wo from
his place at point in the direction of the wicket. And somehow or
another it seemed to him that while he was there he might as well pick
up the ball, as it dropped off the end of the bat on its way to the
ground.

Which he did. And as every one looked on, and wondered what little game
he was up to, it occurred to the umpire that it was a catch, and that
the match was at an end.

Whereupon, the truth flashed round the field like an electric shock, and
the crowds broke into the meadow in wild excitement, while the seventy,
crimson with cheers, formed column and went for their men.

Poor Ponty had a hard time of it getting back to the tent, and half
repented of his feat. But it did him and Templeton good, when they came
upon the headquarters of Grandcourt, to hear the hearty cheers with
which the vanquished hailed their victors.

Chivalry is infectious. For the next quarter of an hour the meadow was
given up to cheers by Templeton for Grandcourt, and cheers by Grandcourt
for Templeton, in which the gallant seventy-two, despite their numerical
inferiority, held their own with admirable pluck.

Then, a mighty bell tolled out across the meads, and conqueror and
conquered, united in the brotherhood of appetite and good fellowship,
turned in to supper, carrying their cheers with them.

Now was the hour of our heroes' perplexity. For, be it said to their
credit as gentlemen, that however easily they may have got over their
scruples as to breaking Templeton rules, riding in Templeton coaches,
and enjoying themselves in the Grandcourt meadows, they had some
hesitation about making free with the Grandcourt supper without a rather
more precise invitation than they were already possessed of.

So they lagged a little behind the seventy, put their Templeton badges
conspicuously forward, and tried to look as if supper had never entered
into their calculations.

"Aren't you two fellows coming to supper?" said a Grandcourt senior,
overtaking them as they dawdled along.

"Thanks, awfully," said they; "perhaps there won't be room."

"Rather!" said the hospitable enemy, "you two won't crowd us out."

"We'll sit close, you know," said Dick.

"Better not sit too close to begin with," said the Grandcourt boy,
laughing, "or it'll be real jam before supper's over. Cut on and join
your fellows, and squeeze into the first seat you can find."

The first seat our heroes found was one between Ponty and the Grandcourt
head