Sandow being at bat and Fred on deck, Mitchell elected to pass the star hitter of the Baxter team to first, trusting to striking out Fred, as he had done twice before, and forcing the others to hit pop flies. When Taffy saw the plan, he went around to third, Sandow starting for second the moment the ball left Mitchell's hand. As he waited for this play, Fred was amazed to see the ball coming straight and low--just the kind he liked. Quickly tightening his hold on his bat, to the surprise of his team mates and the Landon players, who had closed in, he swung with all his might and caught the ball full. At the crack of the bat, Taffy raced for home, while Sandow reached third and hesitated. "Keep going!" bellowed Hal. "Home run! Home run!" roared the Baxter students, waving their banners and jumping about joyously. Fred's sudden decision to hit the ball had caught the Landon outfield napping. As the sphere sailed through the air, the center and right fielders started for it. Racing at top speed, their eyes on the ball, they gave no heed to one another. Closer and closer they drew. "Right field take it!" shouted Mitchell, in frantic endeavor to prevent a collision. But his command was too late. With a thud, the two players came together, recoiled from the shock, and went sprawling, while the ball dropped less than a yard away. Realizing what was going to happen, Taffy crossed the plate leisurely, followed by Sandow, and later by Fred. "Three to nothing! Three to nothing!" roared the Baxter students. "Good old Cotton-Top!" Victory thus assured, the next two batters made little attempt to hit the ball, and were easy outs. Deliriously happy that they had won the game on Landon's grounds, the Baxter students and alumni rushed onto the field, cheering and yelling for Fred and Bronson. But the two boys, shrinking from the demonstration, hastened to the dressing-room, quickly donned their street clothes and slipped out, going directly to the station and into the students' special train, where they found Margie and Dorothy awaiting them by prearrangement. Their tête-a-tête was short, however, for when their schoolmates discovered the two boys whose playing had won the game, they refused to leave them. Elated with the victory, the students considered the championship practically won, confident that on their own grounds they would have no difficulty in winning the second game, which was to be played on the second day following. Having arranged for a meeting of the supper club at Fred's, the members trooped gayly to the house upon arrival at Baxter. In delight, Mrs. Markham listened to the glowing description of her son's home run. "Too bad you will be unable to play when Landon comes here," she exclaimed. "Fred not play?" gasped the others in consternation. "I'm sorry, but he must go to Manchester. His father has sent for him," explained Mrs. Markham.