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CHAPTER XIV. “SOUR GRAPES.”
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 “Too bad about Ted1 Crockett,” said Garding, pulling on the weights.
“For Fardale, you mean,” returned Lee Chester. “Fine for Ted.”
“Uh-huh,” Hunt Garding paused with a sigh. “Going around the world with his dad, eh?”
“He’s foolish! I’d sooner be captain of the Fardale nine than go around the world a dozen times! When does he leave, Hunt?”
“Monday night—right after the Franklin Academy game. Say, Chesty!”
“Huh?”
Garding dropped his voice with a glance around. No one appeared to be in hearing, and he leaned forward.
“Do you think Chip will get it?”
“Get what?”
“The captainship. Ted’s going away leaves it vacant, you know.”
“Holy smoke! That’s right! By golly, we’ve got to root for Chip!”
Hunt Garding nodded, but looked doubtful. He and his brother plebe were among Frank Merriwell, junior’s, stanchest supporters at Fardale. In common with many other students, they had remained at Fardale during the spring vacation.
[116]
It was Saturday morning, the last day of the vacation. Owing to a conflict in the schedules, a postponed3 game with Franklin Academy was to be played off on the following Monday, a half holiday having been declared by the two schools. Franklin was Fardale’s ancient rival, and as it was the second game of the season, feeling was running high.
Unfortunately for the Fardale team, its second baseman and captain, Ted Crockett, was leaving school. He had been called away suddenly to take a long trip with his father, but had managed to postpone2 his leaving until after the Franklin game.
His abrupt4 departure would leave vacant an important office, that of captain of the nine. It was of this that the two plebes were talking in the gymnasium. They did not observe a figure which stood just around the corner, and which was that of Bob Randall. He had just emerged from the locker5 room, had caught their words, and was listening for the remainder.
“I’m not so sure, Chesty. Chip isn’t certain to get the place, you know.”
“I’d like to know why not!” broke out Lee Chester indignantly, glaring at his chum. “Why, he’s the best pitcher6 Fardale ever had, barring his father and uncle!”
“Of course,” said Garding. “Best all-around athlete, too.”
[117]
“Well, what’s the matter with you, then? All we’ve got to do is to get the fellows on their toes, and——”
“There are several things the matter. First, there’s another chap on the team who’s a mighty7 fine tosser.”
“You mean Bob Randall?”
“Yes.”
The silent figure around the corner drew back, with a little smile playing about his clean-cut mouth. Randall was a handsome, dark-eyed, fiery-tempered Southerner, who could play ball like a fiend, when he wanted to.
He was full of pride, and his greatest fault was his temper. Despite this, however, he was a prime favorite. At Lee Chester’s next words his face flushed darkly, and his smile changed to a quick scowl8.
“Randall? Nonsense, Hunt! He’s a dandy fellow, and is a peach of a pitcher, but he’s not in Chip’s class.”
“Naturally not, since Merry is a chip of the old block,” said Garding, with a chuckle9. His face instantly became serious, however.
“You’re wrong, Chesty,” he went on. “Bob Randall is popular.”
“So’s Chip, according to my notion.”
“Sure. There’ll prob’ly be an election right after the game on Monday. But Chip, Clancy, and Billy Mac are over at Carsonville, and who’ll[118] look after their interests? You can bet that Chip will not try to get the captaincy, but he ought to.”
“I s’pose there will be some campaigning done,” admitted Chester. “But I don’t think Randall has much show. He’s too hot-headed to work as captain. Now, look at Chip Merriwell. Did you ever see him rattled10? Not enough to notice it. He can pitch rings around Bob Randall, too. Wait till Monday, and you’ll see.”
“Well, you wait yourself. Randall doesn’t think a heap of Chip, I guess——”
“You’re wrong there, Garding.”
The two plebes whirled in surprise as Bob Randall stepped out. With an effort the latter had wiped the traces of discontent from his dark, good-looking features.
“You’re wrong,” he repeated easily. “I do think a good deal of Chip Merriwell, but since you seem to be discussing the subject frankly11, I’ll say that he hasn’t any more chance of being elected captain than you have.”
The two plebes were inclined to be angry at being overheard by Randall, of all persons, and much more so by his words.
“Who gave you any license12 to butt13 in?” snapped Chester.
“I happened to overhear what you said, that’s all. This is a public place, isn’t it?”
“Generally considered so,” said Hunt Garding, with a grunt14.
[119]
Randall saw that he had hurt himself with these two plebes, and he quickly tried to regain15 lost ground. He was not the kind to do any disguising of his true sentiments, however, and stated his ground bluntly.
“Look here, fellows, you seem to have the idea that I’m sore on Merriwell. I’m nothing of the kind. But there’s no use beating about the bush, after what’s been said, and I’m quite willing to admit that I want to be captain.”
“We guessed it,” retorted Chester dryly.
“Well, there’s no harm in that, is there?” Randall began to grow warm. “Can’t a fellow contest an elective office with Chip Merriwell?”
“Some fellows could, maybe,” said Garding. “But if you want it straight, Bob, you’re not the fellow, in this case. He’s out of your class as a pitcher.”
Randall’s dark eyes flashed, but he controlled himself.
“I don’t acknowledge that. Who’ll go into the box for Fardale when Chip isn’t around? Tell me that.”
“You will, because you’re the next best pitcher,” retorted Hunt. “You don’t need to get sore, Randall. I’m not decrying17 your ability when I say that you’re not the equal of Merriwell, because you’re a blamed good pitcher.”
This only added fuel to the flame, however.
“Well, that remains18 to be seen,” declared Randall[120] hotly. “Chip gets away with it because he has luck, that’s all. A whole lot depends on this game with Franklin, Monday, and the fellow that pitches and wins the game for Fardale will be the next captain of the regulars!”
“And that’ll be Chip Merriwell, for he’ll surely pitch,” said Chester.
“He won’t!” cried Randall, losing his temper. “I’m slated19 for that game, and I’m going to show you fellows what a real pitcher can do when he gets started. The trouble with a lot of you plebes is that you truckle to Merry because his father and uncle are old-time diamond stars!”
Lee Chester showed his wrath20 at this charge.
“I guess that lets you out,” he exclaimed angrily. “You’re so blamed jealous that your brains are twisted, Bob Randall! Nobody gets truckled to around this school, unless he’s got the goods, and you’re a long ways from having them.”
“Well, I should hope so!” flashed back Randall. “I’d hate to have a crowd of decent fellows thinking that I was a little tin god on wheels! That’s what you seem to think about Merry.”
“Better take it easy, Bob,” advised Hunt Garding, with a frown. “Go out and cool off, and you’ll see it differently.”
“I see it well enough, thanks,” snapped Randall furiously. “It isn’t hard to see that a bunch[121] of you fellows toady21 to Chip Merriwell because you think it’s going to get you something. That chap is overrated. He’s got ability, but it’s your crowd that has given him such a case of swelled22 head that he thinks he can cop off everything. He’s going to find that he can’t.”
“Aw, go away and sneeze! Your brain’s dusty!” jeered23 Chester.
“I’ll tell you two something!” cried Randall, shaking his fist and advancing a step. “We’re going to win this game on Monday, and I’m going to do it! Look at the team—it’s all shot to pieces! Billy McQuade has left school. Crockett’s going to quit. Clancy is off with Merry at Carsonville, instead of being back here practicing to get into shape to cover first. What kind of a captain would Chip make, when he allows this on the eve of an important game, tell me that?”
“He’d make a better one than you would, losing your fool head this way,” retorted Chester. “He’s at Carsonville trying to persuade Billy Mac to return, and you know it! Say, if I had that jealous disposition24 of yours I’d hang it on the back fence and throw stones at it! You make me tired!”
Randall’s temper lashed16 out. His face went white with anger.
“Yuh impudent25 little Yankee!” he roared. Whenever he forgot himself his voice took on a[122] soft Southern drawl, which it now assumed abruptly26. “I reckon I’ll teach yo’-all somethin’ right heah! I’ll show yo’-all yo’ cain’t talk to a Randall like he was a low-down niggah!”
He started for Chester, and Chester started for him with great willingness. Before they could strike a blow, however, Hunt Garding dashed in between with a quick warning, pointing across the gym.
“’Sh-h-h! The athletic27 instructor’s coming!”
Randall flung a look toward the door, then sullenly28 jammed his hat over his eyes and strode away.

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1 ted 9gazhs     
vt.翻晒,撒,撒开
参考例句:
  • The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
  • She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。
2 postpone rP0xq     
v.延期,推迟
参考例句:
  • I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
  • She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。
3 postponed 9dc016075e0da542aaa70e9f01bf4ab1     
vt.& vi.延期,缓办,(使)延迟vt.把…放在次要地位;[语]把…放在后面(或句尾)vi.(疟疾等)延缓发作(或复发)
参考例句:
  • The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
  • The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。
4 abrupt 2fdyh     
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的
参考例句:
  • The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
  • His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。
5 locker 8pzzYm     
n.更衣箱,储物柜,冷藏室,上锁的人
参考例句:
  • At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
  • He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。
6 pitcher S2Gz7     
n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐;(棒球)投手
参考例句:
  • He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
  • Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。
7 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
8 scowl HDNyX     
vi.(at)生气地皱眉,沉下脸,怒视;n.怒容
参考例句:
  • I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
  • The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色,清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。
9 chuckle Tr1zZ     
vi./n.轻声笑,咯咯笑
参考例句:
  • He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。
  • I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个,我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。
10 rattled b4606e4247aadf3467575ffedf66305b     
慌乱的,恼火的
参考例句:
  • The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
  • Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里,窗户都格格作响。
11 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
参考例句:
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
12 license B9TzU     
n.执照,许可证,特许;v.许可,特许
参考例句:
  • The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
  • The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。
13 butt uSjyM     
n.笑柄;烟蒂;枪托;臀部;v.用头撞或顶
参考例句:
  • The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
  • He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。
14 grunt eeazI     
v.嘟哝;作呼噜声;n.呼噜声,嘟哝
参考例句:
  • He lifted the heavy suitcase with a grunt.他咕噜着把沉重的提箱拎了起来。
  • I ask him what he think,but he just grunt.我问他在想什麽,他只哼了一声。
15 regain YkYzPd     
vt.重新获得,收复,恢复
参考例句:
  • He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
  • The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。
16 lashed 4385e23a53a7428fb973b929eed1bce6     
adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥
参考例句:
  • The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
  • The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 decrying 1b34819af654ee4b1f6ab02103d1cd2f     
v.公开反对,谴责( decry的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Soon Chinese Internet users, including government agencies, were decrying the' poisonous panda. 不久,中国网民以及政府机构纷纷谴责“影响极坏的熊猫烧香”。 来自互联网
  • Democratic leaders are decrying President Bush's plan to indefinitely halt troop withdrawals from Iraq after July. 民主党领导公开谴责布什总统七月后无限停止从伊拉克撤兵的举动。 来自互联网
18 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
19 slated 87d23790934cf766dc7204830faf2859     
用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
  • Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。
20 wrath nVNzv     
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
参考例句:
  • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
  • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
21 toady CJ8zr     
v.奉承;n.谄媚者,马屁精
参考例句:
  • He flung it in my teeth that I was a toady.他责备我是个马屁精。
  • Arrogance has no defense against a toady.傲慢防不了谄媚者。
22 swelled bd4016b2ddc016008c1fc5827f252c73     
增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情)
参考例句:
  • The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染,他的手肿了起来。
  • After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后,河水猛涨。
23 jeered c6b854b3d0a6d00c4c5a3e1372813b7d     
v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The police were jeered at by the waiting crowd. 警察受到在等待的人群的嘲弄。
  • The crowd jeered when the boxer was knocked down. 当那个拳击手被打倒时,人们开始嘲笑他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 disposition GljzO     
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署
参考例句:
  • He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
  • He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
25 impudent X4Eyf     
adj.鲁莽的,卑鄙的,厚颜无耻的
参考例句:
  • She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
  • The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。
26 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
27 athletic sOPy8     
adj.擅长运动的,强健的;活跃的,体格健壮的
参考例句:
  • This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
  • He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。
28 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。


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