Then came big Bob Singleton. The cadets were wildly excited, for they believed Bob would improve this opportunity to slug the ball. Singleton went after it hard, but Factor was on his mettle, and big Bob finally fanned, which retired Fardale with two runs in the first. “What are you doing, Factor?” muttered Grace, as he walked in with the pitcher. “They hit you that trip.” “Oh, what’s the use!” returned Factor. “We can take this game any time we want it. I am not going to pitch my arm off for a lot of kids like these.” “Better not fool with them too much. We can’t afford to let them beat us.” “They can’t win this game in a thousand years!” was the retort. Although the Great Northern went after runs in the second inning and succeeded in getting a man on third and another on second, with only one man out, a beautiful play extinguished their hopes and shut them off with startling suddenness. At this the cadets rose in a body and gave the Fardale cheer. “That was squeezing out of a tight corner,” confessed Arlington, as he reached the bench. “They had me guessing then.” “Get at it, boys, and make some more runs!” urged Dick. Obediah Tubbs was distinctly seen to shut his eyes and dodge awkwardly as the first ball was pitched. It struck him glancingly, and the umpire sent him to first. “The next time I will take a wing off you, Fatty!” declared Factor. “You want to look out for that!” “Dern your picter! You will have to put more speed into it than that!” retorted Obed, having reached the bag. “I’d never knowed I was hit if the empire hadn’t told me to take my base.” Buckhart seemed eager to hit, and Factor now tried to coax him into going after bad ones. The result was that Brad finally worked out a pass to first, and two runners were on the bags when Arlington stepped out to the plate. There was a hush. “Now watch him!” growled Hector Marsh, nudging Fred Preston. “He thinks he will do something great! Bet he strikes out.” “I will bet he doesn’t get a safe hit,” said Preston. “Look at the pose he assumes!” sneered Walker. “Wouldn’t that freeze your feet!” After a wide out, Chester let a good one pass, and a strike was called on him. Factor tried to deceive him with a drop, but Chester was wary and stopped the swing of his bat so quickly that the umpire declared it a ball. “Oh, hit it! hit it!” exclaimed the pitcher. “What are you making motions like that for?” Arlington did not reply. With the next ball pitched, however, he swung and met it full and fair. At first it seemed certain the ball would go over the fence, and a roar of delight rose from the cadets. It struck against the top of the fence, however, and bounded back. Although it did not go over, this hit was sufficient to let both Tubbs and Buckhart score. Immediately the cadets began to sing “Fardale’s Way.”