second had gained him a
great name, and who must have been responsible for a number of hits which
the Riverport boys had suffered during the "late unpleasantness."

"Getting to be an old story to have you Riverport fellows crow over us,"
grumbled Boggs, who had been the one to walk away while the battle was
still on; he had his handkerchief crushed in his hand, having wet it with
melted snow, and in this fashion was trying to relieve the smarting, as
well as prevent his eye from becoming discolored---something the average
boy dislikes more than almost any other punishment that can be imagined.

"Is there anything that we can beat you in?" demanded Sherley, frowning;
"because I'd give something to know it. We've tried our level best, and
for two years now only picked up a few crumbs of comfort, while the
feast's been spread for Riverport. And yet Mechanicsburg has just as
good athletes as you can boast. We manage to win now and then, sometimes
by sheer hard work, and again by a fluke. But they seem to be only the
minor events; all the big plums go to your crowd."

"That's Fred's diplomacy, Sherley, don't you understand?" said Bristles,
with one of his wide grins. "He looks out for it that we get our best
licks in the things that count. We've got a billiard and pool table at
our house, and when we play pool don't we go after all the big balls
first? what's the use knocking the One in a pocket, except it's your only
shot, and gives you a chance to get at larger game?"

Felix Wagner looked at the speaker, and gave a low whistle.

"Shucks! I believe that's what's been the trouble all along," he went on
to say, presently, as though he had been awakened from a sound sleep;
"and to think none of us got on to that racket before. Sure, we've been
chasing after the Number One ball just as hard as we have after the
Fifteen. All looked alike to us. Much obliged for giving me the tip,
Bristles; we'll see if we can't do better next time. And if all the talk
about having a regular Marathon race this Spring turns out right, that's
where Riverport is going to run up against her Waterloo!"

"Glad to hear you talk so smartly, Wagner," said Fred, cheerfully, for
such methods never had the slightest weight with him, or affected his own
confidence. "If you go at things that way, there's a chance we'll have a
glorious run, in case that Marathon race does come off. All of us are
pulling the hardest we know how to get it fixed