“You mean to say you beat them, eh?”

“We certainly did! They didn’t have a chance. By the way, have you a racket?”

“Oh, yes; thanks.”

“I sold a peach to Nick yesterday for a dollar and a quarter. I was thinking maybe you might have liked it.”

“That’s awfully good of you,” replied the other gratefully, “but I’m fixed very well for rackets. I brought three along.”

“Three! Then I guess you wouldn’t have needed that one. There’s your crowd over there, Hugh. You wait with them, and Bonner will be after you in a few minutes.”

“They’re the rookies, eh? Right, old chap. See you later, then.”

What happened to Hugh that afternoon Bert didn’t have much time to discover, for the regulars had a pretty busy session. But afterwards, back in 29, Hugh recounted his experiences with a quiet drollery that brought many chuckles from Bert.

“It was all rather different from what I’d thought,” said Hugh, reflectively rubbing a sore knee. “A chap named Hannigan——”

“Hanrihan,” corrected Bert. “Sub tackle.”