“Er—well, we’ll wait awhile and then, if the other team doesn’t show up, I’ll have to call the game.”
In five minutes the field was deserted save for the Mannig players and a handful of Mannig supporters. Everyone else was scurrying along the road leading to town. Dan, a quiet smile on his face, drew Nelson aside.
“Let’s get out of this,” he whispered. “It’s not going to be healthy around here after a bit. Let’s move on to the next town.”
Nelson looked perplexedly at Dan’s smiling countenance for a moment. Then, scenting mischief, he nodded and went in search of Tom and Bob. Without explaining, he announced that they were breaking camp, and in a twinkling the Four were following the crowd. On the way Dan told what he knew about it, and the others laughed until the tears streamed down their dusty faces—all save Bob. Bob smiled a bit, but he shook his head too.
“It’s kind of a low trick, Dan,” he said.
“But I didn’t do it,” protested Dan. “I merely told Fultz what I had heard. It wasn’t my fault if——”
“But you expected him to do it!”
“What of it? Of course I expected him to; it was just the sort of a trick I’d expect these muckers to do!”
“That sounds well from you,” answered Bob dryly.