Page:Stanwood Pier--Crashaw brothers.djvu/31

Rh censed Fifth Formers talked among themselves, and they resolved to avenge themselves upon  the ambitious youngsters during the game.

Some rumors of their sentiments and preparations came to Edward, but nothing definite; the fellows in the Sixth Form whom he knew, like Blanchard and Bell and Payne,  could have enlightened him if they had chosen,  for with them some of the aggrieved Fifth  Formers were quite confidential. But they remained silent, partly because they did n’t see any use in hurting Crashaw’s feelings, and  partly too because they did n’t want to spoil the  prospective fun. Edward himself was so busy practising with his nine the two days before  the game that he had neither thoughts nor  ears for anything else.

He was therefore somewhat surprised on Saturday afternoon when he went out on the  field to find the Fifth Form squatting all  along the first-base line, several of them armed  with shotguns, one with a small cannon, and  others already making dismal noises with tin  horns.