Victor Collins and Joe Rodgers, fairly dancing with glee, took turns with the bugle, sending its musical notes far over the air.
"There's the enemy of the 'Pie-eaters' going to bat now," remarked Nat Wingate to his chum, John Hackett.
"Only wish I had the stick in my hands," said Hackett. "I'd break it in half and knock the cover off the ball at the same time. Say, Nat, maybe the Stars wouldn't wade through this Rockville bunch!"
"I won't be satisfied until we get a crack at 'em," grinned Nat. "Bet they don't score a run."
"Look out for your heads, fellows," counseled Ted Pollock. "Tom Clifton's going to swing, and——"
"Suffering geese, he's cracked it!" roared "Uncle" Steve from the "grand stand." "A pippin, too; right over the second baseman's head. Hooray! He runs like an express train."
Hot and happy, Tom Clifton reached first in safety, while cries of "Good work, old boy; good work!" made his grin grow broader.
"Here's where we start things, 'Pinky'!" he cried, exultingly.
"Don't fool yourself. You won't travel very far," grinned the captain of the Rockvilles.
"Play off the base, Tom," urged "Jack Frost," who was coaching at first. "Jeffords'll never be fast enough to get you."