Buttar, Bouldon, Dawson, and other fellows of the same age, were
playing. Bouldon was on one side, Ernest on the other. The latter
selected Buttar, and the former Dawson. They tossed up who was to go in
first; Ernest won. He went in first; Tom had to feed him. Dawson kept
a sharp look-out behind him, as did the other three players in different
parts of the field. There is more science in the game than many people
are aware of, though not, of course, to be compared to cricket, any more
than the short bat which is used is to a cricket-bat.

"Now, Bouldon, give me a fair ball, you sly fox," cried Ernest, for Tom
was notorious for his tricks and dodges of every sort. If a good hoax
was played on the school, or on any individual, its authorship was
generally traced to him. To do him credit, they were never ill-natured.
He generally, when found out, bore his blushing honours meekly, and if
not discovered, contented himself by laughing quietly in his sleeve.

"All fair and above board," cried Tom, bowling. "Look out!"

Ernest hit the ball a fine blow, and sent it flying away over the heads
of all the out-players. Away he ran from base to base. He had already
reached the third from the home--two distances more only had to be run--
when Reynolds, a boy who could heave as far as any one in the school,
got hold of the ball. One more run he thought he could attempt, for
Reynolds could scarcely hit him at that distance. Reynolds, seizing the
ball, rushed on with it. Ernest reached the fourth base. He wished to
make Reynolds heave it; he pretended to spring forward; Reynolds threw
the ball; Ernest watched its course, and as it bounded by him, he
changed his feint into a reality, and reached the home. The next time
he hit the ball still harder, and ran the whole round of the bases.

"Now, Ellis, you may have to go in before long," he sang out. "Don't
attempt a rounder, though. Get to the first or second base easily; that
will do. Come, feed away, Tommy."

Bouldon fed him, and though he sent the ball to a good distance, he only
reached the fourth base. When he got there, he called out to Ellis to
go in. Ellis seized the bat with a convulsive clutch, as if he was
about to fight a battle with it, or was going to perform some wonderful
undertaking. Even Ernest could scarcely help laughing at the curious
contortions of countenance in which he indulged. However, remembering
Ernest's advice, he kept his eye on t