Page:Hornung - Fathers of Men.djvu/180

 Eleven of all, and one for which (to his grief) no cap was given.

Founder's Day came with the Old Boys' Match, and a galaxy of gay and brilliant young men, from whom a very good side was chosen to do battle against the school; and Founder's Day was a whole holiday, when you were free to take your rug to the Upper directly after chapel. Jan took his ball as well, because his arm was out of a sling, though he was still forbidden to play in a game. That did not prevent him from bowling to one of the long line of cricketers who stuck single stumps down the length of the white palings that bounded the ground on one side. Volunteer batteries bombarded each, but Jan's batsman eventually requested the other volunteers to wait while the left-hander gave him a little practice. And after that (but not before the single stump had been laid low once) the Old Boy asked Jan his name, and why he was not bowling for the school; it is true that he was laughing as he spoke, and a knot of listeners laughed louder, which sent Jan off to his rug in some little dudgeon.

There Chips soon joined him with a startling statement to the effect that Jan's fortune was as good as made. "I suppose you know who it was you were bowling to?" he inquired in self-defence against the Tiger's claws.

"No, I don't, and I don't care either."

"It's only A. G. Swallow!"

"I never heard of him."

"He was captain here before we were born, and only about the best all-round man we ever turned out! He's played for the Gentlemen again and again."

"What's that to me?"

"It may be everything! He went straight up to Dudley Relton and told him all about you. I'll swear he