Whose turn is it to
go in?"
"I don't know; they've got your list in the tent."
"Let's go and see," said Tom, rising; but at this moment Jack Raggles
and two or three more came running to the island moat.
"O Brown, mayn't I go in next?" shouts the Swiper.
"Whose name is next on the list?" says the captain.
"Winter's, and then Arthur's," answers the boy who carries it; "but
there are only twenty-six runs to get, and no time to lose. I heard
Mr. Aislabie say that the stumps must be drawn at a quarter past eight
exactly."
"Oh, do let the Swiper go in," chorus the boys; so Tom yields against
his better judgment.
"I dare say now I've lost the match by this nonsense," he says, as he
sits down again; "they'll be sure to get Jack's wicket in three or four
minutes; however, you'll have the chance, sir, of seeing a hard hit or
two," adds he, smiling, and turning to the master.
"Come, none of your irony, Brown," answers the master. "I'm beginning to
understand the game scientifically. What a noble game it is, too!"
"Isn't it? But it's more than a game. It's an institution," said Tom.
"Yes," said Arthur--"the birthright of British boys old and young, as
habeas corpus and trial by jury are of British men."
"The discipline and reliance on one another which it teaches is
so valuable, I think," went on the master, "it ought to be such an
unselfish game.
Pages:
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379