cores of boys doing various
stunts--knocking flies to those in the field, passing balls with the
vigor of veterans, and chattering like a lot of magpies all the while.
Out of this throng, Mr. Leonard, the athletic instructor, once a
Princeton player of some note, was expecting to bring order, and get
some kind of game started.

Baseball is quite unlike football. In the latter instance, every boy
has to receive an education before he is at all fitted to fill the
position assigned to him. There must be long arduous drills in a dozen
particulars, from bucking the line, and carrying the ball, to making a
flying tackle, or punting. Then the intricate system of signals must
be thoroughly learned, so that instinct takes the place of reason in
the carrying out the play.

But every kid plays baseball from the time he can toddle. By degrees
they keep on improving their game, so that when they arrive at the
dignity of high school freshmen honor, it is only a question of
ability, rather than any necessity as to education in the art of
driving home a runner, or snatching a liner hot from the bat.

So Mr. Leonard anticipated having only to inoculate his bunch with the
proper virus and ambition, after which he could let the drilling do the
rest.

Among others who were out was Nick Lang. There was nothing really
strange about that fact, because Nick would almost rather play ball
than eat; and any boy about whom this can be said must be pretty fond
of the National sport. Nick had always shown considerable knack in
playing, though he was apt to make himself disagreeable, and want to
run things. Possibly this trait might not show so prominently, now
that his conceit had been so heavily bumped in his encounter with Hugh.
Then again, Mr. Leonard was not the only one to let a boy take
advantage of him. He would make sure, if Nick were to get on the nine
through his superior playing, to have a substitute handy capable of
taking his place; and at the first sign of insubordination, it would be
good-by to Nick and farewell to his hopes of playing on the team.

Hugh was surprised not to see Thad Stevens among those present. Thad
had received a summons along with thirty other boys. Hugh guessed it
must be something pretty serious that could keep his chum from turning
up. Perhaps, when he ran home to change his clothes, his mother had
given him an errand to do. Thad was an obedient boy, and although he
may have begrudged the after