He and Bob were rapidly becoming friendly, or rather Bob was, for Dan had liked Bob all along. Dan took hold of baseball affairs in a way that won the captain’s heart, playing his own position for all there was in it, and helping cheerfully with the coaching no matter how hot the sun beat down on the field. As a result of this change of sentiment on Bob’s part a four-cornered friendship was formed which lasted for a good many years. Nelson, Dan, Bob, and Tom were together pretty much all the time, and finally the camp took notice and dubbed them the “Big Four.” Nelson meanwhile had been taken into the society and had afforded amusement for the entire camp when he had been put through his initiation, which, for want of a building affording privacy, was conducted in the clearing between Poplar and Spruce Halls. CHAPTER VI OPENS WITH AWFUL TIDINGS, AND ENDS WITH A GLEAM OF HOPE Dire news reached the camp one morning, brought over from the village by a small junior who had gone for the mail. His tale was listened to with incredulous indignation by a large group of the fellows congregated outside of Birch Hall. The junior’s name was Rooke, and he was vastly impressed with his importance when he saw with what breathless interest his news was received. When Dan joined the group, after having reported as orderly to Mr. Ellery, officer of the day, Rooke was telling his story for the second time, and with what Tom called “imposing detail.” “There’s a fellow over at Crescent staying at the boarding-house named Harry Fraser,” began Rooke. “Queer name for a boarding-house,” said Dan. “Shut up, Speede!” some one admonished him. Rooke looked hurt. “All right; never mind what the boarding-house is called, Kid,” said Dan. “Fire ahead!” “I’d met him now and then at the post-office, you know. Well, this morning, when I came out with the mail, he was there----” “Were there any letters for me?” asked Dan eagerly. Then he retired to a safe distance, and waited for his pursuers to become absorbed again in the narrative. “‘Say,’ he said, ‘Wickasaw put it on to you fellows good and hard, didn’t they?’ ‘How did they?’ says I. ‘Oh, you don’t know anything about it, do you?’ says he. And of course I didn’t, but I wasn’t going to let on to him.” “Foxy kid!” murmured Dan. “‘Oh, that!’ I says; ‘that’s nothing! Any one could do that!’” “Good for you, Rooke!” his audience laughed. “Well, pretty soon I found out what he was talking about. And what do you think those chumps have done?” And Rooke paused dramatically, looking very indignant. “You told us once,” said some one unkindly. “Go ahead!” Rooke resented this remark, and for a moment seemed inclined to sulk. But Joe Carter patted him on the back, Dan told him he was a smart kid, and he decided to let the incident pass.