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second.
    Alan hit a slow grounder to short. The shortstop played it to second in an effort to get a double play. The runner was out
     at second, but Alan made it to first in time.
    Two outs, runners on first and third. Chuck Kelly was up. He singled to right! A run scored! Alan was held up at third. Good
     thing he didn’t run in then, thought Skeeter. He would’ve been out again, and then thefans would
really
scream. Well, you had to listen to the first- and third-base coaches. They weren’t there for scenery.
    The next Deerslayers hitter hit the first pitch to left field and it was caught. They ran out to the field, full of confidence
     that this game would be theirs. But the Badgers scored twice. The Deerslayers could do nothing during their turn at bat, and
     the game went to the Badgers, 4 to 3.
    Alan and Skeeter walked home together. Alan had his head bowed, unhappy about the whole thing.
    “I see what you mean,” observed Skeeter. “You guys are unlucky.”
    “I was thinking about that stupid run I made to second,” said Alan.
    “Who’s perfect?” said Skeeter. “At least you don’t get your legs tangled up like I do. And you can field. That double play
     you made was a honey.”
    Alan seemed not to have heard him. “You know that hit I got was my first this year?” he said.
    Skeeter stared. “It was?”
    “That’s why I tried to stretch it into a double, I guess.”
    Skeeter grinned. “We’re a couple of mixed-up ball players,” he said. “You’re a good in-fielder but a lousy hitter, and I’m
     a good hitter but a lousy fielder.”
    He laughed, then Alan laughed. Imagine cousins being mixed-up ball players!

10
    U ncle Don and Dad went hunting every day that week and Bob went with them. On Thursday they brought home a moose which Uncle
     Don said Dad had shot and Dad said Uncle Don had shot. Skeeter figured they both had shot it together. By the expression on
     their faces, they seemed pretty proud of it, too.
    Uncle Don took it to a place to be skinned and taken care of. He offered Dad the antlers if he wanted them, and Dad said he
     did. He’d have them mounted on a board and hung in his den.
    By Friday Skeeter had improved a lot on the skateboard. He had no more trouble skateboarding out to the street sidewalk and
     making a complete turn. Maybe now Mom and Dad would let him ride it down the sidewalk. He asked them and, after considering
     it a while, they agreed that it was all right.
    “Just be extra careful,” Mom warned. “Don’t run anyone down.”
    “Gee, Mom, you don’t think I’d try running anyone down, do you?” he said.
    “Maybe we ought to buy him one,” suggested Dad. “It’s no fun for Alan to stand by while Skeeter rides his skateboard.”
    “Right!” Skeeter’s eyes brightened. “I think that’s a
good
idea, Dad!”
    So Dad and the boys went to a sporting goods store and bought Skeeter a skateboard. The store was where Alan had purchased
     his, so the two were identical.
    “Now we’ll have fun together,” said Skeeter to his cousin.
    There was practically no danger of striking any pedestrian on the sidewalks. Very few people were on them. Jim Buckley came
     over with his skateboard and the three skateboarded together.
    On Friday evening the Deerslayers played another ball game. Skeeter wished that Alan would get a hit or two, but Alan didn’t.
     He did get a walk, though, and scored a run. And the Deerslayers came out on top.
    That night Skeeter wrote his second letter to Shadow.
    Dear Shadow,
    Boy! a week has already gone by. Am I having fun. I’ve learned to skateboard, and Dad bought one for me. I’ve been playing
     with my cousin’s.
    How’s my pet falcon Gus? You’ve been feeding him regularly, I hope. I know youhave, Shadow. You’re a pal. I sure miss him. I miss you, too. And the other guys.
    How are the Milky Ways doing? Uncle Don and Dad shot a moose. Well, see you soon. Good-bye.
    Your friend,
    Skeeter
    P.S. My cousin Alan plays second