uirtown that the last would capture the wickets and give the victory
to the visitors. And it was the cleverest of all the balls, for it was
sent to land inside the block, just so much nearer as might deceive the
batsman accustomed to the former distance. No sooner had it left the
bowler's hand then Fleming saw the risk and gnawed his moustache. Every
eye followed the ball through the air on what seemed, for the anxiety of
it, a course of miles. The Columbians drew together unconsciously in
common hope. Robertson, the Seminary captain, dug his right heel into
the ground, and opposite, between the field and the river, the leader of
that rapscallion school, the "Pennies," stood erect, intent,
open-mouthed with his crew around, for once silent and motionless. Speug
took a swift stride forward and met the ball nearly three feet from the
ground, and, gathering up all the strength in his tough little body, he
caught that ball on the middle of the bat and sent it over square-leg's
head, who had come in too near and made one hopeless clutch at it, and
through the ranks of the "Pennies," who cleared out on every side to
let it pass as they had never yielded to Speug himself; and ere Muirtown
had found voice to cheer, the red-haired varlet who ruled the "Pennies"
had flung his bonnet, such as it was, into the air, for, the ball was in
the river, and the Seminary had won by three runs and one wicket.

Things happened then which are beyond the pen of man, but it was freely
said that the "Hurrah" of Bulldog, master of mathematics, drowned the
hunting-cry of Mr. McGuffie, and that when the Count, in his joy over
the victory of his "jolly dogs," knocked off Bailie MacConachie's hat,
and would have apologised, the Bailie kicked his own hat in triumph.
This is certain, that the Seminary carried Speug and Howieson both
protesting, from the North Meadow, in through the big school door; that
Bulldog walked at the head of the procession, like a general coming home
in his glory; that he insisted on the Bailie walking with him; that,
after all the cheering was over, Speug proposed one cheer more for
Bailie MacConachie, and that when the eleven departed for Bulldog's
house for supper half the Seminary escorted the Bailie home.

BULLDOG'S RECOMPENSE

XVI

When the rumour flew through Muirtown in Spring that Bulldog was to
resign at the close of the summer term it was laughed to scorn, and
treated as an agreeable jest. Had it been the