Ware was of the opinion that Dave Flint was dangerous, and in trying to fool the boy with the scar he finally gave Flint a pass to first.
Again Darrell came up.
Doris Templeton caught her breath.
“Hit it, Hal!” she murmured.
“Oh, he won’t get a hit!” declared Bessie Dale. “He’s a nice fellow, but he can’t hit Jack Ware.”
Hal slashed at the ball in a reckless manner without seeming to use judgment. He missed the first three pitched and was out in such short order that every one was surprised for a moment.
Flint and Merriwell had been left on the bases.
“That’s the time you handed ’em hot, Jack, old man!” cried Roberts.
The home team once more started with the head of the batting order. Crockett refused to be fooled as he had been in the first inning, and finally caught a good one on the end of his bat, lifting it over the infield.
Tubbs ran back for it, but caught his heel and fell down just as the ball would have struck his hands. Crockett crossed first and saw Obediah wildly pawing around in the grass at his feet in search of the ball. Immediately the runner turned and scudded toward second.