“Up!” yelled Wiley, who was on the coaching line. “Up and sail for port! Hooray, the score is tied! Now we’ll win! I knew the disgrace of defeat could not fall on us!”
Bimm scrambled up and scooted for the plate, while the spectators rose and watched, some yelling for joy.
Bob Gowan yelled as loudly as his wheezy voice would permit, at the same time slapping Grafter on the shoulder.
“It’s our game, after all!” he said. “Right here is where we win it!”
Among the spectators another man was highly elated. He was Hobe Manton, who whooped lustily.
“That’s the trick!” he shouted. “I thought my money was gone, but now I feel it in my pocket with some more to keep it company.”
Of course Melvin McGann was delighted.
But suddenly something happened to change the tune of the rejoicing ones. Apparently no one had observed that Buck Badger had worked in from the far outfield until he was not a great distance behind third. He happened to be in the right place to get the ball with little delay. Bimm was halfway from third to the plate when Badger threw.
Hodge was on the plate. He saw the ball coming, but did not put up his hands until it was quite near. An instant after he did put them up the ball spanked into them.