That was evident to the others, and two or three of the cousins said at once:
“You, Ned; you’ll do as well as any other.”
So, the base being chosen, Ned covered his eyes and the others scattered and hid behind bushes, trees and summer houses. Then from every direction came the cry “All Ready!” and Ned’s eyes were instantly uncovered and away he ran, looking about him searchingly from side to side.
Presently catching a glimpse of a familiar coat worn by his cousin Eric Leland, “I spy Eric Leland!” he shouted. “I’ll beat you in to base,” then turned and ran back to the chosen base—the lower step of the front veranda.
Both boys ran as fast as their young legs could carry them, but Ned reached the base and Eric became “It.”
Directly after these two came all the others engaged in the game, and just as the last one had reached the goal there came an angry growl, apparently from under the veranda.
“How dare you rude youngsters come tramping and stamping here in this rude way? It’s enough to kill a man with a headache like mine, and I wont stand it. Clear out, every one of you.”
For a moment the children seemed thunderstruck, then they began asking each other in awed, frightened tones:
“Who is it? and where is he? Is there a room for him under there? and will he come out and fight us?”
Then all at once Ned, Elsie and the cousins from the Oaks and Fairview began to laugh.