IN THE SHADOW
men's Team had with shocking bad taste become incapacitated through an accident and Giles was in despair of filling his place. Like an inspiration there had come the thought of securing Dessalines, who at first demurred, but finally consented to play. Although the Haytian had never cared for athletics, he had at times played cricket, and it was said that his aptitude for the game, especially his batting, was quite phenomenal.
Virginia knew nothing of the technicalities of cricket; Giles had frequently attempted to elucidate the game to her, but like many clever women Virginia seemed singularly obtuse regarding the details of a sport. What appealed to her was the spectacle as a whole—the field, the teams, the eagerness, the quick, sudden action, the enthusiasm of the spectators. All she required was to be told, from time to time, who was ahead, and, in a general way, how much, and if the score was very uneven she invariably sympathized with the loser, no matter who. Her personal interest was the result of picking out certain players whose style and general bearing pleased her and following the fortunes of these with enthusiasm regardless of the side upon which they played.
Shortly after the Maltbys' drag arrived at the field the teams came on. The visitors were greeted with polite, if somewhat perfunctory, hospitality; but when Giles and his men trotted out from the pavilion the spectators burst into a yell of enthusiasm; then, before the cheering had died away, there was a sudden hush and simultaneously all eyes were focused upon a single sinister figure.
In the rear of the Gentlemen's Team there came a great ebony giant, a colossus he seemed compared to the
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