Swiftwing looked at Frank, but Merry shook his head. Then, knowing the batter would not strike, Nesbitt again took pains to put the ball over.
“Two strikes!”
Once more Swiftwing looked appealingly at Frank, and once more Frank shook his head. The next one was a ball, but still Nesbitt had plenty of time.
However, he failed to get the following one over, and three balls were called.
Swiftwing gathered himself, gripping the bat as if determined to hit the next one when it came over.
Frank rose and spoke quickly in a low tone.
“I tell you not to strike!” he said. “If the ball comes right over, let it pass.”
Nesbitt was resolved to put it over, and he took his time in making the delivery. As soon as the ball was thrown, however, almost everybody saw it was not good.
A roar that drowned the voice of the umpire went up. The umpire motioned for Swiftwing to take his base, and thus a run was forced in.