“Vot vos dot?”
“Strike—two!” called the umpire.
“Vell, by shinks!” gasped Villum angrily. “You vos der advantage oof me dake, yes, no?”
“Watch out,” advised Olcott, with a wide grin. “Here it comes again.”
Villum spat on his hands, pounded the plate, and settled down. Even the nonchalant Green was laughing, but his laugh ended suddenly.
For, as the ball came glinting down, Villum gathered together, swung mightily, and connected!
“He’s done it!” shrieked the fans, coming to their feet with a howl.
The ball went sizzling along the ground to Craven, while Villum Kess labored toward first. The third baseman was so astonished at his hit that when he scooped up the ball he fumbled it. Then he picked it up again and whipped it to first.
“Look oudt!” yelled Villum. “I vos coming!”
He came, too, in an unheralded slide. Smith, the semipro, had probably never seen any one slide for first before in all his life. He was so startled at the action that he missed the ball, which went past him.