In the stand, sitting amid the ladies of Merriwell's house party, was Winnie Badger, whose eyes gleamed with pride as she watched her husband.
"I hope Buck will get a hit," she murmured. "He used to hit well."
"Oo, eet ees the strange game!" exclaimed Teresa Gallup. "What ees eet Ephraim ees doing now? Does he have to hollaire so loud?"
"He's a coach," explained Elsie.
"A coach?" questioned Teresa. "Why, the coach ees sometheeng for a horse to pull. Ees Ephraim sometheeng for a horse to pull?"
"He isn't just that sort of a coach," laughed Inza. "He's out there to give Frank instructions about running bases."
"Oo!" murmured Teresa. "Does he know more about the way bases to run than Frank knows?"
"Perhaps not," smiled Inza. "But you see the runner can't keep watch of the ball and the players while he's running. He can't tell just what every one is doing if he has to pay attention to himself. A coach can tell him what to do."
Juanita Garcia had not spoken since the beginning of the game, but now she ventured to ask:
"What ees eet Señor Carkaire he play? He keep saying: 'One ball! One strike! Two ball! Two strike!' but he do nothing else."