A moment more Hal hesitated, but at last he rose.
“All right!” he half growled. “I will play, but I don’t stand for any kicks after the game.”
He followed Dick from the grand stand, and they were joined by Gardner, who looked pale and ill, indeed. Beneath the grand stand there was a dressing room, and to this they repaired in order that Hal and Earl might exchange garments.
“I am sorry one of your players is ill,” said Bessie Dale. “You will have that as an excuse for your defeat.”
“Not at all!” quickly retorted Doris. “Hal can play as well as Gardner. He might have been a better player if he had kept at it. The team will not be weakened by taking him on.”
“That’s right,” said Zona. “Still, I am beginning to feel as if Fairport might win.”
At this Bessie laughed outright.
“You will feel more so after you see them play a while,” she averred.
After a short time Dick and Hal emerged from the dressing room and hurried to join the Fardale players. As they walked out Merriwell said:
“I am going to change the batting order to-day, Darrell. Gardner has been batting at the head of the list. He was a good man to lead off. I am going to put you in fourth place, which is a more important position.”