Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-10-14
CHAPTER VI.
HIS SECOND WIND.

HE first weeks were not pleas-
i ant for the Pilot He had
IS7SS7TSl been beaten. and the sense OF
- failure damped his fine en-
thusiasm, which was one OF his chief
charms The Noble Seven desDised.
ignored or laughed at him. according
TO their mood and disposition. Bruce
patronized him. and worst OF all. the
Muirs pitied him. This last II was
that brought him low, and l was glad
OF It. | find IL hard to put up with a
man that enjoys pity.
Ii was HI kendall that restored him.
though Hi had no thought OF doing so
good a deed. IL was i'm this way: 4
baseball match was on with the Porcu-
pines from near the Fort. To HIS dis
gust and the teams dismay Bill failed
TO appear. IL was Hrs delight TO
stand up FOR Bills pitching, and their
battery was the glory OF the Home
team.
TRY the Pilot, HI" said some one,
chatting him.
Hi looked glumly across at the Pr
lot standing some distance away; then
called out, holding up the ball:
Can you play the gamer
For answer Moore held up his hands
for n catch. Hi tossed him the ball
sseasily. The ball came back so quickly
that III was hardly ready. and the jar
seemed TO amaze him exceedingly.
I'll take him." he said doubtfully.
and the game began. Iii fitted on his
mask, new importation and his pc
culiar pride. and waited.
How DO you like themT" asked the
Pilot.
"Hatr' said HI II hain't got no
gloves 10 burn"
The Pilot turned his back. swung of
one foot on TO the other and discharged
his ball.
''Striker called the umpire.
you betr' said iii with emphasis.
but his face was picture Of amaze.
ment and dawning delight
Again the Pilot went through the
maneuver In his box and again the
umpire called:
striker
Hi stopped the ball without holding
IL and set himself for the third. Once
more that disconcerting swing and the
whiplike action of the arm. and for the
third time the umpire called:
strike. Striker out"
That's the hole" yelled HI.
The POrcupines were amazed Hi
looked at the ball in his hand, then
at the slight figure OF the Pilot.
II say, where do you get it,"
WHAT" asked Moore innocently.
'The gait
'The whatT
'The gait. the speed, you known
"Oh! l used 10 play in Princeton a
little"
Did. Ell? What the blank blank did
you quit for:'
He evidently regarded the exchange
OF the profession OF baseball for the
study of theology as n serious error in
judgment and in this opinion every
inning of the game confirmed him. At
the bat the Pilot did not shine. but he
made up for light hitting by his base
running. He was feet as a deer. and
he knew the game thoroughly He was
keen, eager. intense in play, and before
the innings were half over he was rec
ognized as the best all round man on
the field. In the pitchers box he puZ-
Zled the PorcupineS till they grew des-
perate and hit wildly and blindly,
amid the jeers of the spectators. The
bewiderment OF the Porcupines was
eQualed only by the enthusiasm of Hi
and his nine. and when the game was
over the score stood 81 To Z in favor OF
the Home team. They carried the Pr
lot Oft the field.
From that day Moore was another
man. He had won the unqualified re-
spect of Hi kendall and most of the
Others. for he could beat them at their
own game and still be modest about
ii. Once more his enthusiasm came
back and his brightness and his cour-
age. The Duke was not present TO
witness his triumph, and. besides. he
rather despised the game. Bruce was
there, however, but took no part in
the general acclaim. Indeed, he
seemed rather disguised with Moores
sudden leap into favor. Certainly his
hostility to the Pilot and TO all that
he stood for was none the less open
and bitter.
The hostility was more than usually
marked at the service held on the sun
day following. Ii was perhaps,
thrown into stronger relief by the
open and delighted approval of Iii. who
was prepared To back up anything the
Pilot would venture To say Bill. who
had not witnessed the Pilots perform
ance in the pitchers box. but had only
His enthusiastic report to 40 uDon
still preserved his judicial air. 1t is
fair 10 say. however, that there was
no mean spirited jealousy in Bilrs
heart even though Iii had frankly as
sured him that the Pilot was de