After the cheering had subsided somewhat, old Uncle Gid Sniffmore suddenly climbed to the shoulders of Abner Turner and waved his cane in the air, shrilly crying:
“Do you want ter know where Benton Hammerswell is? Well, he’s what they call a dead one! He won’t cut no ice round these parts arter this! Folks, I’m mighty glad I let them boys have my field! If they’ll come back here next year they can have every dratted thing I own on this island!”
“Hurrah for Uncle Gid!” shouted the laughing boys.
Frank and his friends were enjoying all this. They were gathered in a little group on the veranda of the hotel. Merry felt a warm hand press his, and in his ear Inza whispered:
“Aren’t you proud of Dick?”
“Proud of him!” he exclaimed. “How can I help being?”
The next issue of the Rockford Star contained an account of the final games in the league series, and likewise the fielding and batting averages of all the players in the league. There was also a high eulogy of Dick Merriwell and praise for his companions, who had aided him in winning the pennant for Fairhaven. For once, at least, the Star was fair and impartial. The final standing of the teams was given as follows:
| Played. | Won. | Lost. | Per C. | |
| Fairhaven | 46 | 24 | 22 | .522 |
| Rockford | 46 | 23 | 23 | .500 |
| Seaslope | 46 | 23 | 23 | .500 |
| Maplewood | 46 | 22 | 24 | .478 |
Honesty and true manhood had triumphed and received their well-merited reward.