Every man ran, for it seemed certain that the hit was safe, going over second, but being bound to drop far inside the reach of the outfield.
In truth, had not Mason obtained his start just when he did, and had he not started in the right direction, he never could have touched that ball.
Of course, he was seen running for it, but no one reckoned he had obtained such headway, and so it was thought he would not be within a rod of it when it touched the ground.
Never in all his life had Mason covered ground so fast. He fairly flew along. He saw the ball dropping, and, with a great forward diving leap, he scooped it up just before it touched the ground.
Being unable to stop, Mason held fast to the ball and ran over second with it in his hands, thus putting out the batter and the runner who had left second.
But the runner on third had been sent home, which he had reached by this time. A howl went up for him to go back, but he could not comprehend what it meant, for it had seemed to him that no man could catch the ball.
Straight on toward third ran Mason, having taken a single glance to see if the runner was trying to get back. With the ball in his hands he touched third, thus making one of the most astonishing plays ever witnessed on a ball-field, for, unassisted, he had put out three men and retired the side!
When the spectators understood this there was a thunderous uproar. A triple play unassisted was a marvel indeed. Yale cheered and cheered, ending with the name of Mason.
Frank Merriwell looked pleased, while the bewildered Princeton players could not realize that the side was out.