“It’s a trick to put you out of the game.” “What is it?” “It’s a scheme to feed you on ipecac just before the game begins.” “If I don’t swallow it I sha’n’t have any trouble, shall I?” “No. But――――” “Who is to do the trick?” “You can guess who is behind it. It’s the lowest, meanest thing I ever heard of! If I really believed it all, I’d――――” “Don’t you believe it?” broke in Dan. “I don’t know just what to think. I confess I’m afraid.” “You haven’t told me just what it is that scares you.” Thus bidden, Ned, without mentioning any names, related what Carlton had reported to him. “What do you think, Dan?” he asked, when he had completed his story. “I don’t believe there’s a fellow in the school who would be guilty of such a low trick!” said Dan positively. “I guess it’s a false alarm. We’re all nervous over the game.” “Maybe that’s so,” said Ned, his countenance brightening a little. “Still, it’s better to be on the safe side,” he added cautiously. “What can be done?” “You can be on your guard anyway.” “I might not eat or drink anything,” suggested Dan with a smile. “Then I’d be safe anyway.” “And be in no condition for the game. No; I’ll tell you what we’ll do, Dan.” “What?” “To-morrow we’ll stick together after luncheon till the game is called.” “That won’t be much of a hardship,” said Dan lightly. “No; but if both of us are on the lookout it won’t be likely that anything can be done.” “All right. I’m agreed, though I haven’t a bit of fear.” “I’m glad you haven’t; I wish I were all clear in my mind too. But I’m not. We’ll keep both eyes open, Dan. Hello!” he added; “here comes Walter and Smith and Gus Kiggins.” The three boys entered the room and at once the subject of the game on the following day became the topic of conversation. To Dan’s surprise, both Walter and Gus appeared to be unusually friendly. Apparently all the feeling of jealousy which the latter openly had manifested toward Dan was gone and Walter glowingly predicted at least twelve strike-outs for his roommate. “Of course we want to win this game,” Walter said glibly. “If we can get those fellows scared, we’ll have an advantage in the other five league games we’ll have to play. Still, ‘one swallow doesn’t make a summer,’ and we’ll not cry if this game goes against us.” “We aren’t going to lose this game if every fellow backs up Dan,” said Ned quietly. “That’s just what we’re going to do,” declared Smith. “That’s the idea,” said Gus. “If every fellow doesn’t do his level best, then we’ll know the reason why. I guess Samson has given it to the nine straight. He says he’s just a little afraid some one of us may put himself out of condition by eating or drinking something that won’t agree with him. I never saw Samson so nervous as he is over this game. Next year he’ll get his training table. He says the doctor has at last agreed. I think it will be a fine thing myself.”