<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <br/><span class="cheaderfont">A CRITICAL MOMENT.</span></SPAN></h2>
<p>As Edgar Foster walked to the wickets he felt much
depended upon him. He was going in first, taking
first over, and if he failed to play with confidence it
would set a bad example to the remainder of the
team. It was, however, at such moments as these that
Edgar Foster’s courage and spirit did not fail him.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[29]</span></p>
<p>As he took his position at the wicket he looked
round him with a confident air to see how the field
was placed. He saw Harold Simpson had so placed
his men that not a chance would be thrown away,
provided the bowlers were in good form. After a few
moments’ delay Edgar handled his bat confidently,
and prepared to receive the first ball of the over.</p>
<p>A lad named Winter was bowling, and Edgar knew
he was a promising youngster. The first ball pitched
short and then shot forward at a tremendous pace.
It was a ball that might have deceived any batsman,
and Edgar had only just time to change his mind and
block it. The escape was narrow, and the boys saw
it, but they knew the ball was well played, and
cheered.</p>
<p>‘Thought it had him,’ said Robert Foster to one of
the Redbank masters.</p>
<p>‘It would have been a stroke of bad luck for us if
he had gone out,’ was the reply.</p>
<p>Off the next ball Edgar scored a couple, and the
fourth ball of the over he skied on to the pavilion.</p>
<p>‘That first ball put him on his mettle,’ thought his
father.</p>
<p>Strange to say, in the next over Edgar’s partner
was dismissed first ball in a similar manner to that in
which the Fairfield batsman was out.</p>
<p>Will Brown was next in, and he and Edgar made
things lively. They fairly collared the bowling, and
gave the Fairfield team plenty of leather-hunting.
Fours came freely, and Harold Simpson began to<span class="pagenum">[30]</span>
look rather downcast. However, when Will Brown
was bowled with the score at eighty, the Fairfield
captain brightened up again. He knew how often a
collapse followed a long stand, and how ‘glorious’
was the uncertainty of cricket.</p>
<p>Will Brown’s partnership with Edgar had put the
Redbank boys into an excellent humour, and they
were prepared to cheer every hit. What they were
not prepared for happened. This was the collapse of
the next four batsmen. Three of them were bowled
in one over, and the fourth had his bails sent flying
when he had scored two. Eighty for two wickets,
and eighty-two for six wickets altered the game completely.</p>
<p>It was now the turn of the Fairfield boys to give
vent to their delight. The prospect of defeat had not
been pleasant, but this sudden change mended the
fortunes of their side, and they were wild with the
sudden revulsion of feeling. They chaffed the Redbank
lads unmercifully, until at one time there was
danger of a fistic war.</p>
<p>This was, however, happily averted by the appearance
of Raymond Rakes, who was cheered as he went
to the wickets. Although Rakes was unpopular, the
boys knew he was a fair bat, and they wished to encourage
him to make a stand with Edgar Foster.</p>
<p>As Rakes came to the wickets Edgar went forward
to meet him.</p>
<p>‘Play steady,’ said Edgar; ‘I feel I am well set.
If you play carefully for a few overs you will soon<span class="pagenum">[31]</span>
master the bowling. Remember how much depends
upon you. We shall have to win the match between
us.’</p>
<p>‘I’ll see what I can do,’ said Rakes. ‘It’s precious
bad luck four of our best bats going out like this.’</p>
<p>‘Don’t think of that,’ said Edgar. ‘Try and make
up for it by piling up a good score.’</p>
<p>Raymond Rakes followed Edgar’s advice, and soon
found he had very little difficulty in playing the
bowling. He knew how anxious Edgar was, not
only to win the match, but to make fifty because his
father was present.</p>
<p>‘I’m well set,’ thought Rakes. ‘I’d like to get
him out. It would cut him up terribly to be run
out. Even if he got out we have a chance. I can
make a fair score, and our tail-end is not a bad
one.’</p>
<p>Still harbouring such thoughts as these Raymond
Rakes batted steadily, and Edgar was immensely
pleased to see him scoring freely, and the Redbank
boys were cheering every stroke. They watched the
scoring-board intently, and grew more and more
excited with every run. Suddenly there was a loud
cry of dismay from the boys. Some shouted ‘Run,
Rakes!’ others ‘Go back, Foster!’</p>
<p>Edgar Foster hit a ball forward, and called to
Rakes to run. Had Rakes come at once it would
have been an easy but smart run. Rakes started
late, and then when Edgar Foster was three parts of
the way down the pitch shouted to him to go back,<span class="pagenum">[32]</span>
and ran back himself. This left Edgar in a most
unenviable position. The ball was smartly fielded,
and as Edgar ran back he saw it flash past him
straight for the wicket-keeper.</p>
<p>‘I’m done,’ thought Edgar, but he ran on as fast
as possible.</p>
<p>It was a critical moment. The wicket-keeper in
some unaccountable way fumbled the ball, and only
knocked the bails off as Edgar reached the crease.</p>
<p>‘How’s that?’ came from wicket-keeper, bowler,
and fielders in a general chorus.</p>
<p>They were anxious to see Edgar out, for he had
given them a lot of trouble, and seemed likely to
give more.</p>
<p>‘Not out!’ promptly came the decision of the
umpire, and a roar of applause echoed over the field
as the Redbank lads danced with delight, and flung
their caps high into the air because their captain had
another chance given him. Edgar knew the decision
of the umpire was correct, and he thanked his lucky
star that the wicket-keeper had fumbled the ball.
When he thought of Raymond Rakes he felt inclined
to give him a bit of his mind, but he determined to
treat the matter as a pure accident until the close of
the game. As for Raymond Rakes he was savage
at the non-success of his plan. He had deliberately
tried to run Edgar out. It was a dirty trick, and he
knew it, but he was bitterly disappointed that it had
not been successful.</p>
<p>‘Hang the fellow! he seems to have all the luck,’<span class="pagenum">[33]</span>
thought Raymond. ‘I wonder if he suspects anything?’</p>
<p>The idea of Edgar Foster suspecting he had acted
in such a manner made Rakes feel uneasy, for he
had not forgotten the punishment Edgar gave him
when he first came to the school. He did not bat
with such confidence, and Edgar put this down to
its proper cause. Runs came freely again, for Edgar
felt the result of the match depended almost entirely
upon himself. When his score reached fifty the
cheering broke out again, and made Rakes turn
green with envy.</p>
<p>‘He shall have a new bat for that,’ said Robert
Foster. ‘By Jove! he deserves it. He’s batting
splendidly. I’m glad that big hulking fellow did not
run him out.’</p>
<p>Before the score reached a hundred Rakes was
caught. He was not very warmly greeted as he
returned to the pavilion. The boys knew how matters
stood between him and Edgar, and they had a shrewd
suspicion Bully Rakes had tried to get Edgar run out.</p>
<p>Rakes flung his bat down in a corner of the dressing-room
and took off his pads.</p>
<p>‘You didn’t manage to run him out,’ said Will
Brown.</p>
<p>‘Who wanted to run him out?’ said Rakes angrily;
‘I didn’t. It was his own fault. There was no run,
and I didn’t want to get out through his foolishness.’</p>
<p>‘You’d better tell him that when the match is over,’
said Will Brown. ‘He’ll probably want an explanation.<span class="pagenum">[34]</span>
If he believes you, well and good; if not—oh
my, won’t you just catch it!’</p>
<p>Bully Rakes took up a pad and hurled it at his
tormentor.</p>
<p>‘Get out of this, you little beast!’ he said. ‘You
know I can’t touch you here, or you’d not be so
cheeky.’</p>
<p>‘Mind and keep clear of Edgar’s left if it comes to
war,’ said Will Brown. ‘I fancy you know he’s a
good fist at the end of his left arm.’</p>
<p>Bully Rakes jumped to his feet and made towards
the speaker; but Will Brown was too quick for
him, and shot out at the side door.</p>
<p>Meanwhile the game was at a critical stage. Edgar
Foster was playing at his best. He did not give a
chance, nor did he throw away an opportunity of
stealing a run. He knew that every run was of vast
importance. A run lost might mean the match lost.
Sayers junior was in with him, and blocked steadily
while his captain made the runs. The fielders were
on the alert, and were smart and active, and many a
run was saved. Harold Simpson was a good general,
and handled his men well.</p>
<p>‘It does one good to watch a game like this,’ said
Robert Foster to Dr. Hook. ‘I have seldom seen
lads field better, and Edgar is batting really well.
Who is the little chap keeping his end up so well?’</p>
<p>‘Sayers junior,’ said Dr. Hook. ‘He’s helping
your son famously.’</p>
<p>‘Playing a most unselfish game,’ said Robert<span class="pagenum">[35]</span>
Foster. ‘That is how matches are won. A selfish
player at any game is a big handicap on his side.’</p>
<p>A burst of cheering from lusty throats stopped
the conversation. It was caused by Edgar Foster
hitting a ball over the pavilion—a mighty stroke for
a lad.</p>
<p>‘Well hit!’ ‘Bravo, Foster!’ ‘Three cheers for
our skipper!’ And the Redbank lads shouted until
they were hoarse.</p>
<p>The match was, however, not yet won. Sayers
junior played a ball on to his wicket when ten runs
remained to be got to tie and eleven to win.</p>
<p>‘I am afraid we shall lose,’ said Dr. Hook, as the
ninth man was clean bowled and the last of the team
went in.</p>
<p>‘Can he bat at all?’ asked Robert Foster anxiously.</p>
<p>‘He is uncertain, but at times he shapes well,’ said
one of the masters.</p>
<p>‘Then I hope it is his day for shaping well,’ said
Edgar’s father.</p>
<p>‘Block them, Bull,’ said Edgar, as the lad came to
the wicket.</p>
<p>‘I’ll do my level best,’ said Bull, ‘and I don’t feel
a bit nervous.’</p>
<p>‘That’s right,’ said Edgar. ‘Then, between us we
must win the match.’</p>
<p>Fortunately Edgar was batting, and he hit the first
ball sent him after Bull came in for a single. It was
fielded smartly, thrown in swiftly, the wicket-keeper
could not quite reach it, and there was another run<span class="pagenum">[36]</span>
for an overthrow. This gave Edgar another chance
before the over was finished, and he promptly took
advantage of it, hitting the next ball round to leg for
three. The excitement was intense. Would Bull be
able to keep his wicket up during this over? The
Redbank boys vowed they would make Bull a presentation
if he managed to do so. It was a surprise
to them when Bull fluked a ball past point, and
another run followed. Edgar determined to finish
the game if possible, and a couple of runs were got
by a somewhat lucky stroke. This left three runs to
win, and the boys of both schools were in a fever of
excitement.</p>
<p>‘If Edgar can only manage to hit a three,’ said
Will Brown, ‘then we shall be all right. He’s done
wonders, considering everything.’</p>
<p>The next ball Edgar could do nothing with. It
puzzled him, and nearly got past his bat.</p>
<p>Then came a comparatively easy ball, and Edgar
lifted it over the ropes, amidst a perfect hurricane
of cheers. This hit won the match, and the
Redbank boys rushed wildly over the ground and,
surrounding Edgar, bore him shoulder-high to the
pavilion. It was a scene seldom witnessed even on
this famous school-ground, and as Edgar’s father
looked on he felt the moisture well up into his eyes,
and his heart beat with pride. He knew what this
moment of triumph would mean to his son, and he
gloried in it. He made his way to the dressing-room,
and as he came the boys stood on one side and<span class="pagenum">[37]</span>
cheered him again and again. They were proud of
the father and proud of the son, and were not slow to
show it.</p>
<p>‘Splendidly done, my lad!’ said Robert Foster, as
he placed his hand on Edgar’s shoulder. ‘It was a
plucky, uphill fight, and your schoolfellows are enthusiastic
about it. I never saw you play a steadier or
better game.’</p>
<p>‘It was hard work,’ said Edgar, ‘but I did not feel
a bit nervous. We have won, but it was a narrow
shave. I think it ought to have been an easier
victory had Rakes done his best.’</p>
<p>‘Then, you think Rakes behaved badly? I should
give a boy like that a wide berth.’</p>
<p>‘We are not friends,’ said Edgar, ‘but I bear him
no animosity.’</p>
<p>The Redbank boys could do nothing but talk over
their victory, and Edgar Foster found they gave most
of the credit to himself.</p>
<p>Edgar gave Rakes to understand he believed he
had tried to run him out.</p>
<p>‘I may be wrong, but that is my opinion,’ said
Edgar.</p>
<p>‘Your opinion is worth nothing to me,’ said Rakes,
‘so you may keep it to yourself.’</p>
<p>‘That may be,’ replied Edgar; ‘but the honour of
the school ought to be worth something to you. I
shall not ask you to play again during the time I am
captain of the eleven.’</p>
<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
<p><span class="pagenum">[38]</span></p>
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