“Strike!” called out Lieutenant Eames, whose service on the West Point team qualified him as volunteer umpire.
Dirk did not lengthen his grip; but when Lefty sought to repeat his trick, he was ready for it. As the whirling ball neared the plate, Dirk stepped back a pace and his levelled bat met the horsehide smartly. A clean single flew through the infield well inside the lines and through the fingers of Ken Haveland, who was covering the domain of shortstop. The few scattered spectators set up a quick shout of approval.
When the period of practice was over, Lefty announced that there would be a short game with a team of leaders the following afternoon; and the players strolled in twos and threes back to their tents to prepare for swim. Lefty, on his way to the lodge burdened with bats and other equipment, found Brick Ryan sitting on a bench under a huge black cherry tree at the gate.
“Why so thoughtful?” Lefty hailed him. “And by the way, where were you for batting practice? You slipped off without telling me.”
“I had an idea,” responded his friend grimly.
“No, it gave somebody else an ache, but not in the head. I put a stop to all these shenanigans that have been raisin’ cain with my belongin’s—at least, I put a stop to them for a while, anyway. I sneaked up on Tent One durin’ battin’ practice. Not a soul was around, except that nasty little Toby brat from Tent Eight. Do you know, I caught him in the very act of dumpin’ a pail of water right on my bed!”
“But what would he do that for? What’s he got against you?”
“Not a thing that I know of. It’s a mystery.”
Lefty threw back his head and laughed. “Better not let young Sherlock Jones hear about it,” he advised. “He’ll pester around with clues until he’s dizzy. Well, I’m glad Van Horn didn’t have anything to do with it. He was down at the field all the while.”
“Well, he’s stretchin’ his bunk right now, readin’ bedtime stories. How did he look in there today?”
“Not bad. He’s a better fielder than Terry Tompkins, that’s sure. And he’s fairly brainy with a bat. Tomorrow we can see what he can do against the councilors.”
Lefty picked up his equipment and started on. He had only gone a few paces when Brick, who had not moved, called after him in a low voice: