"He's the umpire. He is the judge who gives the decisions."
"Oo!" breathed Juanita. "He ees the judge! He ees the magistrate! Then he must know everytheeng about the game. He must know more than every one else. Eet ees splendeed! I am so proud of Señor Carkaire!"
Suddenly Winnie Badger clapped her hands, uttered a cry of delight, and started up.
Buck had hit the ball.
A moment later Winnie's joy turned to dismay, for, with a leap, O'Day thrust out his gloved left hand and caught Badger's liner. It was the third put-out, and Merry was left on second.
"That's playing ball!" roared the man with the broken nose. "Now get after Frank Merriwell, and send him to the stable! Put the blanket on him! Polish him off!"
The Rovers trotted in, while the home team took the field.
Casper Silence lighted a fresh cigarette as the players in yellow and black settled down on the bench.
"Beyond question you faced the four leading batters of that team, Bender," said the proprietor of the visitors. "You know now what Merriwell and Badger can hit. If O'Day had not made a great catch, Merriwell would have scored."
"Oh, I'll get onto their style of hitting, all right," nodded Bender. "Neither of those chaps will touch me next time."