In order to make time, Tom had put on nearly all the speed of which the car was capable, and in a short while they came in sight of the Sanderson farm.  Mr. Sanderson was at work in an apple orchard near by, and waved his hand to them as the machine drew up to the horse-block.

“Better come along,” sang out Sam, gaily.

“I wouldn’t mind a-seein’ the game,” returned the old farmer.  “But I’ve promised to pick these early apples and ship ’em.  I wish you boys luck.”  And then he brought over a pail full of apples, and dumped them in the tonneau of the car.  Minnie, looking as fresh and sweet as ever, was on the piazza, and when the car stopped she hurried down the garden walk.  Songbird leaped out and helped her in beside Grace, shaking hands at the same time.

“Good gracious, Pa! how could you do so?” said Minnie, reproachfully, as she stepped between the apples.

“Oh, I thought as how ye might git hungry on th’ way,” returned Mr. Sanderson, with a broad grin.  “If ye don’t want to eat them, you feed your hosses on ’em.”  And he laughed at his little’ joke.

“We’ll eat them fast enough don’t worry,” cried Sam, and then, with a toot of the horn, the automobile proceeded on its way to Roxley.

CHAPTER VII

 The great baseball game

“Some crowd, this!”

“Well, I should say so!  Say, this is the biggest crowd we ever had at any game.”

“And look at the new grandstand, all decked out in flags and banners!”

“And look at the automobiles!  We’ll have to hurry up, or all the parking space will be gone.”

“Hurrah, Brill!  Come down here to see us defeat you, eh?” And a merry looking student, wearing the colors of Roxley on his cap, and waving a Roxley banner in his hand, grinned broadly at Tom and the others.

“No, we came to bury you,” retorted Sam.  “It’s all over but the shouting.”  And then he took up one of the horns he had brought, and sounded it loudly.

“Better let me take the car to the other end of the grounds,” suggested Songbird.  “You fellows will want to get into your uniforms and into practice.”

“Oh, we want to get good seats for the girls first,” broke in Tom.  “It won’t take long to park the machine.”

In a moment more, they found themselves in a perfect jam of touring cars, motor cycles, and carriages.  Finding a suitable spot, Tom brought the touring car to a standstill, turned off the power, and placed the starting plug in his pocket.  Then the entire party made its way as rapidly as possible to the grandstand, one-half of which had been reserved for the students of Brill and their friends.  Here Songbird took charge of matters.

“Just leave it all to me,” he said.  “You fellows go in and win.”

“Yes, you must win, by all means, Tom!” cried Nellie.  “Just remember that I’ve got my eye on you.”