Nesbitt decided to do so, and the first one fairly whistled.
Frank, however, had given the boy a sign for a bunt, and Dick simply held up his bat, letting it be loose in his hands and drawing it back the least bit as the ball struck it.
The result was a beautiful bunt toward first.
Frank was coming down the line when the bunt was made, and he must have scored had not something happened.
From somewhere a bat came flying out and fell between Merry’s feet, so that he was tripped and flung headlong.
A shout of astonishment and indignation rose from the witnesses of this dastardly trick.
Men and women rose to their feet and uttered their angry indignation in that shout.
Frank had been thrown heavily, and he seemed stunned for a moment. Before he could recover, the ball was thrown across to Flobert, who tagged him.
Then Merry got up, and his eyes sought and found the fellow who had thrown the bat. It was Bud McCann, and Merry went after the fellow in short order.
McCann, fancying himself a fighter of ability, did not try to get away.