“Get at it, boys, and make some more runs!” urged Dick.
Obediah Tubbs was distinctly seen to shut his eyes and dodge awkwardly as the first ball was pitched. It struck him glancingly, and the umpire sent him to first.
“The next time I will take a wing off you, Fatty!” declared Factor. “You want to look out for that!”
“Dern your picter! You will have to put more speed into it than that!” retorted Obed, having reached the bag. “I’d never knowed I was hit if the empire hadn’t told me to take my base.”
Buckhart seemed eager to hit, and Factor now tried to coax him into going after bad ones. The result was that Brad finally worked out a pass to first, and two runners were on the bags when Arlington stepped out to the plate.
There was a hush.
“Now watch him!” growled Hector Marsh, nudging Fred Preston. “He thinks he will do something great! Bet he strikes out.”
“I will bet he doesn’t get a safe hit,” said Preston.
“Look at the pose he assumes!” sneered Walker. “Wouldn’t that freeze your feet!”
After a wide out, Chester let a good one pass, and a strike was called on him. Factor tried to deceive him with a drop, but Chester was wary and stopped the swing of his bat so quickly that the umpire declared it a ball.