HKB
out" in the ninth by a sudden rally on the part of their opponents, while Rockledge won handily from Somerset in a free batting game by ten runs to six.
"Hurrah!" yelled Mouser, "we're tied with Belden now."
"Bobby has pulled us up in dandy shape," declared Frank. "You're a wonder, Bobby, old scout."
"Just keep it up for one more game, Bobby," pleaded Sparrow.
"Scubbity-yow!" shouted Fred. "I'll bet old Belden is shaking in its boots."
Somerset and Ridgefield had played good ball in spots, but now they were out of the race. Belden and Rockledge had each won five and lost three, and the game that was to be played between them on the following Saturday would wind up the season and decide which of the teams was to win the pennant of the Monatook Lake League.
It was almost impossible for the boys to keep their minds on their lessons, but as there were only ten days remaining in the school term this did not matter to the same degree as it would have done earlier in the year.
But an incident occurred on the Monday following the game with Somerset that gave a new slant to their thoughts, and for a few hours drove even thoughts of the pennant from the minds of Bobby and his friends.
Shiner had been invited to go for an automobile ride by a friend of his family, who was staying for a few days at Rockledge. He came rushing into the dormitory with his eyes bulging.
"Say, fellows!" he gasped, "if you want to catch those tramps of yours, come along with me."
"What do you mean?" his chums asked in chorus, as they made a wild grab for their hats.
"I've seen them," panted Shiner. "But come along and I'll tell you. Hustle!"
The boys rushed downstairs to find an automobile waiting. Beside Mr. Wharton, the owner, they recognized the constable.
"Tumble in," said Mr. Wharton, smiling, and a half dozen boys swarmed into the automobile.
"You see," explained Shiner, "we passed three tramps about two miles from here, and I saw that two of them were the ones we saw the day we were swimming. I told Mr. Wharton and we put on speed, picked up the constable and hurried up for you, so that you could go along and identify them."
Mr. Wharton had started the car the moment the boys were inside, and it was skimming along like a bird. It went so fast that the boys had to hold on to their caps, and although they were all chattering with might and main, the wind made it almost impossible for one to hear what the others were saying.
In a very few minutes they saw three figures on the lonely country road ahead. The one in the center had a limp that was familiar.
The tramps heard the coming car, and at first stood aside to let it pass. But as it slowed up on approaching them, they took alarm, climbed over a fence and started across the fields toward a piece of woodland a little way off.
Their pursuers leaped from the car and gave chase. The lithe limbs of the boys gave them an advantage over their heavier companions, and they were soon on the heels of the tramps, who turned snarling and faced them.