“Fire!” shouted the Laurelville captain, looking excitedly about for his cap.
“What’s that got to do with the game?” demanded Fultz.
“Why, we’re most of us members of the company,” was the reply. “We’ll go on with the game after a bit. Come on, fellows! We’ll have to run for it!”
And led by their redoubtable captain the Laurelville Baseball Team streaked off the field in the direction of the town. And behind it hurried most of the spectators, for a fire promised far greater excitement than even a baseball game. The Mannig players trotted up with surprised expressions on their faces, demanding to know what the trouble was. Burns turned to the umpire.
“Mr. Umpire,” he said, “we’re ready to go on with the game.”
“Er--well, we’ll wait awhile and then, if the other team doesn’t show up, I’ll have to call the game.”
In five minutes the field was deserted save for the Mannig players and a handful of Mannig supporters. Everyone else was scurrying along the road leading to town. Dan, a quiet smile on his face, drew Nelson aside.
“Let’s get out of this,” he whispered. “It’s not going to be healthy around here after a bit. Let’s move on to the next town.”
Nelson looked perplexedly at Dan’s smiling countenance for a moment. Then, scenting mischief, he nodded and went in search of Tom and Bob. Without explaining, he announced that they were breaking camp, and in a twinkling the Four were following the crowd. On the way Dan told what he knew about it, and the others laughed until the tears streamed down their dusty faces--all save Bob. Bob smiled a bit, but he shook his head too.
“It’s kind of a low trick, Dan,” he said.
“But I didn’t do it,” protested Dan. “I merely told Fultz what I had heard. It wasn’t my fault if----”
“What of it? Of course I expected him to; it was just the sort of a trick I’d expect these muckers to do!”
“That sounds well from you,” answered Bob dryly.
“Oh, get out! I didn’t tell him to do it; I didn’t even suggest it! Why, when that bell rang I was so surprised----!”
“Well, just at present what we’ve got to do is to get our things from the hotel before the irate citizens of this charming village discover that they’ve been hoaxed! And I move that we move faster!”
And they did. When they reached the hotel they found it deserted save for a sixteen-year-old boy, the proprietor’s son, who was evidently not staying there from inclination. They found him on the sidewalk, looking longingly toward where at the far end of the main street a confused rabble was pouring around a distant corner.