Merry showed what fast base-running was then, as he was forced to do his best and slide at the finish. He came up to the bag in handsome style, a moment before Packard could touch him with the ball.
“How easy—oh, how easy!” sang Ready. “Don’t you like the way he does it? Isn’t he a peach?”
It was a lucky thing that Merry stole the base, for Rattleton hit weakly to Morgan, who could have made it a double play had there been a chance. Rattleton was thrown out at first. Two men were out, and Dick Merriwell was the hitter.
“Fan him, Dade!” urged Mason.
Morgan fancied the task would be simple, and he sent in the ball with plenty of speed.
Mulloy dropped the first one, permitting it to roll away from him to the right. Frank seized the opportunity to go to third. Barney leaped after the ball, got it, and threw to third, but again Frank made a handsome slide and was safe.
This was fast base-running, and it set the spectators to cheering loudly. The Yale crowd broke into a cheer in unison, while Inza and Elsie waved their banners.
Dick set his teeth. He had struck at the first one, but he realized he was not swift enough, the ball having passed before he swung.
Morgan did not feel at all worried, for he fancied Dick would be an easy out. The boy realized that he would not be able to swing hard at the ball and hit it, on account of Morgan’s great speed, so he gripped his bat firmly and gave it a short, sharp jerk when the next ball was pitched.