It did not seem that he struck hard enough to kill a fly, but the ball went off the bat on a line, and was a clean hit over the infield, bringing Frank home.
Morgan was angry, and he could not help showing it. When the ball came in to him, he threw it down at his feet and walked round the pitcher’s plate. The ball rolled a short distance away, and then there was a shout.
Dick Merriwell had seized the opportunity to try for second.
Morgan leaped for the ball, got it, whirled, sent it to Packard. It was a bad throw, and the ball went far out into the field.
Dick did not stop, but kept straight on for third, running as fast as he could, which was like a young deer.
Unfortunately the ball went straight to Gallup, who picked it up cleanly and threw to third. Gallup was a phenomenal thrower, and the ball sailed to third on a line.
Skelding took it just as Dick went forward in a headlong slide. Even then the boy slid round Gene, and to many it seemed that he was safe, but the umpire cried:
“Out at third!”
Frank made a protest, but the decision stood, and that made the third man out. The score was tied, however.
It seemed that Dick was winded after that hard run, and it was necessary for him to go into the box and begin pitching at once.