he Count was dashed, while Bulldog's face
suggested that next Monday the whole school would be thrashed, and that
a special treat would be reserved for the eleven. Mr. McGuffie, however,
with a sportsman's instinct, seized the opportunity to make another bet
with his lordship's coachman, and increased the odds from five to ten,
and the dignitary declared it was simply robbing McGuffie of his money.

"We'll see aboot that, my man, when the horses pass the line. I've seen
many a race changed before the finish," and Mr. McGuffie took his
position in the front row to see the end.

Thirty-three runs to make to win the match, and only one wicket to fall,
and the Columbians discounted their victory in a gentlemanly fashion,
while Jim Fleming looked very grave. "Give them no chances," he said to
Howieson, as that stolid youth went in to join Speug, who had been at
the wicket for some time, but had only scored ten. Any over might close
the match, and perhaps the Columbians' bowlers grew careless, for three
overs passed and the two friends of many a scrimmage were still in, and
neither of them had shown any intention of going out. Quite the
contrary, for Speug had broken into fours, and Howieson, who played with
the gracefulness of a cow, would allow no ball to interfere with his
wickets, and had run up a couple of twos on his own account.

"Juist beginnin'," said Speug's father. "Him oot sune? I tell you he's
settlin' down for the afternoon and that laddie Howieson is a dour
deevil. The fact is"--Mr. McGuffie took a circle of spectators into his
confidence--"they're juist gettin' into the stride." The Count preened
his plumage and plucked up heart again, while the Seminary lads,
gathered in a solid mass to the left of the tent, were afraid to cheer
lest they should invite defeat, and, while they pretended unconcern,
could feel their hearts beating. "They couldn't be better matched," said
Nestie. "Speug and Jock--they've had l-lots of things in hand together,
and they'll d-do it yet. See!" and at that moment Speug sent a ball to
the boundary. Now there were only seventeen, instead of thirty-three
runs to make.

They were playing a game of the utmost carefulness, blocking the balls
which were dangerous and could not be played; declining to give the
faintest chance of a catch, and taking a run short rather than be run
out, and so the score crept up with a two from Howieson, who had got
into a habit of twos, and being a phlegmati