A hot discussion lasting fully an hour followed. Then a vote was taken and eight of the Longley boys were found to be in favor of the game while only three were openly opposed. Thereupon Flanders and his cronies finally said they would play.
“And remember,” said Ted Maxwell, “if you do play you’ve got to do your best.”
“Oh, don’t worry! We’ll wipe ’em off the face of the earth,” growled Halliday.
“You let me pitch and I won’t let ’em get in a single run,” added Flanders.
“I’ve got an idea,” went on Maxwell. “We might make this game quite an affair. They’ve got a regular ball grounds down at Beldane, and this week they’re holding a drive for a hospital that’s to be located there. Why can’t we arrange to play at Beldane for the benefit of the hospital? That ought to give us a good audience.”
“You’ll have to talk to Gif Garrison’s crowd first,” said Bob Mason.
Then came the question of getting an answer back to Gif. On account of what they had done at the bungalow scarcely any of the lads wished to go over to the other shore. They were much surprised, however, when they landed to find that not a word was mentioned regarding the “rough-housing” that had taken place.
“It would be a splendid scheme to play at Beldane for the benefit of the hospital!” cried Jack. “That suits me exactly.”
“Let’s do it, by all means,” put in Fred.
And thereupon three boys from each camp set out in a rowboat for the lower end of the lake to make the necessary arrangements.