Dustan proved to be a good waiter and finally compelled Dick to put the ball over. He then sent a swift one skimming along the ground, and Tubbs failed to stop it. It was a safe hit.
“Here we go!” yelled Milliken, as he capered down to the coaching line. “We’re off! We’re off!”
“Don’t mind that, captain,” said Darrell. “It doesn’t amount to anything!”
Roberts was ready to strike.
“I wish he’d drive a hot one down to Darrell!” muttered Arlington. “You’d see Darrell let it go. I will bet my life on that.”
Even as he spoke he had his wish. Roberts hit a savage grounder in Darrell’s direction. It was not straight at Hal, but some distance to one side. Apparently it could not be touched, although Darrell made a spring for it.
“Clean hit!” burst from Arlington.
A second later he gasped in astonishment, for Darrell had flung himself at full length on the ground, with one hand outstretched, and stopped the ball. Not only did he stop it, but it stuck fast in his fingers, and he sat up instantly with it in his possession.
Without making an attempt to rise, Darrell snapped the ball to Tubbs, who had covered second.
Dustan was off first and away toward second even before bat and ball met. Nevertheless, Darrell’s astonishing[astonishing] stop and snap throw to Tubbs was so rapidly performed that Dustan was out “on a force.” He saw this and remained on his feet in an endeavor to bother Tubbs so he could not throw to first; but Tubbs sent the ball whistling past the fellow’s ear so close that Dustan felt the wind from it.