As it was Baxter's turn to play the first of the championship games at Landon, when the day arrived it was none too sanguine a band of students that accompanied the nine.
The Landon team was composed of unusually hard hitters, and the fact that they were to play on their home grounds gave them an advantage that only Bronson's ability to puzzle the batsmen could overcome.
Indeed, Baxter practically conceded the first game to their rivals, pinning their hope for the championship to the return game at Baxter, and to the third game, which the headmasters of the two schools had agreed should be played on neutral ground in the town of Winthrop.
When the Baxter contingent, with banners flying, descended from the train at Landon, they found the entire school and many of the ball-loving townspeople on hand. And but one desire did they have—to get a glimpse of Baxter's pitching find.
Early in the season word of Bronson's record at the Military Academy had been received at Landon, and several of the nine had gone to their rival's town to see him work in practice games.
But the alert Hal had foiled their attempts to get a line on Bronson by sending Holcomb or Sandow to the box, with the result that the new pitcher was still a mystery.
That this policy of secrecy had caused the Landon students worry and had made the members of their nine nervous, was evidenced by the questions they asked about Bronson's delivery.
But when the supporters of Baxter arrived on the diamond, they soon discovered that their rivals did not intend to let any chance to win go by.
As the teams trotted on to the field and spread out for warming-up practice, the Landon rooters cheered lustily, and then, at a signal from their cheer leader, producing tin horns from under their coats, raised a tumult of strident discords.
Taken by surprise, the Baxter contingent was silent a minute, then roared out their school yell defiantly.