In the fifth and sixth innings neither side scored. At last the
spectators began to realize that they were watching two well-matched
nines.

"I can't see that the Central Grammars are doing such a lot of
a much," grunted Hi Martin to a High School boy.

"The Centrals are playing fine ball," retorted the High School
boy. "The only trouble is that the Souths rank pretty close to
them."

"I'd like to play both teams again," asserted Hi. "All that happened
to us was that we struck a few flukes when we played."

"Humph!" retorted the High School lad, just before turning away.
"Your North Grammar nine was kicked all over the field by both
of these nines. Both Prescott's and Teall's fellows have improved
a lot since they met you."

Hi subsided, feeling unhappy. It hurt him to hear any one praise
a fellow like Prescott.

"I wonder if they could beat us, if we had another try?" pondered
Hi. "But what's the use of talking? Prescott would never think
of giving us another chance. He's too thankful to have lugged
the score away from us before."

In the eighth inning Teall brought in one more run for the Souths,
who now led.