"We'll have a warm time this forenoon!" Frank observed to Jack Ready.
"Torrid as the equator!" Ready answered.
"How is your nerve, old man?"
Ready dropped a finger to his pulse and seemed to be counting.
"Steady as a clock, Merry!"
"Keep it that way. There is Badger coming over for a talk with you. We'll begin as soon as we get a little warming up."
He looked at his watch and began to talk with Browning, while Ready and Badger drew aside to confer. Merriwell could see that Badger was a bit nervous when the game was called. There was a flush in his face and a glitter in his eyes that told of excitement, but this seemed to disappear as he took the clean new Spalding ball in his hands and entered the box.
In the grand stand Frank saw Inza, Elsie, and Winnie, and he lifted his hat to them again, though he had enjoyed a long talk with them not many minutes before. Winnie was smilingly happy. She waved her handkerchief to Badger, and the Kansan's white teeth showed in a grim smile of determination.
"If only you and Bodge were the hattery—I mean if only you and Hodge were the battery!" Rattleton groaned in Frank's ear.
"Don't worry, Rattles! Just do your duty on third!" Merry answered. "We are all right!"