The cadets had not lost their confidence, and by a combination of good work and good luck they also landed a man on third with only one out. By this time Factor was nervous. He had not anticipated this sort of a game, and he realized that his reputation with his own team depended on his success in the present contest. Fully aware that he was regarded as the weakest pitcher the Great Northern had, and that he had been used against the schoolboys because Grace did not wish to wear out a better man, he saw before him the prospect of release in case Fardale should win. The cheering and singing of the cadets seemed once more to put vigor and determination into the players, and they went after Factor hotly. The next batter happened to be Singleton, and big Bob got in one of his wonderful long drives to the fence, on which he took three bags and sent a man ahead of him home. Factor’s nervousness increased. “What’s the matter with you, Bill?” growled Tom Grace. “Are you going to let those kids blanket you? You claim to be a pitcher!” Factor set his teeth, determined to end it right there. Once more Obediah Tubbs managed to get hit by the ball, and this added to the unsteadiness of the visiting pitcher. Then came Buckhart, who smashed the leather a fierce one, scoring Singleton and landing Tubbs on third, while he himself took second. Arlington walked out, smiling and confident, resolved to clinch his own game then and there. As a result of his overconfidence Factor was able to make him swing ineffectively twice and might have struck him out had he not lost control and hit Chet with the ball. This filled the bases. Grace called for “time” and walked into the diamond. “See here, Bill Factor,” he said under his breath, “if you’re off your trolley you had better go to the bench. I will put Peterson in.” “Don’t,” begged Factor. “I’m all right! I can win this game!” “Play ball! Play ball!” roared the cadets. “Dear me!” shouted Ted Smart, waving his arms in the air. “It can’t be you’re frightened! Why, of course you’re not frightened! We know you will win! You can’t help winning! It’s just as easy as can be. You’re only playing a lot of kids, you know.” “Poor old Factor! Poor old Factor!” sang a lot of the cadets in unison. “I will give you one more show,” growled Grace. “It’s your last chance!” This knowledge did not add to Factor’s steadiness, and, after having one strike and two balls called, Gardner tucked in a beautiful little single that scored two men. Immediately Grace ordered Factor out of the box and replaced him with Peterson, who was a left-hander. Peterson had a nasty drop that curved in toward the batter’s ankles, and in short order he retired the home team. At this stage of the game, however, the score was eight to one in favor of Fardale, and Arlington confidently declared he would never let the enemy overtake them. The next two innings proved to be hard ones, and neither side scored.