t-hearted School House
spirit. There were some fine hits made, and some scandalous ones, too.
It was like a cinematograph show. Everyone slammed about; the Buller's
men missed catches galore. Davenport was missed four times in making
fourteen. Somehow the score reached respectable heights. Byes helped
considerably. The final score was one hundred and twenty.

"And now," said Collins, "we have got to field for two hours to-day.
To-morrow is not a half, so we shall have to field all the time; we
sha'n't get a knock till after roll on Saturday. Five hours' fielding.
Damn!"

"And it will do you a lot of good, too," said Foster. "Are you all
ready, House? Come on then."

A-K Senior filed out into the field. A loud cheer rose from the crowd.
The House was amazingly partisan. Whether a House side is losing by an
innings or winning by two hundred runs, it is always sure of the same
reception when it goes on to the field from its own men. The light had
grown rather bad and Foster began bowling with the trees at his back, so
as to hide his delivery. At the other end Bradford was to bowl.

The start was sensational.

Buller's sent in Crampin and Mitchell first, two hefty footballers, with
strong wrists and no science, who had run up some big scores in the
preliminary rounds.

Foster ran up to bowl. Crampin had a terrific swipe. The ball turned
from the bat. The bat only just touched it.

"How's that?" roared Gordon.

The finger went up. A ripple of clapping ran along the side of the
ground.

"You stick to that," said Collins, "and we shall get them out by
to-morrow night."

"Dry up," said Gordon ironically. "Can't you see we are going to win?...
Man in!"

Jack Whitaker came in. He was far and away the most stylish bat in the
school, and had scored a lot of runs during the season. He faced the
bowling confidently; he had played Foster a hundred times at the nets,
and knew his tricks well. He played through the over with ease. The last
ball he placed in front of short-leg for a single.

Bradford went on to bowl. He was a House match class of bowler. No idea
of length, or direction, only an indefatigable energy and considerable
pace. His first ball was a long hop wide on the off. Whitaker banged it
past point for four.

The next ball was a full pitch to leg. Collins had to run about a
hundred yards to rescue it from the road. Bradford looked fierce. He
took a longer run than usual, rushed up to the wicket, and plung