“Get your eyes open, Buckhart!” he said, in a low tone. “Wake up, old man!”
Brad seemed to give himself a shake. He struck at the first ball delivered, missing it by more than a foot. However, it seemed that this swing of his bothered Brodie a little, for Singleton stole second without trouble, the Rockford catcher declining to throw down to the bag.
The next ball pitched was too high, but Buckhart again struck at it.
“What’s the matter with him?” derisively cried the Rockford spectators.
Tom Fernald was watching everything closely, and a faint suggestion of a smile flitted over his face.
By the merest accident, it seemed, Buckhart hit the next ball a terrible crack and lined it far into the outfield. The hit seemed good for three bases at least, and it brought a shout of delight from the visiting islanders.
A moment later this shout turned to exclamations of surprise and dismay, for instead of running toward first, Buckhart turned in the wrong direction and ran toward third.
Gardner, who was trotting home and looking over his shoulder to see how far the ball went, did not observe the Texan until Brad collided with him.
Both were knocked down.
In astonishment Earl jumped up and seized Buckhart, dragging him to his feet.