contributed no less than
sixty-four runs to the total, while the Parretts' united score only
amounted to forty-one.

The second innings of Rockshire differed very little from the first.
The steady man went in first, and bothered every bowler the school could
bring against him; and, having had one lesson, he took good care not to
give himself another, and rather avoided slip for the future. So that
Riddell had a quiet time of it, fielding the few balls that came to him
steadily and promptly, but otherwise not figuring prominently in the
downfall of any wicket.

It was half-past four before Rockshire finally retired with a total for
their second innings of ninety-nine, leaving the school boys with eighty
runs to obtain to win.

It was not a formidable total after their first-innings performance, but
at the outset a calamity happened enough to depress the hopes of any
Willoughbite.

Bloomfield had gone in first with every intention of breaking the ice
effectually for his side. What, therefore, was the consternation of
everybody when, after neatly blocking the first ball, he was clean
bowled for a duck's-egg by the second! Willoughby literally howled with
disappointment, and gave itself up to despair as it saw its captain and
champion retreating slowly back to the tent, trailing his bat behind
him, and not daring to look up at the hideous "0" on the telegraph
board.

But hope was at hand, though Parrett's was not to supply it. Coates and
Crossfield, who were now together, made a most unexpected and stubborn
stand. They even scored freely, and the longer they held together the
harder it was to part them. The reviving hopes of the Rockshire
partisans gradually died out before this awkward combination, and Game
and Ashley and Tipper, as they sat and watched this spirited performance
by the two schoolhouse boys, felt their triumph for the school utterly
swamped in the still more signal victory which the despised house was
achieving over them.

The score, amid terrific cheering, went up to fifty-two before a
separation could be effected. Then Coates was caught at long-leg, and
retired, covered with glory, in favour of Tipper.

Alas for Parrett's! Tipper, in whom their forlorn hopes rested, was run
out during his first over, while attempting to snatch a bye!

It was an anxious moment while Bloomfield was deciding whom next to send
in. There was still thirty runs to make, but unless he took care the
whole innin