"Do you think they are any better than the Excelsiors?" asked Link.
"They are just as good," put in Walter. "My cousin knows them and he says so."
The rivalry between Lakeport and Brookside had always been intense, and in both towns the boys did nothing but talk of the coming game. The majority of the lads in Lakeport were sure the local nine would be victorious, but this feeling was not shared by some of the members of the Excelsiors.
"Humph! they can't win!" sneered Si Voup. "Just wait and see. Brookside will wax 'em out of their boots!"
"Just what I say," said another player. "The Brookside fellows are at it nearly every day. Their team work is almost perfect."
"Yes, and they have a fellow who can pitch the nastiest curve you ever went up against," put in another. "I'm going to bet on Brookside."
Sidney Yates was in the crowd, but he had little to say. The Excelsiors were going to play a team from Camdale that week, and it galled him exceedingly to think that he could not be on the team.
"It's all on account of that Fred Rush," he grumbled to himself. "And Fred is going to Brookside next Saturday to play, while I've got to stay at the mill and work! It's a shame! I wish I could spoil his fun for him."
From thinking of Fred, Sidney got to thinking of the other members of the Lakeport nine, and he soon reached the conclusion that he hated them all.
"Oh, if I could only do something to spoil that game for them!" he told himself. "If I could only do something!"