As they moved along other boys joined them, some from the Central and others from the North Grammar.
By the time that Dick's nine and substitutes neared the field more than a hundred fans trailed along with them.
Nearly three hundred other boys were walking about on the field, or lying down under the trees.
Already the South Grammar boys were on the field, practicing by way of warming up.
"Hello! Here come the bluebells!" yelled a group of South Grammar fans and rooters.
"Blue?
You bet they'll be blue when the game is over!" "Hey, Prescott! What'll you take for the letters on your shirt ?" "Gimme that yellow curl over your forehead?
I saw it first." "Oh, my, don't the Little Boys Blue look sweet ?" In silence the Central players marched by their tormentors.

Dick gazed across the field to see Ted Teall swinging a bat at the home plate.
"Teall!" called Dick, as he and the others dropped their jackets at the batters' benches.
"Hello!" returned Ted.

"I'm glad to see that you fellows really had the nerve to come to-day." "I saw you doing some pretty wild batting, Teall," laughed Dick Prescott.

"That kind of work won't save you when I get started.
Shall I throw you in a few real ones---hard ones---before we get at it in earnest ?" "Go on!" retorted Ted scornfully.
"Oh, I won't hurt you," Prescott promised.
"You bet you won't," boasted Teall.
"He's afraid, even before the game starts," jeered a group of Central Grammar boys.

"That's right, Ted.