Ready simply held up his bat, gripping it firmly, and let the ball hit it. The result was surprising, for a clean single was secured in this manner.
Then Frank went down to the coaching-line by first and opened up.
This hit won for Ready a round of applause, while Nesbitt looked surprised.
“Don’t mind that, Nes!” cried the men behind him. “It was an accident.”
Carson advanced to the plate, taking a look toward Frank. Merry signaled for Berlin to bunt toward third.
Nesbitt gathered himself, and sent the next ball over with the same wonderful speed. In the most scientific manner possible, Carson bunted, and the ball rolled toward third.
Ready had started “with the pitch,” and therefore he was too far on his way to be stopped.
Flobert ran in and got the ball, saw he could not stop Ready, and threw to first.
With the speed of a frightened jack-rabbit, Carson raced down to first, and he reached the bag ahead of the ball.
It was a close decision, and the captain of the home team raised a kick when the umpire declared it safe; but the umpire quickly quieted the protest, ordering the next batter up.