CHAPTER VI.
ON THE LAKE.
Every day after school the boys practiced on the field which they had selected for their ball ground. Very often other boys would come to watch them, and various were the comments made.
"They are all right, and they'll give the Brookside Club and the Camdale Club a warm tussle," said one.
"Oh, they can't play at all," said another. "Just you wait and see the club Si Voup is getting up."
"Is he getting up a club?"
"Sure he is—he and Sidney Yates. They are going to sweep everything, too, when the proper time comes."
What the boy said about Si Voup getting up a club was true. Angered to think that he had not been asked to joint the Lakeports, Voup organized his club without delay, he being the pitcher and Sidney Yates the catcher. As the crowd had plenty of money they soon procured uniforms and bats, balls, masks, protectors, gloves and other things which go to equip a first-class team.
"We'll show 'em who are the champions of Lakeport," said Si Voup. "We'll beat them out of their hides!"
Joe's club soon heard about the rivals and about the elegant outfit which had been purchased. In the meantime the boys went around among their folks and managed to raise forty-five dollars.
"That's a pretty fair sum," said Fred. "But we ought to have a little more. Outfits worth using will cost at least six dollars per player, and we'll want ten or fifteen dollars for extras."
No boy living in the vicinity of the lake was more enthusiastic over the club than Teddy Dugan. By common consent Teddy was made a member without paying any initiation fee, and Harry called him the club's mascot. During a game Teddy was to look after the bats and other articles, and he likewise promised to do all he could to get the grounds in readiness for the first match.
"Which puts me in mind that we mustn't forget the grand stand," said Frank. "No grounds is complete without a stand."
"My father says he will build the stand if we'll furnish the lumber," returned Link.
"The lumber will cost a nice penny," came from Bart. "I wish I could find a pocketbook with about a hundred dollars in it. That would just set us on our feet."
"Day dreams!" cried Joe. "Bart, you are in Lakeport, not in a story book."
"Well, why can't I find a pocketbook? You found those papers up to Pine Island last winter, and they were mighty valuable."
"That's true, too."
"Speaking of Pine Island, what's the matter with taking a trip up there next Saturday?" came from Paul Shale. "My uncle said he would lend us his big sloop if we wanted it. We could take our lunch and have a dandy time."
"Fine!" came in a shout from half a dozen.
"What about practicing?" asked Joe.
At this the faces of the others fell, and for a moment there was a dead silence.
"Let us practice in the morning and go directly after dinner," suggested Harry, and this was agreed upon without further question. Some of the boys had to get up very early—in order to do their regular chores—but nobody complained.
So far the practicing had been more for positions than anything else. Nearly every lad had tried his ability at pitching, catching and as shortstop and first baseman. But it was soon realized that only two or three could pitch well and that not more than that number were good in the other positions. On the other hand, several were excellent field players and could catch "running flies" with considerable credit.
"I'll decide on how the places shall be filled next week," said Joe. "It's going to be a hard matter, but I'll do my best. I hope everybody will be satisfied. Of course we haven't got to keep to our one formation throughout the whole season."
The sloop to take the boys up the lake was a comfortable craft named theSprite. She was not new, but had recently been painted and she had a new mainsail.
The party was composed of eight boys, including Joe, Harry, Fred and Paul. They sailed away before one o'clock, and soon Lakeport was left in the distance. It was a clear, bright day and the breeze was just strong enough to make things lively.
"I'll tell you what Lakeport ought to have," remarked Fred. "A good boat club. They have one at Brookside."
"That's so!" cried Paul. "Perhaps next year we can organize such a club."
"We could have all sorts of contests," came from Link, who was of the party. "Not only among ourselves, but with the other towns and villages on the lake shore."
"Well, you fellows want to pay attention to baseball this season," put in Joe. "One thing at a time."
All of the boys knew more or less about a boat, and they took turns in handling theSprite. They passed several other craft, including a small rowboat in which the old hunter, Joel Runnell, and his daughter Cora were seated.
"How are ye, boys?" shouted the old hunter and waved his hand.
"How are you?" several shouted back, and tipped their caps to Cora, who smiled sweetly.
"I hear ye have a baseball club," went on Runnell. "I'll have to stop over some day and see ye play."
"Do!" called out Joe. "You must come, too," he added to Cora.
"Thank you, I'll be sure to come," answered the girl.
"Where are ye bound?" continued Joel Runnell.
"Up to Pine Island."
"They tell me that Dan Marcy has been hangin' out up there."
"Marcy!" cried several of the boys.
"Yes."
"I don't want to meet Marcy," said Harry.
"I'm not afraid of him," put in Joe, quickly. "He can mind his own business and we'll mind ours."
The two boats were now drifting apart and no more was said. Joel Runnell continued on his way toward Lakeport and theSpriteheaded once again for the island.
The breeze was growing stronger, and inside of an hour it was blowing twice as hard as when they had started. It made the spray fly over the forward deck and more than one boy was caught.
"Gracious! this is a regular shower bath!" cried Paul. "Here, let me take the tiller. We don't want to ship any more water than we can help."
"I hope we don't get a storm," came from Harry. "They say they are pretty nasty if you catch them out here."
"A storm on any lake is nasty," returned Joe. "I got that from Bob Prestley, who has been on a dozen or more, in different sections of the country."
"It won't be any fun to land if it rains," came from Link.
"It will be just as much fun as to stay on the sloop," answered another of the crowd. "But I don't think it will rain."
At last they came in sight of Pine Island, a narrow strip of land lying half a mile off the western shore of the lake. The island was low at either end, with something of a hill in the middle. Thick pine trees graced the hill, giving the island its name, and other trees lined the shores, with heavy brushwood between.
There was a cove on the eastern side of the island, where landing was easy, and to this cove Paul steered theSprite. As they came closer he ordered the others to take in the jib and lower the mainsail, and the momentum of the craft carried her directly to a good anchorage. Joe threw out a boathook with a rope, and they made fast to a tree.
"Now we can go ashore," said Paul. "Don't forget to take the lunch baskets with you."
"As if we'd forget them!" cried Fred. "A sail on the lake always makes me tremendously hungry."
"This neighborhood looks a good deal different from what it did last winter," remarked Joe, as he gazed around. "Then everything was covered with ice and snow."
To get a good look at the surroundings the boys decided to climb to the top of the hill. This was not such an easy task, owing to the closeness of the trees and brushwood.
"Phew! don't go so fast!" panted Fred. "I'm all out of wind!"
"And I've torn my sleeve," came from Paul.
They paused for awhile, at the same time listening to the wind as it moaned through the pines.
"I'm going to be the first at the top!" cried Joe, when they started again. "Come on, who will race me?"
Harry and Fred followed, but soon the stout youth fell behind. Then Joe came out at a bit of a clearing and mounted a big flat rock.
"Hurrah! I've won!" he cried, swinging his cap in the air. "What is the prize?"
"A ham sandwich," answered Link, who was carrying one of the lunch baskets. "Here you are," and he handed it out.
"Let us rest a bit before eating anything," said Frank. "A fellow can't eat when he is out of wind."
"Humph! I can eat any time," grumbled Fred. "Try me and see."
"If we had a spyglass we could see for a long distance from here," remarked Link, as he mounted the rock beside Joe. "What a fine view it is!"
"Unless I miss my guess a storm is coming up," announced Joe, with a keen look at the western sky. "It's getting black over there."
"Oh, don't scare us to death," put in Harry. "Maybe it will blow off in some other direction."
"No, it is heading directly this way. Don't you think so, Fred?"
"It certainly is coming toward the island," answered the stout youth.
"I hope the sloop isn't in danger," came from Paul. "I don't want anything to happen to her while she is in my care."
"Wonder if I can see the sloop from here?" mused Joe. He turned around and gazed down towards the cove. "Oh, Paul!"
"What is it?" came quickly from the other youth.
"The sloop is gone!"