“Now we must pull up,” said Ritter, with a scowl at Dan Baxter.
“It’s a mountain to climb over,” grumbled Coulter.
Jack was on his mettle and did all he could to steady himself. The first player up to the bat was struck out, and the second went out on a foul. Then one got to first on balls and another followed.
“Steady, Jack, steady!” whispered Pepper. “Don’t go to pieces as Baxter did.”
“I won’t,” said Jack, and shut his teeth hard.
With two out the Medals filled the bases, and then Reff Ritter came to the bat.
“Knock a homer, Reff!” shouted one of his friends. “A home run would mean four runs.”
Reff scowled at Jack as he took his place. Jack looked determined. He threw in the ball with care.
Once again the sphere was delivered, and Reff Ritter struck at it with all his might. It sailed over Jack’s head and seemed bound for center-field, when like a flash Pepper at second leaped up and caught it in his left hand.
For the victory they had won our friends were warmly congratulated. Many came up and patted them on the back.
“It was a dandy catch, Pepper,” said Joe Nelson. “I never saw a better.”
“That was a fine rap of Emerald,” said Pepper. “That set the ball a-rolling for us.”
Dan Baxter felt thoroughly disgusted at the result and so did Reff Ritter and the others of the Medals.
“We might have won the game if you hadn’t gone to pieces,” grumbled Ritter to the bully.
“Huh!” answered Baxter. “I hadn’t any support,” and then he hurried for the Hall and out of sight.
“Baxter certainly pitched well for eight innings,” said Jack. “One must give him credit.”
As soon as they could get away from their friends, Jack and his chums walked over to where Mr. Ford had stationed his automobile.
“Oh, it was lovely!” cried Laura. “I never enjoyed a game more.”
“I was so afraid you were going to lose at first I hardly knew what to do,” came from Flossie. “The winning out was grand!”
“You must come over to the Lodge, now we are settled down for the summer,” said Mrs. Ford, and the cadets promised to pay them a visit if they could manage to get off for that purpose.
“They are fine people,” remarked Andy, as they watched the departure of the automobile. “And the girls are——”
“Peaches,” finished Pepper, and then all of the boys laughed.