At the end of the fourth inning the score was six to five against the Tait School. A great cheer arose when, in the following inning, Dan became the pitcher. “Saving him,” explained Carlton excitedly to Ben White, who was seated next him in the cheering section. Whether Dan had been “saved” for this need or not, when he replaced Matteson, who had been called in from center field to do his best in the pitcher’s box, the scoring of the high-school nine abruptly stopped and as the Tait School nine scored four more runs the game was won by a score of nine to six. The return games in due course were also won by safe margins, but as the nine of the Military Academy had also won from one of the two schools and also had defeated the Tait School, the last-named nine was still tied for first place in the league. Indeed, as the series progressed it became manifest that in reality the nines from the Military Academy and the Tait School far outclassed their rivals. The test between these two nines was to occur in the final game. If the academy should win, it could claim the championship by a game. The excitement in the Tait School never had run higher than on that June day when the entire student body in a special train started for the academy grounds. Cheer leaders, leaders of the school songs, and various other functionaries had been selected, new cheers and new songs had been carefully rehearsed, and if loyal support would aid Dan and his fellow players, then the Tait School nine ought to win. But the students of the Military Academy were equally well prepared to support their players, and song had been prepared to meet song and cheer to respond to cheer. On the grounds were the students of the two other schools in the league, both hopeless now of victory, but warm in their support of the rival nines that were to play that day and about equally divided in their allegiance. The scene was unlike any which Dan had ever beheld when he, with his companions, at last began their preliminary practice on the diamond. The stands were bright with color, and automobiles and carriages were several deep around the field. The sky was cloudless and the weather was intensely warm――a day when the players might do their best, but also one in which the endurance of both the nines would be severely tested. “Great day for the game,” said Ned as he patted Dan on the shoulder when the latter took a ball in his hand and started toward one side of the field to “warm up.” “Yes, one of the finest I ever saw. Look at the crowd, Ned,” added Dan as he glanced at the great gathering. “Five thousand,” responded Ned as he too scanned the crowded seats. “Not so many as that,” laughed Dan. “Enough, though.” “Make you nervous?” “Not yet. Can’t tell what the effect will be later.” “You’re all right, Dan,” said Ned cheerily, as he once more patted his friend on the shoulder. “You don’t lose your head.” “I don’t want to to-day――――”