Down the path they ran, filling the air with their shouts and laughter. Ruel came last, with a huge bundle of bark, made from the sheets they had used on the hut.
“No use to leave it there,” he said, in answer to Randolph’s laughing question. “In a week ’twould jest be good fer spiders to live in—all curled up in the sun. Daown ’t the house we c’n use it fer your uncle’s fires, this tew months.”
CHAPTER XI.
THE GREAT BASE-BALL MATCH.
THERE was great excitement at The Pines. Randolph and Tom had practised several times with the Readville Base-Ball Nine, as I have said, Randolph taking the lead, finally, of the whole club. On a certain afternoon, about a week after the mountain tramp, a dozen or more boys were gathered on the little open plot of ground which the Readville people called the “Common,” eagerly discussing a subject which was interesting enough to make their eyes sparkle and their voices all chime in together as they talked.
“Now, hold on, fellows,” exclaimed one of the tallest, raising his hand for silence. “We may as well do this business up squarely on the spot. I’ll read the challenge, if you’ll all keep still.”
The boys threw themselves on the ground, and in various easy attitudes prepared to listen.
Randolph, who was speaker, remained standing, and drawing a paper from his pocket, read as follows:
“The Jamestown High School Nine hereby challenge the Readville Nine to a game of base-ball, to be played on Readville Common, on the afternoon of next Saturday, at three o’clock—”
“Next Saturday!” interjected one of the listeners.
“—five innings to count a game if stopped by rain. League rules to be followed.