“I hope so,” said Dick; “but we ought to have a few more runs.”
“Don’t fool with the kids, Peterson,” called Grace.
Peterson had no intention of fooling, and he struck out the first two hitters who faced him in the eighth. The next man lifted a foul that was captured by Wallace.
The Great Northern now came up for their last time at bat, and their captain urged them to wait for Dick’s slow ones.
“He can’t use speed,” said Grace. “He’s got a lame side. A fellow told me that before the game. Don’t get eager, fellows. Make him put the ball over, and don’t go after it too soon.”
This advice was taken, and the first batter got a safe hit.
The next man sacrificed him to second, and there seemed a possibility that the visitors would tie the score. At this point the strain and excitement was intense.
By steady headwork Dick caused the next hitter to bat an easy one to Bradley, who threw the fellow out at first.
“Whoop!” roared Buckhart, relieved and delighted. “We’ve got them now. They are done to a turn. You hear me warble!”
There is an old saying that “no game is over until it is finished.” This proved to be the case now, for the next hitter met one of Dick’s slow ones and drove it far into the outfield. In their desperate dash to catch this fly neither Flint nor Jolliby heard Dick’s warning cry to them.