Ralph Henry Barbour

“ He shook his head dejectedly.
“Cheer up, Tommy,” said Dan. “In hoc signo vinces, old chap! Never forget that. That means ‘While there’s life there’s hope.’”
“And E pluribus unum means one out of many,” rejoined Tom sadly. “And the one’s me.”
When they had stopped laughing, Bob said:
“I think we’ve had a pretty good time this trip, taking it all in all, don’t you?”
“Dandy,” answered Nelson. “We always do when we get together. Look at the fun we had last summer at Chicora! I think we ought to do something else together next summer. What do you say?” ”

“ For the crack had rounded the sloop and was hot on Tom’s trail and scarcely a hundred yards in the rear. Tom struck out again with long, even strokes, swimming hand over hand and pushing the water back from him with every bit of strength in his body.
Among the breakers and just beyond them the spectators were watching eagerly. Some few swam out to speed the winner over the line. Two men and a young lady in a rowboat, which had mysteriously appeared on the scene, shouted encouragingly to Tom.
“Go it, kid!” cried one of the men. “You can beat him! You’re holding him!” ”

“ Three hours later the Four—or should I say the Five?—were standing on the deck of the little steamer watching the Long Island shore recede across the waters of the Sound. The boat’s nose was pointed toward New York—and school and study and hard work. But every face there showed happiness and contentment. [285] For, being healthy and sensible, they knew that study and hard work stand just as much for enjoyment as do vacation days. And of all in the group there on the deck the happiest was Dan, unless—well, unless, possibly, it was Barry! ”

“ The elephant watched him expectantly with his little eyes as he passed. Nelson kept on until he stood just outside [101] the scene of operations. They were raising the big tent now. One end of it suddenly arose into air; men shouted and hurried; ropes were hauled and tightened, slackened and made fast; the great mallets rose and fell with resounding blows; inch by inch, foot by foot, the great gleaming canvas house took form. From somewhere came an appealing odor of coffee and frying bacon, and Nelson suddenly discovered that he was very hungry. ”

“ What made you think of that?”
“I don’t know,” answered Dan, puzzled.
“I do,” said Tom. “You’d just told the man you got him at Barrington; see? Barry—Barrington.”
“I guess that was it. Mr. Barry, of Barrington. Well, that isn’t such a bad name.”
“It’s easy to say,” responded Bob. “Here, Barry.”
But the terrier only wagged his tail in a friendly way.
“He’ll learn his name quick enough,” said Dan. “I wonder, though, what his real name is.”
“Let’s see if we can find out,” suggested Bob. “We’ll call him all the names we can think of and see if he answers to any of them.” ”

“ There is no boy in the country to whom the name of Hobson does not bring a thrill of patriotic fire. A boy’s story by this national hero is sure of an overwhelming reception. Captain Hobson here shows himself a story-teller of rare powers, and his book would captivate the young reader whatever name was on its title-page. His name adds new charm and conviction.
There has never before been so loyally and faithfully depicted the routine and life of the naval cadet. ”

“ The four were once more themselves and in the highest spirits. Bob took command, and under his direction the others were set to finding fuel, whittling sticks for forks, and building the fireplace. By five o’clock the flames were sending a column of purple smoke up into the still evening air, and the slice of steak, cut into four portions, was sizzling over the fire on as many pointed sticks. And Barry was busy with his bone. In short, life was worth living again. ”

“ I hope he’ll suit, sir, for Jerry is a fine chap, and we all want him to get on. You see, we—we’ve adopted him in a sort of way, sir!”
“I see you have,” laughed Mr. Cozzens. “And very good of you it is,” he added seriously. “I hope your plans for him will turn out splendidly, and if he comes to me you may trust me to do all I can for him.”
“Yes, sir, we do,” answered Tom earnestly.
“Well, I guess I’d better go up and have a look at the invalid,” said Mr. Cozzens. “Don’t hurry off,” he added as the others rose. “It isn’t late; sit up just as long as you want to.” ”

“ Sullivan was plainly rattled, and his first delivery went so wild that Conly, try as he might, could not reach it. In raced the runner from third, and, close behind him, the second man. But although the first reached home safely the other met with misfortune, and was nailed a yard from the plate. But that was only one out, there was still a man on third, and the score was five to four. And, another factor in Laurelville’s favor, her captain and best batsman was facing Sullivan with a cool, smiling face. One run would tie the score; two would give the home team the lead. ”

“ The Performance in the Main Tent does not begin for half an hour. You have plenty of time to visit the Hall of Wonders! See the Snake Charmer in her wonderful demonstration of Psychic Force! A beautiful young girl who handles the deadly rattlesnake, the formidable boa constrictor, and the treacherous Indian Cobra as a child fondles a kitten! Only a dime, ten cents! See Boris, the Wild Man of the Tartary Steppes! Lives on raw flesh, sleeps but one hour in the twenty-four, and speaks no word of any known language! ”

“ Some persons are like some dogs, their bark is worse than their bite.”
“Sure,” agreed Dan. “Some persons haven’t any teeth.”
It was the jolliest sort of a September morning. [46] Once or twice they imagined they could catch glimpses of the ocean, sparkling and sun-flecked in the distance. Whether they actually saw it or not, they were constantly reminded of it by the fresh, salty breeze that caressed their faces.
“Why can’t we go along the shore instead of here where we are?” asked Nelson.
“That’s so,” cried Dan.
Bob produced his map, and they sat on the top rail of a fence and studied it. ”

“ Will crept back and took the tiller, his face white with fright.
“Hold her where she is,” said Nelson. “Where was that land the last time you saw it, Dan?”
“About over there,” answered Dan, pointing.
“That’s what I think. Starboard a little, Will! That’ll do; hold her so! We’ll keep her into the wind as much as we can. I wonder whether that old jib is doing us any good. Wish I knew more about sailboats. If this was a launch, I could manage her. Keep your eyes open, you fellows. We may strike Brooklyn or Jersey City any old moment.” ”

“ Many curious looks were cast at the boys’ packs, and finally,
“Going over to the game?” asked Dan’s nearest neighbor.
“What game is that?” asked Dan politely.
“Oh, I thought perhaps you were going,” was the reply. “It’s the game between Laurelville and Mannig; baseball, you know. We play ’em every year for a purse.”
“Oh,” said Dan, in turn. “Where’s it to be?”
“Laurelville this year. We’re the Mannig team—and rooters,” he added with a laugh. “The fellow that called out to you is Burns, our captain and third baseman. It’s going to be a great game. Everybody turns out, you know.” ”

“ WHEREIN NELSON AND BOB PLAY BALL AND LAURELVILLE MAKES A PROTEST
That was a strange and wonderful game!
Neither Nelson nor Bob—nor for that matter Tom nor Dan, who merely looked on—ever quite forgot it. The first inning was not over before it became evident that in the annual contests between Mannig and Laurelville “everything went.” It was “anything to win,” and “dirty playing” was not only looked for but applauded vigorously. The rivalry was intense, and the feeling between the opposing teams was not of the best. ”

“ It isn’t your fault, though. Come on, fellow-poverns.”
“What’s a povern?” asked Tom.
“It’s a chap who hasn’t any money,” answered Dan glumly, “like you and me, Tommy, and Bob and Nelson—and Barry.”
“Oh,” said Tom disappointedly; “I thought maybe it was something to eat. I guess I was thinking of muffins.”
“Don’t do it; that way lies madness.”
When they turned into the circus grounds again they put Barry back on his leash, for he showed a most unchristian attitude toward the elephant and camel. ”

“ You go around here by that wall and cross over to the barn back of the garden. You’ll find the little door at the side unlocked. There’s plenty of hay there, and I guess you can be right comfortable. As soon as I can I’ll bring you out some supper.”
Tom let out a subdued whoop of joy, and Dan did a double shuffle in the grass.
“It’s mighty good of you,” said Bob warmly.
“Yes’m; we’re awfully much obliged,” echoed Nelson.
“We’ll be mighty glad to pay for it,” Dan chimed in.
“Well, I guess there won’t be anything to pay,” said Mrs. Hooper with a smile. ”

“ Much to their relief he wasn’t in sight.
“Don’t believe he’s got any dog,” said Tommy.
“Don’t see why he should have,” said Dan. “He’s ugly enough himself to scare anyone away.”
“I’d like to see that Abner Wade just about two minutes,” said Nelson. “Nice game he put up on us!”
“Yes. Old Bill hates him like poison, evidently,” answered Bob. “He’s an awful joker, Abe is!”
“What’ll we do?” asked Tom.
“Foot it to Jericho, I guess,” said Bob. “It’s only about a mile.” ”

“ Dan tried to tell him that while Hillton was good enough in a way, the only school worth boasting about was St. Eustace. But Tom tipped him out of his chair, and as it is difficult to uphold the honor of your school with any eloquence from the hard floor of a carriage house, Dan decided to shut up.
“I guess it costs a good deal to go to a school like that,” said Jerry regretfully.
“Not so awful much,” answered Nelson. “A fellow can get through the year on three hundred.” ”

“ The raindrops lashed their rubber ponchos, drenched their heads, and trickled down their backs. Barry, with what remained of his tail tucked as far under him as it would go, sought shelter from the pelting drops at Dan’s feet.
“Let’s break for cover!” shouted Nelson.
They broke. Nelson led the way, stumbling along what at one time had been an embankment, on which a spur track had run a few hundred yards to a gravel quarry. The quarry had become almost obliterated with underbrush and trees, and it was under one of the largest of the latter that the Four finally drew up, panting. ”

“ Dan was after him in the instant. Bob threw the bundle of clothes out, for the other end of the line was fastened around Nelson’s waist. Then Tom followed. Bob caught a glimpse of Barry’s wet head and frightened eyes as Dan arose to the surface and struck out for the shore. Bob knotted about him the rope to which Will was lashed, and turned to the boy.
“When I call for you to jump, you jump,” he said. “You needn’t be afraid; we’ll haul you in all right.” ”

“ With Fultz went most of the Mannig team. Thereupon the Laurelville players also joined the group, scenting trouble. Finally, Fultz called to Nelson.
“Say, where do you live?” he asked.
“Boston.”
“How about you, Hethington?”
“Portland, Maine,” replied Bob.
“All right,” answered Fultz. “I suppose we’ll have to drop ’em. But I never heard of the fool rule before! We’ll beat you, anyway,” he added wrathfully.
“Go ahead,” said the Laurelville captain cheerfully. “But you can’t come any tricks like that on us. I guess we’ve got a good right to claim the game as it is. ”

“ Perhaps it was Tom’s look of surprise or the twinkle in Dan’s eye which made the other doubt the truth of Bob’s assertion.
“Because, you know,” he continued, “we need a pitcher like anything, and we could use a good batsman somewhere. And there’d be a little money in it too.”
Tom nudged Bob and looked excitedly at Nelson.
“Why don’t you, Nel?” he exclaimed.
“You dry up, Tommy,” answered Nelson.
“Look here,” said the player, leaving his seat and swaying unsteadily in front of the Four, “if any of you fellows can pitch we’ll make it worth your while!” ”

“ But the umpire wasn’t the sort to let a player disturb him for very long, and soon the captain had retired to his position, muttering and glowering. Burns fouled out to catcher, and Kelly, the Mannig shortstop, was thrown out at first, Conly and Nelson each securing a change of base. When Kleinschmidt came to the plate, what was earnestly required was a safe hit, and, being an obliging chap, Kleinschmidt supplied it, sending the ball whizzing between first and second basemen, and bringing in both Conly and Nelson. And Mannig’s war whoop sounded excruciatingly. ”