Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/159

Rh the affair and gave as good an imitation as possible of a steam locomotive in operation.

"Very good! Very good," was the comment. "Now go up grade," and the blindfolded candidates were forced to go up a steep incline of boards, slipping and sliding back half the time.

"They are coming on," commented some one. "At the next stop they take water. Hose-tender, get ready!"

"Hold on! What are you going to do?" demanded Joe.

"You'll see," was the answer. Joe and Tom were led to another part of the room. It was dimly lighted now, as they could see, for a faint glow came under the handkerchiefs.

A moment later each of the luckless candidates felt a cold stream of water strike him full in the face. They tried to duck, and to turn their heads away, but the others held them until the upper part of their bodies were thoroughly soaked.

"That's enough for steam," came the order from one of the party. "Now to see how they can carry passengers. Off with their bonds, but keep the blinders on."

This was done.

"Down on your hands and knees, candidates,"