CHAPTER VI.
ON THE LAKE.
Every day after school the boys practiced on the field which they had selected for their ball ground. Very often other boys would come to watch them, and various were the comments made.
"They are all right, and they'll give the Brookside Club and the Camdale Club a warm tussle," said one.
"Oh, they can't play at all," said another. "Just you wait and see the club Si Voup is getting up."
"Is he getting up a club?"
"Sure he is—he and Sidney Yates. They are going to sweep everything, too, when the proper time comes."
What the boy said about Si Voup getting up a club was true. Angered to think that he had not been asked to joint the Lakeports, Voup organized his club without delay, he being the pitcher and Sidney Yates the catcher. As the crowd had plenty of money they soon procured uniforms and bats, balls, masks, protectors, gloves and other things which go to equip a first-class team.
"We'll show 'em who are the champions of Lakeport," said Si Voup. "We'll beat them out of their hides!"
Joe's club soon heard about the rivals and about the elegant outfit which had been purchased. In the meantime the boys went around among their folks and managed to raise forty-five dollars.