“We’ll carry it off,” said Sprowl, as he selected a bat. “This inning ought to be enough.”
“Aw, it’ll be enough,” nodded Wolfers. “Go ahead and get first, Chuck. I’ll drive you round. That feller can’t pitch any better than he can bat.”
Wolfers had a very poor opinion of Merriwell’s ability.
Sprowl hit the first ball pitched.
It skimmed along the ground about four feet inside the line to first base.
Browning sprang in front of it, but he did not touch it with his hands, and it went between his legs.
Sprowl turned toward second, but Dunnerwurst had secured the ball, and he dodged back to first.
“You’re a mark, Merriwell,” laughed Wolfers, as he walked out to hit. “How did you ever get a reputation as a pitcher, anyhow?”
Frank was a trifle “touched” by the fellow’s insolence, although he did not betray it.
“Getting a reputation isn’t as difficult as keeping it sometimes, you know,” he said.