‘As you wish,’ said Will. ‘Mind, if you are in with him, he does not run you out.’
‘No fear of that,’ said Edgar, laughing.
And he crossed over to speak to Raymond Rakes.
‘You go in sixth wicket down,’ he said.
‘All right,’ replied Rakes, ‘that will suit me.’
‘We’ve not been very good friends,’ said Edgar, ‘but you know it is not my fault. We want to win this match, and it may be that your batting will turn the scale in our favour at a critical point of the game. I shall rely upon you to do your best for the honour of the school. You missed two very easy catches; try and make up for it by playing your best when you go in to bat.’
‘I always do,’ said Rakes sulkily, and walked away.
Edgar Foster felt rather sorry he had included Raymond Rakes in the Redbank eleven.
CHAPTER III.
A CRITICAL MOMENT.
As Edgar Foster walked to the wickets he felt much depended upon him. He was going in first, taking first over, and if he failed to play with confidence it would set a bad example to the remainder of the team. It was, however, at such moments as these that Edgar Foster’s courage and spirit did not fail him.