"Right you are, Dan," answered Jack. "Just the same, that scrub team isn't Hixley High, or Columbus or Longley, either, please don't forget that." "Oh, I know that just as well as you do, Jack. We've got to play much better than we did to-day if we expect any victories in the regular games." "Don't forget that we'll be up against Dink Wilsey again," said Gif. "I don't believe that any of us are likely to forget it," grinned Dan. All remembered Dink Wilsey very well. He was the pitcher for Hixley High and a fellow who was destined to become talked about in baseball circles. He had a puzzling delivery, and sometimes struck out even the best of the batsmen with ease. From that day forth Jack and the other members of the ball team put in every spare moment at practice. Gradually the young pitcher obtained better control of the sphere, and then he did what he could to increase his speed and make his curves more puzzling. The contest with Hixley High was to take place on the latter's grounds, and almost all the pupils at Colby Hall made the journey to see the game. Many girls were also present from Clearwater Hall and from the town. "Oh, Jack, I hope you win!" said Ruth Stevenson, as he strode forward to greet her and the others who had arrived from the girls' school. "We're going to do our best, Ruth," answered the young pitcher. And then, as he noticed something of a cloud on her face, he added jokingly: "You don't have to look so glum about it." "I'm not glum over the game, Jack. I was thinking of something else," she answered soberly. "Why, what's the matter, Ruth--has anything gone wrong?" "Yes, Jack. But--but maybe I'd better not tell you anything about it," she faltered. "Has anybody been annoying you?" "I can't tell you now--I'll tell you after the game if I get a chance," whispered Ruth, as several of the other boys and girls came closer. At that moment came a blare of tin horns and the noise of many rattles, and then the Hixley High boys let out a wild yelling: "Hixley High! Hixley High! Hixley High forever!" and this was repeated over and over again. "Wake up, fellows!" came suddenly in a bellow from Ned Lowe. "Everybody wake up for Colby Hall!" And then there boomed out this refrain: "Who are we? Can't you see? Colby Hall! Dum! Dum! Dum, dum, dum! Here we come with fife and drum! Colby! Colby! Colby Hall!" "That's the stuff! Give it to 'em again!" yelled Fatty Hendry, wiping the perspiration from his forehead, and once more the school refrain boomed forth. "Oh, isn't that grand!" remarked Mary Rover. "The best ever!" answered her cousin Martha. "It makes me feel just as if I was being raised off my feet," remarked May Powell. The game began with Hixley High at the bat. There was a wild cheering for Rigby, the center-fielder, when he came up, stick in hand, and also yells of encouragement for Jack. "Put him out in one-two-three order, Jack!" "Don't let him get a smell at first!"