its, despite his misfortune.

Thirty-five, forty! The Fifth began to look hot and puzzled. The
batsmen were evidently far too much at home with the bowling. A change
must be made, even though it be to put on only a second-rate bowler.

Tom Senior was put on. He was nothing like as good a bowler as either
Wraysford, or Oliver, or Ricketts. He bowled a very ordinary slow lob,
without either twist or shoot, and was usually knocked about
plentifully; and this appeared likely to be his fate now, for Wren got
hold of his first ball, and knocked it right over into the scorer's tent
for five. The Fifth groaned, and could have torn the wretched Tom to
pieces. But the next ball was more lucky; Winter hit it, indeed, but he
hit it up, sky-high, over the bowler's head, and before it reached the
ground Bullinger was safe underneath it. It was with a sigh of relief
that the Fifth saw this awkward partnership broken up. The score was at
forty-eight for three wickets; quite enough too!

After this the innings progressed more evenly. Men came in and went out
more as usual, each contributing his three or four, and one or two their
ten or twelve. Among the latter was Baynes, who, at the last moment, it
will be remembered, had been put into the eleven to replace Loman. By
careful play he managed to put together ten, greatly to his own delight,
and not a little to the surprise of his friends.

In due time the last wicket of the Sixth fell, to a total of eighty-four
runs.

The small boys on the bench had had leisure to abate their ardour by
this time. Bramble had recovered his spirits, and Paul and Stephen
looked a little blue as they saw the total signalled.

"Eighty-four's a lot," said Stephen.

Paul nodded glumly.

"Ya, ha! How do you like it, Guinea-pigs?" jeered Bramble. "I hope
_you'll_ get half as much. _I_ knew how it would be."

The two friends listened to these taunts in silent sorrow, and wished
the next innings would begin.

It did presently, and not very brilliantly either. The Fifth only
managed to score fifty-one, and to this total Wraysford was the only
player who made anything like good scoring. Oliver got out for six,
Ricketts for nine, and Tom Senior and Braddy both for a "duck's-egg."
Altogether it was a meagre performance, and things looked very gloomy
for the Fifth when, for a second time, their adversaries took the
wickets.

Things never turn out at cricket as one expects, however, and th