terrors” Full of fight

The umpire’s quiet voice called the captains of the nines apart.

“Who’ll call the toss?” asked Ben.

“Let Teall do it,” Dick answered.

“You do it, Prescott,” urged Captain Ted.

“Well, which one of you is going to call?” inquired Tozier.

“Teall,” Dick again answered.

“Oh, all right, then,” nodded Ted.  “I suppose, Prescott, you feel that, whichever way I call, I’d wish I’d taken the other way.”

The coin spun upward in the air, for Ben Tozier was a master of the art of flipping.

“Tails,” announced Teall.

“It’s heads this time,” announced Umpire Tozier.  “Captain Prescott?”