“He’ll be with us if we start right away,” declared Hurley. “In the outfield, besides Bimm, we’ll have Cal Grimley, of Detroit, for left, and Tip Creel, who’s been benching it with the Washington Americans, for centre. Now, gentlemen, if that aggregation can’t play ball I don’t know a thing about the game. I believe I can make a bunch of hustlers out of them. Give me a week of playing with independent teams, and I’ll be ready to tackle anything in the two big leagues. I’ll show you some chaps who will work for every game as if their lives depended on the result. I’ll get them working together in a week.” “Do you know for sure that you can land every man you have named?” wheezingly inquired Gowan. “Well, I have the promise of almost every one of them. If we get the backing now, I’ll have them together and practicing so soon it will make you gasp.” “You haven’t named your shortstop,” reminded McGann. “Haven’t settled on the man for the position. Can get any one of three. Don’t worry about that.” “What do you say, Gowan?” asked McGann. “Are you ready to go in with me to back this team on the terms stated?” “Yes,” answered the stout man, “I’m with you.” * * * * * Shortly after this the baseball world was given a sensation. McGann and Gowan’s Outcasts made their first appearance in Ridgewood, N.J., easily defeating the locals. The next day they played in Hoboken and secured another easy victory. Their first Sunday game was with the Jersey City team of the Eastern League, and the score was eight to five in their favor. Then followed five games with the strongest independent teams in the East, and five more “scalps” were garnered to their glory. On the second Sunday they played the Giants of New York in Hoboken before a mob of people that simply overran the grounds. The score was three to one in favor of the Outcasts, and their reputation was made. They sought games with the New York Yankees and the Boston champs, but the managers of these two teams seemed attacked with a sudden severe case of “cold feet.” Although they had given McGann reasons to believe they would play his team, this happened before the Outcasts were organized and had made such a bewildering record. After this happened they couldn’t seem to find any open dates. Manager McGann challenged any and all teams in both the big leagues, the winners to take the entire gate receipts after expenses were deducted. The Outcasts had arrived. CHAPTER XIII. THE FALL OF THE GIANTS. On a fine Saturday afternoon late in June the wonderful Outcasts met the redoubtable colored baseball team known as the Cuban Giants. The game was played in Newark. The baseball cranks of Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City, and New York were interested in the game, and a great crowd turned out to witness it.