“Why, it’s foolishness to put him against such sluggers as our men are!”
“Worse than foolishness! They will bat his eyes out. I’ve made a good thing to-day and evened up with Merriwell for what happened yesterday.”
Hicks, the first batter, stepped out to the plate, looking sympathetically at Dick.
“Too bad, kid,” he said. “I hate to do it, but I’ve got to fat my batting-average to-day.”
Dick made no reply. He took the signal from Bart and prepared to pitch. Hodge had called for the boy’s remarkable jump ball at the very start.
Dick sent it in with considerable speed, and, still laughing, Hicks tried to meet it.
The ball seemed to jump right over his bat!
“That’s queer!” exclaimed the striker. “Should have hit that on the nose.”
“Why, he couldn’t hit you in a year!” came from Ready.