Not a sound came from the crowd as the elderly gentleman, tapping the turf impatiently with his knotted stick, went on:
"Any lot of boys who have the courage and fighting spirit to stick it out in the face of such a confounded row must be made of pretty good stuff. Confidence in oneself is half the battle in life. This is what I have to say: The lads may be able to do what they claim. If they show as much grit and determination in the coming games as they have during the past few weeks they ought to win the championship."
"But suppose they should lose?" broke in Brown, doggedly—"then the school loses, too, doesn't it?"
"We must give them a chance in the inter-scholastic series. If the nine starts off with reasonable evidence of being winners—all right; if they don't"—the millionaire paused—"then we shall talk about the matter further." His voice rose harshly. "Let me add a word of warning: If the work of the team is in any way interfered with, or if there are again such scenes as have taken place here to-day, I withdraw my offer"—the knotted stick struck the ground a violent blow—"remember that!"
The turn of the regulars to applaud had come at last.
CHAPTER XXIII
BOB SCORES AT LAST
"Hit it out, Dave; hit it out!"
"Jeffords is losing his nerve! You've got him going!"