Ready walked out to strike. Nesbitt was angry, for he felt that it was a disgrace to have a boy like Dick make a two-bagger off him. He fancied he had discovered Jack’s weak spot, and so he kept them in close to Ready’s fingers.
Jack fouled two, and then he fell back far enough to hit the ball fairly, sending it down between second and third.
The moment the ball was hit Dick Merriwell was in full leap for third, and the way he covered ground astonished all witnesses. He tore up the dust and raced over third without slackening speed in the least.
The right-fielder got the ball and sent it home. Once more the remarkable boy hurled himself forward and slid along the ground as if his body was greased. That slide was something never forgotten by any one who witnessed it, for it was made with perfect skill and grace.
The ball came into the hands of McCann, who dropped heavily on Dick’s head with his knees.
“Safe!” said the umpire.
But when McCann arose the boy lifted from the ground a face that was stained with blood.