Polly's First Year at Boarding School Part 38

"Here they are," she announced to Louise who, with the rest of the team, was waiting for them at the other end of the gym. "I've found them at last."

"That's good; I guess we are all here now," Louise replied. "I wanted to tell you that the Fenwick girls get here at 12.05. The teams and subst.i.tutes are all to have luncheon in the younger children's dining-room. We will have to entertain them and show them around, of course, but, girls, don't talk too much; remember, they may be trying to pump. I guess that's all I wanted to say," Louise finished, "except,"

she added miserably, "to remind you all to do your very best for the honor of dear old Seddon Hall."

"Of course we will!" shouted the team, and Madelaine Ames, jumping up from her seat, asked excitedly:

"Who's the finest captain in the world?"

"Louise Preston," came the hearty response.

Louise, to cover her confusion, called Betty to her and asked if "it"

had been fed.

"Fed! It's been stuffed," Betty a.s.sured her. "But who has the bow for its neck?"

"I have it in my room," answered Helen Reed. "If you'll come with me I'll give it to you." And the two girls left the gym.

It had been decided that the big team should march into the gym first, followed by the subst.i.tutes, Betty leading the still mysterious mascot, and Polly and Lois carrying the huge Seddon Hall banner.

The girls left the gym to await the arrival of the visiting team after Louise had finished talking to them. At quarter past twelve they arrived, and at the first sound of the carry-all's approach, the Seddon Hall girls started cheering, and Louise, as captain, stepped forward to welcome them.

Lois, Betty and Polly moved a little to one side in order to get a good look at their opponents.

"That girl's a giant," whispered Lois, pointing at one of the Fenwick girls. "I'll bet she plays home."

"Seems to me they are all giants," Betty grumbled. "I suppose that's their mascot in that basket; well, it can't beat ours."

"Why, there are only nine of them," pointed out Polly excitedly. "That means only three 'subs.' What luck!"

"Come here, you three," called Louise from the driveway. "Some more of our subst.i.tutes," she explained as the trio shook hands all around.

As they all stood exchanging greetings, Mary Reeves whispered in Polly's ear, as she pretended to fix her hair ribbon:

"It's all over for us."

The girls finally sauntered off in groups to inspect the gym and locker rooms or to look around the grounds. Polly, Lois, and Betty had undertaken to entertain the three visiting subs and were taking them in the direction of the woods.

"Have you a mascot?" asked one of them, a fair-haired girl of about fifteen.

Polly told her that they had, and then abruptly changed the subject by asking:

"Have you had to subst.i.tute often this year?"

"No, I haven't, but May has," answered the Fenwick sub.

"Do tell us about it," Polly inquired.

May was only too anxious to have her turn in the conversation.

"It was just before Easter," she began, "and we were playing the Whitehead team. I came in the second half; the score was a tie and we couldn't make a point. The other team had a free throw on account of our foul and Jane-she's our forward-told me to watch, and when she threw her braid over her right shoulder, to throw high. Well, I watched and did as she told me, and we made a goal."

"How terribly exciting!" murmured Lois without changing a muscle of her face. "And you just won the game by a single point?"

"Yes, it was thrilling," May agreed. "Of course if Esther hadn't had to have gotten out of the game, we would have made more points; they know each other's signals so well."

"And signals make such a difference," Betty remarked, giving Polly's arm a surrept.i.tious pinch.

Polly smiled in reply and in a few minutes excused herself.

"There is something rather important that I must attend to before luncheon," she explained.

Fifteen minutes later, on her way to the dining-room she slipped a note into Louise's hand.

"Read it when you are alone," she whispered, and this is what Louise read:

"The two forwards signal with their braids. Over the right shoulder, means throw high. Tell Madelaine and Mary to watch."

The game was scheduled to start at 3 o'clock sharp and by 2.30 the teams were all in their suits and the gym was filling up with the girls and the faculty. At the stroke of three the Fenwick team entered and marched to the opposite side of the gym, and came to a halt under a banner of yellow and white, their school colors. Two of their subst.i.tutes followed, carrying a white satin cushion on which sat a tortoise-sh.e.l.l cat with a big white bow on its neck. On close inspection it was discovered to have six toes on one paw, and was therefore very lucky.

As they entered, the Seddon Hall girls gave them a cheer and then sang the welcoming song, written by Angela for the occasion. There was just enough time for every one to quiet down before the home team appeared.

Louise Preston led, carrying the ball, then came Florence Guile; they were the two forwards and were followed in turn by Mary Reeves and Madelaine Ames, the guards, and Grace Hampton and Alice Wentworth, the centers.

At sight of them the school set up a mighty cheer that stopped abruptly, however, as Betty, with a little brown monkey perched on her shoulder, entered, at the head of the subst.i.tutes.

The mysterious secret of the mascot was out. Seddon Hall had had many and varied animals for mascots in its time, but never before had a live monkey attended one of the Field Day games. It was fully ten minutes before the teams were able to take their places on the floor, so great was the school's delight. Had the organ grinder who had lost his pet witnessed this scene he might have felt recompensed for his loss.

When at last Miss Stuart could command silence, she blew the whistle, tossed up the ball, and the game was on.

From the very first it seemed to Polly, Lois and Betty, watching from the side lines, that they must face defeat. After the first toss-up, the Fenwick center caught the ball, pa.s.sed it up the floor to her forward, and before the Seddon Hall girls could realize it, a goal was won.

After three unsuccessful attempts to get the ball away from her opponent, Grace Hampton lost her nerve and started to cry. She was a good player when all went well, but once unnerved she was practically useless for the rest of the game.

In the middle of a scrimmage the ball rolled out of bounds, and Miss Stuart called time for a minute.

"Get ready to get in the game, Polly," whispered Louise hurriedly. "You may be needed."

Polly tore off her sweater and waited. The game, after the minute's time was up, began again. Alice Wentworth played too hard in her attempt to support Grace and fouled for roughness. As the Fenwick forward prepared to throw for her basket, Louise asked to put in a subst.i.tute. Grace left the floor in tears and Polly took her place.

She played like a little fury for the rest of the first half, but to no purpose, for Alice Wentworth was now thoroughly wild and could give her no support.

"What is the matter with that girl?" groaned Betty, stamping with rage.

"Can't she understand a straight signal! Oh, if they'd only let me in!"

"I can't do it all," Polly cried desperately as she dived for the ball near the line where Lois and Betty sat.

"You've got to," Lois answered. "How much longer will this half last?"

she asked, turning to Betty.