The beginning of the eighth inning found the score 11 to 7 in favor of Company A. Ritter and his followers were in high feather, thinking they were sure of winning. “And maybe we won’t celebrate to-night,” chuckled the bully. “Rub the defeat in good while you are at it,” said Paxton, who was on the substitute bench. “You bet we will!” answered Ritter boastfully. Ritter was to the bat and managed to line out a safety. He was followed by a player who went out on a foul, but the next man knocked a two-bagger and Ritter managed to slide home, amid well-deserved applause. When Company A retired they had 14 runs to their credit. Dale was now to the bat and managed to get to second in safety. Pepper got to first and a wild throw over the baseman’s head gave Dale third and Pepper second. Then came a streak of good batting and the end of the eighth inning found Company B with 11 runs. “We must hold ’em down!” said Pepper, as Company A came up for the ninth time to the bat. “Dale, do your best!” The pitcher tried to steady himself and struck out the first man up. The second went to first on balls and the next batter hit a safety. “Steady, Dale, steady!” cried Jack. And Dale settled down to even work once more, and Company A retired with only its 14 runs. “Our last chance to win!” cried Pepper, as his side came in. “Right you are,” answered the young major, anxiously. “Three runs to tie the score and four to win!” CHAPTER XVII IN DANGER OF FIRE Ritter had a smile of confidence on his face and he walked down to the pitcher’s box with something of a swagger. “Strike the three of ’em out, Reff!” shouted one of the bully’s supporters. “Don’t let ’em see what first looks like.” “I’ll take care of ’em, don’t worry,” answered Ritter. A cadet named Jackson was first to the bat. He was not an extra good hitter and now he was nervous. “Strike one!” was the umpire’s cry as the first ball pitched whizzed over the plate. “That’s the way to do it, Reff!” came the cry from one of the bully’s cronies. The next was a ball, but then came two strikes, and much crestfallen Jackson retired, while the supporters of Company A cheered Ritter. Dale came to the bat next and had one strike called on him. Then he hit out a safety and got to first with ease. “Hurrah! Now keep up the good work!” cried a supporter of Company B. As before, Pepper followed Dale. He watched the ball closely, and had two balls called on him and a strike. Then he got just what he wanted and lined out a beautiful two-bagger. Dale was on the alert and by the time Pepper got safely on second he slid home, amid a wild cheering. “That’s the way to do it!” “You’ve got Ritter going! Keep up the good work!” “My, but wasn’t that a beaut of a two base hit?” Andy was now at the bat. Plainly Ritter was getting nervous and soon he had two balls called on him. “Don’t let him walk—make him hit it!” was the cry.