“That’s right,” nodded the Texan. “I know it now. Never did a thing like that before.”
“Play ball! play ball!” cried the Rockford crowd, as Dick continued talking to Buckhart in a low tone, “Keep them at it, Swarton.”
“They are delaying the game, Mr. Umpire!” cried Swarton. “Make them play!”
Dick returned to his position, while Buckhart again crouched behind the bat.
On the first ball pitched, Torrey darted toward second. Buckhart threw to Bold, who covered second base.
Swarton lost not a second in attempting to score.
Bold saw the Rockford captain tearing down the third-base line toward the plate, and therefore, without attempting to tag Torrey, he lined the ball back to Buckhart.
Brad had covered the home plate and would have stopped the score had he caught the ball. He muffed it and Swarton slid home safely.
The Rockford crowd roared its delight.
“The game is ours in the first inning,” muttered Tom Fernald.