"We haven't received it. But are you going to give us a game?"
"What? Give you a game? Come, that's pretty rich. Say, Racer, look here. I don't want to seem mean, but really we can't play you fellows, you know. Ha! Ha! Why, it would be a joke!" And he laughed heartily.
"Oh, a joke; eh?" and Frank's face was stern.
"Now, it isn't my fault," went on Loring, seeing that the matter was serious. "The fellows voted not to play you, that's all. Ha! Ha! You really haven't a good team, you know."
"If you'd play us you'd find out," said Andy, ready to take up the battle with his brother.
"Oh, we can't do that. We'd be laughed at," and once more Loring seemed about to give way to mirth.
"All right," assented Frank, for a curious crowd was beginning to gather. "Some day you may be glad to play Riverview."
"Not in a blue moon!" laughed Loring as he turned away.
CHAPTER XXVIII
BUCKING THE LINE