“No,” said Dick, shaking his head.
“Ah, ha!” exclaimed Jack. “Methinks thou art fearful as to the result. In other words, you’re putting up a bluff.”
This was too much, so Dick walked out to catch the ball. Jack himself seized the bat, observing:
“I’ll place the sphere in your fingers, Richard, my son. Let us see if you can freeze to it.”
Then he knocked a comparatively easy one. Dick got under it, but, when the ball struck his hands, it immediately bounced out and dropped to the ground.
And it hurt his hands in a most surprising manner, for he found it almost as hard as a stone.
Dick did not betray that he was hurt.
“You must squeeze it, young man,” chirped Ready. “That is one of the first things to learn. When a ball strikes in your hands, close your fingers on it and squeeze it hard.”
Angry and disgusted, Dick caught up the ball and threw it straight at Ready with all his strength.
Now, the boy could throw a round stone with remarkable accuracy, as well as great speed, and he had used all his strength in this case. Imagine his surprise when Ready carelessly thrust out one hand and caught the whizzing ball as if the feat was the simplest thing in the world.