The Water Ghost and Others
[Illustration] John Kendrick Bangs THE WATER GHOST AND OTHERS To Francis Sedgwick Bangs CONTENTS THE WATER GHOST OF HARROWBY HALL THE SPECTRE COOK OF BANGLETOP THE SPECK ON THE LENS
"I hope he gets this," murmured Clint.
"Hope he doesn't," replied his neighbour. "I want to see a deuce set."
So, apparently, did Holt, but he was too anxious and his serves broke
high and Amy killed two at the start. Then came a rally with both boys
racing up and down the court like mad and the white ball dodging back
and forth over the net from one side to the other. Holt finally secured
the ace by dropping the ball just over the canvas. Amy, although he ran
hard and reached the ball, failed to play it. Another serve was returned
low and hard to the left of the court, came back in a high lob almost to
the back line, sailed again across the canvas with barely an inch to
spare and finally landed in the net. Holt looked worried then. If he
lost the next ace he would have lost the set. So he tried to serve one
that would settle the matter, but only banged it into the net. The next
one Amy had no trouble with and sped it back along the side line to the
corner. But Holt was there and got it nicely and again lobbed. Amy
awaited with poised racket and Holt scurried to the rear of the court.
Then down came Amy's racket and the ball sailed across almost to the
back line and bounded high, and although Holt jumped for it, he missed
it and it lodged hard and fast in the back net.
"Byrd wins the set, 6--4! The score is one set each!"
Amy, passing the end of the net to change court, stopped a moment in
[Illustration] John Kendrick Bangs THE WATER GHOST AND OTHERS To Francis Sedgwick Bangs CONTENTS THE WATER GHOST OF HARROWBY HALL THE SPECTRE COOK OF BANGLETOP THE SPECK ON THE LENS