Hodge walked out, his lips pressed together. Morgan realized that he was facing one of the hardest batters on Merriwell’s team, and he at once resorted to all the strategy he could command.
Hodge was anxious to hit, but he waited till two balls were called. Then Dade put over a high straight one, and Hodge smashed it.
The ball went along the ground to Packard, who got in front of it and gathered it up. It was too late to stop Carson from reaching third, but Oliver easily threw Hodge out at first.
“Now a Texas leaguer!” cried Ready, as Browning came up. “Move the outfielders back.”
Browning longed to smash the ball, but, to his dismay, Merriwell gave him the sign to bunt. Carson saw the sign also and knew what to do.
The first ball was shoulder-high, and high balls are hard to bunt successfully, so Bruce let it pass.
“Strike one!” said the umpire.
Carson had played down on the pitch, but he went back to third in a lively manner.
The next ball was too wide, and the umpire called it a ball. Then came one that suited Bruce, who did his best to drop it inside the line toward third.
To Browning’s astonishment, the bunt was almost perfect. Bruce did not start quickly, however, and Morgan came in for the ball like a leaping panther.