Sleepily, Bronson fumbled in his clothes, at last finding his watch.
"My eye! It's one fifteen!" he gasped.
"And the game begins at two," cried Fred. "Hal must be worried to death. Quick! into your clothes. We'll get a bite to eat and hike out to the park."
Into their clothes the boys literally flew, but as both realized the necessity of a good meal, they did not hurry their dinner unduly, setting out for the diamond at ten minutes before two in a carriage which Bronson insisted upon hiring.
The seats were filled with followers of the rival nines, cheering, tooting horns and singing, and the players were warming up when Fred and Bronson rushed into the dressing-room.
Seizing their suits, which Hal had brought, they trotted onto the field just as the two captains were tossing for innings.
As the Baxter students caught sight of the yellow head and the tall form, they rose to their feet.
"Here they are! Here they are!" they roared.
Instantly the eyes of the teams and of all the Landon and Winthrop spectators were focused upon the two late arrivals. The Baxter players rushed toward them, howling with joy.
"Can I have time to warm up my pitcher?" asked Hal of the Landon captain.