Harry, however, recovered quickly, got the ball, and threw to Browning, who held it just in time.
“Out at first!” cried the umpire.
“Dead lucky!” exclaimed the man with the dog. “If it had gone through him, then the chap on second would have scored. Oh, they will pound that kid to death!”
“I hope they won’t!” breathed Elsie, “but I’m afraid they will.”
“I’m not!” came from Inza. “Frank knows what to do, and his brother must be all right, else he wouldn’t let him pitch.”
“But see how hard they have hit.”
“They haven’t scored yet.”
Mulloy was the next hitter, and Merriwell knew he was a bad man for any pitcher to face, therefore he called to Dick and gave a sign for an out drop, as that was Barney’s one weak point.
The heart of the boy had jumped into his throat when Starbright hit the ball, but it fell back, and a feeling of relief came over him as Rattleton saved himself on the play. Dick nodded to Frank, but shook his head when Bart called for an in shoot. Hodge changed the sign and Dick nodded.
The boy started the ball straight at Barney, who drew back a little and then swung poorly, as he saw it was an out curve, succeeding in fouling the ball.