WILLOW THE KING WILLOW THE KING The Story of a Cricket Match BY J. C. SNAITH AUTHOR OF “FIERCEHEART, THE SOLDIER,” “MISTRESS DOROTHY MARVIN,” ETC., ETC. _ILLUSTRATED BY LUCIEN DAVIS, R.I._ LONDON WARD, LOCK AND CO. LIMITED NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE TO MY COLLEAGUES OF THE NOTTINGHAM FOREST AMATEUR CRICKET CLUB CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I THE NIGHT BEFORE 9 CHAPTER II COMING EVENTS 19 CHAPTER III LITTLE CLUMPTON _v._ HICKORY 34 CHAPTER IV AN IMPOSSIBLE INCIDENT 47 CHAPTER V THE CUSSEDNESS OF CRICKET 64 CHAPTER VI OF A YOUNG PERSON IN BROWN HOLLAND 81 CHAPTER VII CONVERSATIONAL 97 CHAPTER VIII A CRICKET LUNCH 106 CHAPTER IX RECORD BREAKING 128 CHAPTER X THE END OF THE DAY 142 CHAPTER XI CUPID PUTS HIS PADS ON 155 CHAPTER XII MY FIRST COUNTY MATCH 171 CHAPTER XIII A CASE OF HEREDITY 199 CHAPTER XIV IN WHICH I AM MORE SINNED AGAINST THAN SINNING 213 CHAPTER XV FACING THE MUSIC 230 CHAPTER XVI A TELEGRAM FROM STODDART 248 CHAPTER XVII A FEW OF ITS CONSEQUENCES 262 CHAPTER XVIII I RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN A HEART-BREAKING SCIENCE 272 CHAPTER XIX A CASE FOR M.C.C. 285 CHAPTER XX A CASE FOR ANOTHER EMINENT AUTHORITY 298 CHAPTER I The Night Before IT was the eve of Little Clumpton _versus_ Hickory. To those who are unfamiliar with these haunts of ancient peace this may seem a chronicle of the infinitely little. The Utopians, however, dwelling there remote, were quite aware that Waterloo, nay, even the Battle of Omdurman, was a picnic in comparison with Little Clumpton _versus_ Hickory. Therefore let the nations heed. Half our team were sitting in my billiard-room discussing the prospects of the morrow. Opinion really was unanimous for once: Little Clumpton _must_ not lose. “Lose!” said the Optimist grandly, “is it England, or is it Hickory?” “Only Hickory,” said the Pessimist, “and the Trenthams.” “It can be W. G. and Jackson, if they like to bring ’em,” said the Optimist; “and then they’ll finish sick. They’ll simply flop before Charlie’s ribsters, and Billy’s slows.” “H’m!” said the Pessimist. “Think so?” said the Worry. “Certain,” said the Optimist. “Before now we’ve had ’em out for fifty.”