But Bronson's work had more than retired the side. Mitchell, the Landon pitcher as well as captain, had remembered Sandow's words, and as he saw the boy settle down and throw nine strikes in as many balls, he realized his team would have no easy battle. Consequently, he was so nervous that he could not control his throws, and before Baxter was retired three runs had crossed the plate. In the next seven innings, Bronson struck out nine men, holding the others to hits to the infield, never allowing a Landon man to get beyond second base, while Baxter brought in one more run, made by Taffy. As their side went to bat in the ninth, the Landon followers implored them to hit out a victory. "Strike 'em out, one, two, three!" yelled the Baxter students at Bronson. And as he retired the first man up, they howled with glee, which turned to pandemonium as the second batter struck out. Desperate, Mitchell ordered his player to strike at anything. Crack! went his bat on the first ball pitched. With terrific force, the ball sped straight for the pitcher's box. "Let it go! Let it go!" yelled Fred at Bronson, while Hal ran in to back up his second baseman. In silence, the crowd held its breath. That the yellow-haired boy would be able to stop, much less hold, the ball seemed nigh impossible. "Don't try for it. Let Hal take it!" cautioned Sandow. But the second baseman never heard him. With a "thwack" that resounded over the diamond, the ball struck the pit in Fred's glove. But so tremendous was its force that the ball raised the boy off his feet, and as he struck the ground again he tripped and fell. Madly the batter raced to first, while Hal came on to field the ball. But before he reached his prostrate team mate, Fred held up his hand with the ball firmly clutched in his mitt--and Baxter had won the championship--4 to 0. Hastening to their train that they might return to Baxter in time to prepare the bonfire and arrange for the dance with which the winning of the pennant was always celebrated, the students gave full vent to their joy. Winthrop being only about twenty miles from Baxter, Margie and Dorothy had driven over to the game for the purpose of bringing Fred and Bronson back with them. Being too happy to hurry, it was dusk when they reached home, and by the time they had finished supper the celebration was in full swing. But Fred insisted he must see his mother before going to the campus, promising to join Margie and the others at the dance. In delight Mrs. Markham listened to the account of the trip to Manchester and the winning of the game, and so long did they talk that it was almost eleven before Fred reached the school building where the dance was being held. Margie was on the lookout for him, and as they entered, Bart and several of the girls who had been with his party at the game were standing near the door. "There comes that crackerjack second baseman. I want to meet him awfully," gushed one of the young women.