English? If I had kenned that,
Nestie, ye little scoundrel, I would have given them a cheer. Seven
wickets--they did the job properly." And Speug took his "gundy" with
relish.

"Speug!"--and Nestie spoke with much impressiveness--"I have an idea.
Why shouldn't the Seminary challenge the 'Bumbees' to a match next
s-summer? We could p-practice hard all this summer, and begin s-soon
next year and t-try them in July."

"It would be juist michty," said Speug, who was cheered at the thought
of any battle, and he regarded Nestie with admiration, and then his face
fell and he declared it of no use.

"They wouldna come, dash them for their cheek! and if they came they'd
lick us clean. They have a professional and they play from morning till
night. We're light-weights, Nestie. If they went in first, we'd never
get them oot; and if we went in, they'd have us oot in half an 'oor."

"For shame, Speug, to run down the Seminary as if you were a 'Penny'!
Didn't the county professional say that Robertson was the b-best young
player he'd seen for t-ten years? And Bauldie hits a good b-ball, and no
b-bowler can get you out, Speug, and there are other chaps just want
p-practice. We might be b-beaten, but we'd make a stiff fight for the
old Seminary."

"Ye can bowl, Nestie," said Speug generously, as they went back to
school at the trot; "ye're the trickiest overhand I ever saw; and Jock
Howieson is a fearsome quick and straicht bowler; and for a
wicket-keeper Dunc Robertson is no easy to beat. Gosh!" exclaimed Speug,
as they wheeled into the back-yard, "we'll try it."

The Seminary were slow to move, but once they took fire they burned
gloriously; and when Dunc Robertson and Nestie Molyneux, who had been
sent up to St. Columba's as the most presentable deputation, returned
and informed the school assembled round the Russian guns that the
"Bumbees" would send down their second eleven, since the first was too
old for the Seminary, and play a single innings match on a Saturday
afternoon in the end of July, next year, the Seminary lifted up their
voice in joyful anticipation.

It did not matter that the "Bumbees" had only consented in terms of
condescension by way of encouraging local sport, as they had tried to
organise a Drumtochty eleven, or that it was quite understood that the
result would be a hopeless defeat for the Seminary. They were coming,
and the Seminary had a year to make ready; and if they were beaten in
cricket, well,