“That doesn’t amount to anything,” declared the captain of the visitors. “We can give you a dozen runs and then beat you out.”
“’Ow remarkable!” drawled Billy Bradley. “’Ow hextremely confident you hare!”
Dick was directing the game by signals from the bench, having a bat in his hands, which he held in various ways understood by all the players. At the same time he was talking to Arlington.
“You’re getting the support,” he said. “If they back you up that way you will make those fellows hustle to win this game. They are overconfident now and think they can take it anyhow. The time for us to get a start is right away.”
“But they are hitters!” retorted Chester. “By George! I did my best to fool those fellows and they got at the ball!”
Dick nodded.
“They know how to hit, all right,” he admitted. “It depends a great deal on your success in keeping them from hitting safely at critical times. I want you to win this game, Arlington, and I sincerely hope you do.”
Billy Bradley was the batter, but his hit to right bounded straight into the fielder’s hands, and he was thrown out at first. At the same time Flint was held on third by the catcher.
Chip Jolliby now strode out, and Factor, the pitcher, paused to laugh at him.
“Where did this chalk mark come from?” chuckled Factor. “Bet you have to stand twice in a place to cast a shadow.”