"What are you trying to do, Voup?" was the cry. "Do you want to kill Joe Westmore?"
"He wants to hurt the Lakeports' pitcher!"
"The—the ball slipped," growled Voup, sourly.
"If the ball slips again, this bat may slip and hit you in the head," came from Joe. "I know your dirty tricks too well, Si Voup!"
With the crowd against him, Si Voup did not dare to attempt the trick again. He tried to strike Joe out, but could not, and the captain of the Lakeports got safely to first while the runner at third came home. But that was the end of the luck for that inning.
When Link took his place in the pitcher's box and Matt went behind the bat a little cheer went up. Boardman saw he would have no chance to injure Fred.
"Hurrah! the Lakeports know they have won the game!"
"They are going to give the Excelsiors a little run for their money!"
"I think Joe and Fred deserve a little rest—they have done so well," said Mr. Monroe Corsen, with a smile.
"Oh, they have done splendidly!" said Laura Westmore, who sat near by. "I'm just as proud of them and of the others as I can be!"