"Look here, Hargate, you have made a nice mess of it, and the game
looks as bad as can be. Whatever you do, play carefully. Don't let
out at anything that comes straight. The great thing is to bother
their bowling a bit. They're so cocky now, that pretty near every
ball is straight on the wickets. Be content with blocking for a
bit, and Handcock will soon go off. He always gets savage if his
bowling is collared."

Frank obeyed orders. In the next twenty minutes he only scored six
runs, all in singles, while Thompson, who was also playing very
carefully, put on thirteen. The game looked more hopeful for the
Town boys. Then there was a shout from the House, as Thompson's
middle wicket was sent flying. Childers, who was the last of the
team, walked out.

"Now, Childers," Thompson said, "don't you hit at a ball. You're
safe to be bowled or caught if you do. Just lift your bat, and block
them each time. Now, Frank, it's your turn to score. Put them on
as fast as you can. It's no use playing carefully any longer."

Frank set to to hit in earnest. He had now got his eye well in,
and the stand which he and Thompson had made together, had taken
the sting out of the bowling. The ball which had taken Thompson's
wicket was the last of the over. Consequently the next came to him.
It was a little wide, and Frank, stepping out, drove it for four.
A loud shout rose from the Town boys. There had only been one four
scored before, during the innings. Off the next ball Frank scored
a couple, blocked the next, and drove the last of the over past
long leg for four. The next over Childers strictly obeyed orders,