It was arranged in that way, Miss Elting and Captain George accompanying the injured boy, who really was suffering more than he ever remembered to have suffered in all his life. The other Tramp Boys remained with the Meadow-Brook Girls. The boys were angry and the girls indignant at the attack on Sam Crocker, but there was nothing to be done in the matter now except to wait and watch.
Sam was brought back in Jane’s car. His face was plastered until he was well-nigh unrecognizable, but it was the same old familiar voice that inquired if supper were ready. The girls had forgotten all about the meal. Their minds had not been on eating at any stage of this eventful day. They hurriedly set about preparing a meal for themselves and the boys.
“The doctor says he will not be permanently disfigured,” Harriet informed her companions. “Of course, he must not get any more such knocks on the nose. It’s too bad, now that the tournament is on.”
“I have my voice left,” answered Sam. “I can yell, and now that the plasters are there to hold my nose in place I won’t crack my face doing so. I’m going to do some yelling. Another fellow may be heard to yell, too, but he won’t yell in the same tone, not if I lay my gentle hands upon him.”
The girls were tired and they were to have a long day’s practice on the following day, so the boys were permitted to go to their own camp at an early hour in the evening. There the Tramps discussed ways and means of trapping the spy and giving him the thrashing he deserved, not so much on account of his having spied on them as because of his brutal kicking of Sam Crocker. The elbow jolt was necessary in order to free himself, but the kick in the nose was not. It was the kick that he should be punished for, the lads decided, after sitting in judgment on the matter for a long time. They, too, went to bed with their minds fully made up as to what they would do when they found the man. It would not have been a pleasant prospect for him had he known.
Next morning Harriet was out at daylight. Shortly afterward she saw the men setting the nets on the tournament courts.
“Here is our chance, girls,” she cried. “The nets are being placed. Get ready and we can have a long practice before the rest of the community is stirring.”
There was some grumbling, but Harriet being recognized as the leader among the girls, her suggestions were usually adopted. They were in this instance and were warmly seconded by the guardian. As soon as they could get ready they did so and were off across the fields, each eating a piece of bread. There were no Tramp Boys in sight at that early hour, only the workmen and a manager who was directing the placing of the nets on measurements already laid down. Jack Herrington had reasoned that some of the contestants might desire early practice and, to give them all an opportunity, had ordered the nets set up at daybreak.
Miss Elting asked permission to use the courts, which was granted; then the girls began a game, after first having warmed up, for the morning was chill. There being no one to see them except the men at work, they did not hesitate to use all their tricks and secret plays, making good use of the signals all through the set. Harriet and Tommy won the first game, Hazel and Jane the next.
Acting upon the suggestion of the guardian the girls were not playing fast games that morning, but instead they were playing for accuracy and perfection. They were devoting a great deal of attention these days to form, seeking to make their movements as graceful and artistic as possible and yet obtain the best results from their playing. In this instance Miss Elting was their critic.