Berlin was out, and again, for all of Frank’s energy and skill in base-running, not a score had come in.
Frank covertly felt of his wrist as he walked into the box, finding it sore and lame. Bowers hastened to get out in batting position, so that Frank would not have a chance to limber up.
“Use him the way you did Hayward, Merry,” cried Hodge, giving the sign for the double-shoot at the start.
Merry shook his head, fearing to try it with his wrist feeling as it did.
Bart called for an out, and Merry sent one in. Bowers let it pass without stirring.
The next one was a high in shoot, and the batter let that go by.
“Put ’em over,” he said.
Frank resorted to a high one, and Bowers got against it savagely, driving out a single. He was not satisfied to stop on first, however, but tried to follow Merry’s example in stretching the hit into a two-bagger.
Swiftwing got the ball and lined it to second. Bowers slid at Rattleton with his spikes, having found Harry was waiting for him with the ball. The spikes cut Rattleton’s leg and tore his trousers, but he placed the ball onto the runner, putting him out. At the same time he was hurled down on Bowers, into whose stomach he drove his knee with great violence.