“Yes, that was Tom,” replied Sam. “He’s a nice fellow and we think he’s a pretty fine pitcher.”
“Looked so to me,” agreed Mr. York. “And I want to say, too, that you caught as pretty a game as I want to see, Craig. As I used to wear a mask myself I always watch the catcher’s work, and you certainly played a nice game. Are you catching to-day?”
“Yes, sir. At least, I’m going to start the game.”
“How’s your pitcher?”
“Fairly good for a youngster,” said Mr. Gifford. “Porter’s only fifteen, I believe.”
“You don’t say?” The speaker turned, with a laugh, to Mr. Williams. “You’ll have to watch out, Williams, and not let the kid outpitch you.”
The councillor looked a bit dismayed. “Perhaps we ought to let one of the boys pitch,” he said doubtfully. “It doesn’t seem quite a fair thing. We thought, Mr. Langham, that probably one of your councillors would pitch for you.”
“Don’t let that worry you,” replied the Chief. “We have Mr. Gifford here to step into the breach if he’s needed. Porter’s a pretty clever pitcher if he is young. By the way, what time do we start, Scovill?”
“Three o’clock. It will be a little cooler by then. Besides, it gives a chance for the Greenwood boys to get over here. There’s another camp on the other side of the mountain, Langham. We had a sort of a date to play with them to-day, but they were quite satisfied to postpone it.”
“Why, I’m sorry! I didn’t know we were interfering with——”