by Roy J. Snell
CHAPTER XV WOULD-BE CUP WINNERS BREAK CAMP
"Well, P. E., what do you think now?" asked Captain Baker on the firstopportunity.
"I think, as I did when you asked me that question some time ago, thatthe Meadow-Brook team will attract considerable attention by theirplaying in the Coast Tournament. They may even get a place well up in thelist, but so far as winning any of the prizes, I do not believe they arefar enough advanced for that. Their progress, during the four weeks wehave been at work, is nothing less than marvelous. Sometimes I almostbelieve they will be fit for a championship match. Then I discover thatI've been carried away by that confounded Meadow-Brook enthusiasm. It'sas catching as the plague, old chap."
"Well, we're all obliged to you for what you've done, P. E."
"My boy, it isn't Earlington Disbrow who has done it; it is the youngwomen themselves. You can't make tennis players out of unavailablematerial. About all I have done, besides giving them some technicalpoints, has been to keep them at work. They would have done that just thesame had I been on the other side of the ocean. At times they showexcellent form; then again they fall off without any reason that I amable to discover. In two or three years from now we'll hear from theMeadow-Brook Girls, but I should say it would take all that time to makechampions of them, in spite of their unshaken determination to win out."
"How are you going to pair them off when we get to the tournament?" TheEnglishman had announced his intention of witnessing all the matches atNewtown.
"That I have not fully decided. I may do it in a way that you won'tapprove," smiled Disbrow.
"You are the doctor, we are the patients," nodded George. "Well, at anyrate, it has been worth the price of admission to have you up here withus, and I shall never forget what you've done for us, and for meespecially."
"Chop it, old chap! You jolly well know the shoe is on the other foot.Besides, I've had some much needed practice on my own account. I am fitas a fiddle now, ready to take on any matches that may be arranged forme. This has been a great vacation for me." The speaker expanded hischest, inhaling deeply of the air that was heavy with the odor of thepines.
"Were I to remain up here all summer I think I might gain something ofthe endurance that those young women possess. It's wonderful, as I havesaid before."
Four weeks had elapsed since the arrival of P. Earlington Disbrow. Duringthat time real work had been done in the camp of the Meadow-Brook Girls.They had practised early and late, and when not actually at practice werelistening to words of wisdom, born of the experience of a world champion.Now they possessed a theoretical knowledge of the game that was barelysecond to that of Disbrow himself. They had learned to serve drop curves,over-head curves, to place the tennis ball almost with the accuracy ofrifle fire; they had with varying degrees of success become able toaccomplish the difficult _twist service_, so puzzling to the novice, muchas would be the well-known curves of the baseball player to one who didnot understand them; their foot work had improved, they had been taughtto conserve their energies, to leap from the toes in springing to meet aball--in fact, had been coached in all the little delicate arts of thegame that had already made their instructor famous wherever tennis wasplayed.
And now the period of their work in camp had come to an end. Only fivedays remained before the opening of the tournament at Newtown, where theywould either win recognition or suffer humiliating defeat. Harriet stillpersisted in her belief in herself and her companions. Disbrow did notseek to shake that confidence, being well aware that without it they hadbetter remain out of the contest entirely.
It had been planned that he was to meet them at Newtown three days hence.He wished them to play a set over each of the courts, but they were notto do anything like the hard work they had been doing on the court in thepine woods, nor were they to touch a racquet during the days between thenand the time they reported at Newtown. This had been the champion'sstrictest injunction to them.
The girls were to go home to arrange their clothing. After no littlediscussion it had been decided that they were to wear their regular CampGirl uniforms, minus the beads. These costumes, being especially arrangedfor freedom of muscular play and comfort, were ideal for the purpose,except that they were of blue serge, while all the other players would bedressed in white. This would mean that the figures of the Meadow-BrookGirls would stand out from all the rest, which might prove a disadvantagewhen standing before the nets. Harriet understood this well, but she hadbeen determined on the Camp Girl uniform for reasons of her own, whichshe did not confide to her companions nor to the Tramp Boys.
Jane had been to town and brought her automobile. The camp had beenstruck by the boys and packed ready for the wagon that was coming fromtown to take them home. The girls and Mr. Disbrow were to return inJane's car, he to go on to Boston that evening. They were holding theirlast meeting in the old camping place, which, now that they were about toleave, seemed dearer than ever to them. None of that little party wouldever forget the weeks spent in that clearing in the pine woods. Thesummer vacation that had opened so tamely bade fair to close in a giddywhirl of excitement. It had already been full to overflowing withactivity and accomplishment.
"Remember, you are to follow out my directions regarding the care ofyourselves between now and the time I see you again, young ladies,"reminded Mr. Disbrow.
"I shall be on hand early and look over the practice of the othercontestants. I may be able to offer you some suggestions as to what to door what not to do after I have seen some of the other contestants inaction. As for my share in your training, it will be well for you toforget that. From now on you are to be placed upon your ownresponsibility."
"You are asking an impossibility," replied Harriet. "Whatever may follow,we owe you a debt of gratitude that nothing can ever repay, both you andthe boys."
"Go in and win. That will be payment enough," answered Mr. Disbrow with alight laugh.
"That is what we are going to do," replied Harriet earnestly.
He did not contradict her. He knew in his own mind that the Meadow-Brookteam could not carry off the cup. The most that could be hoped for wasone of the smaller prizes. If they stood up under the grilling of thefirst few games, they would have done remarkably well. He should callthat achievement worth while, let alone winning the cup.
About the middle of the forenoon the wagon came up from town and the boysbegan loading the equipment, after which they were to take up their owncamp. The tennis racquets the girls had kept with them. They had chosentheir racquets after trying out all weights, Harriet finally choosing afourteen-ounce racquet, an unusually heavy weight for a woman player. Mr.Disbrow had advised against this heavy weight, but after observing herwork with this and then with a lighter one approved her choice. Harriet,though slight, was very strong, and under the practice on the court herwrists had become as pliant as steel.
They placed their smaller belongings in the car and got in, then, withshouts of good-bye to the boys and to the camp, turned their faceshomeward.
The news had traveled abroad in Meadow-Brook that the Meadow-Brook Girlswere to take part in the Coast Tournament, which entry caused no littleinterest. It had not been known that the girls played tennis at all. Somelittle argument had been necessary to gain the permission of the girls'parents, but Miss Elting had taken the matter in hand, and in the end wontheir consent. Not only this, but the parents were arranging to go toNewtown to see the tournament.
The plans of the party embraced some unusual features. They were to makecamp and live in tents, cooking their own food, living their regularoutdoor life just the same as if they were encamped in the woods. Mr.Disbrow approved of this. Any change in their method of living mightaffect them adversely, and the girls were thankful for his approval.
That afternoon, after the girls had taken their instructor to each oftheir homes and introduced him to their parents, Disbrow boarded a trainfor Boston. He had skilfully evaded the direct questions of the parentsas to
what chances the girls had to win. Tommy's father was delighted atthe opportunity presented to her. Whether or not she won anything, itwould be of great benefit to his little daughter, who, from a delicategirl, had developed into a muscular young woman.
True to their promise, the girls did no practising, though in her room athome, using the wall to receive the ball under her light touches, Harrietstudied out problems of service. It was not practice, according to herreasoning; it was study. But most of her time was occupied in sewing andin performing her regular duties about the house, which she persisted indoing despite her mother's protestations.
In the meantime the Tramp Boys had moved, bag and baggage, to Newtown.They not only had taken their own equipment, but that of the Meadow-BrookGirls as well. George, after consultation with Mr. Herrington, woulddecide on a site for the camp, which, owing to his acquaintance with themanager of the tournament, would be almost any site the captain chose.George was very fortunate in his friends, and he never hesitated to usethem, being fully as ready and willing to be used himself whenever hecould be of service. Then, again, in the present instance he felt aproprietary interest beyond the ordinary one of friendship. It was histeam, as he chose to call it. He had made the entry, he would beresponsible for the Meadow-Brook Girls' appearance on the courts in thetournament. He had no great hopes now of their winning the cup, but hedid believe the Meadow-Brook pluck and endurance would land them in aposition some little distance from the tail-end of the procession ofdefeated contestants.
On the third morning the girls were up early, for they were to make anearly start for Newtown, nearly three hours' drive by motor car fromtheir home town. As usual, they were to be accompanied by Miss Elting. Noother persons accompanied them. The parents were not to go on until theday the tournament was to open. Their personal belongings and theirprecious racquets were stowed in the car and in the luggage trunk thatwas strapped on behind. It was a new car that Jane's father had purchasedfor her to take the place of the one lost in the ice pond on that fatefulnight the year previous, when Harriet had narrowly escaped drowning.
Their departure was a quiet one. The car simply called at the homes ofthe girls and picked them up as if they were just going out for apleasure drive. Tommy was the only nervous one in the party. Jane wasfull of merry chatter, Buster grumbling, as usual, and Harriet silent andthoughtful.
"Well, we're off for the killing," announced Jane, after having picked upthe last of her passengers and started on her way. "And that's not sayingwho it is that's going to be killed," she added with a chuckle.