“Slug it, old boy!” cried somebody. “Merriwell’s arm is gone. You can hit it a mile!”
Frank was cautious, but again shook his head when Bart called for the double-shoot. He tried an out drop, but Maloney let it pass.
“One ball!”
Then Merry tried an in shoot.
“Two balls!”
Frank ventured to put one straight over the inside corner.
Maloney hit it hard, and the ball went whistling like a bullet through the air.
Like a flash, Dick Merriwell leaped high from the ground and caught it with both hands. It was an amazing catch, but what followed was more surprising.
The moment the boy’s feet touched the ground again he sprang toward second, which Rattleton had not covered.
The runner had started off second at the crack of the ball and bat, while Robinson had raced down from first.