Contents I. THE NEW BALL FIELD II. MR. BARRY III. THE "RETREAT" IV. THE LIST OF PLAYERS V. THE GRUMBLERS VI. THE FIRST GAME VII. FOUR TO NOTHING VIII. DISCOURAGEMENT IX. MR. BARRY ASKS QUESTIONS X. THE "FEARLESS" ARRIVES XI. GOOD BASEBALL WEATHER XII. "FOR THE GOOD OF THE SCHOOL" XIII. THE CHALLENGE XIV. REBELLION XV. A DECISION XVI. TOM IS "RATTLED" XVII. BENNY WINS A NOTE-BOOK XVIII. THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS XIX. THE VERDICT OF THE SCHOOL XX. THE WISH OF THE MAJORITY XXI. ROCKVILLE IS PUZZLED XXII. PLAIN TALK XXIII. BOB SCORES AT LAST XXIV. THE "HOPES" ARE BLASTED Illustrations "GET RIGHT BACK TO YOUR PLACE" "IT'S FOR THE GOOD OF THE SCHOOL" "WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE BALL NINE?" "I KNOW YOUR GAME" THE SOAP BOX WAS SHOVED VIOLENTLY The Rambler Club's Ball Nine CHAPTER I THE NEW BALL FIELD "Great Scott! Maybe that chap can't run!" "You're right, Earl. But it will take more than running to beat the Stars and Goose Hill fellows, to say nothing of Rockville Academy. That crowd over there certainly has a corking team. Say, Roycroft, you ought to be on Bob Somers' nine." Earl Roycroft, a six-foot boy weighing almost two hundred pounds, settled his big frame in a more comfortable position on the rail fence. His eyes mechanically followed the runners speeding one after another around a lot used by the Kingswood High School students as a baseball and training field. "Why, it isn't Bob Somers' team; it's the school's, Nat," he protested, mildly. Nat Wingate, a handsome, dark-haired boy with flashing brown eyes, smiled. "Well, Somers seems to be having things pretty much his own way," he answered. "When I was captain, last year, it was mighty different. Stand up for your rights, Roycroft. The team needs a great big chap like you, and----" "Great Scott, but he can sprint!" "Well, it would be mighty funny if a fellow who has such long legs as Tom Clifton couldn't sprint," returned Nat, dryly.