Hodge looked grim and resolute as he advanced to the plate. He had his favorite stick, and Gamp called:
“Cuc-cuc-cuc-come, now, Hodge, pup-pup-pup-put us into the gug-gug-gug-game! Give us a regular Texas Leaguer!”
Bart was a splendid hitter when in good form, and the outfielders moved back a little, while the infield played deep. Noticing this, Bart suddenly sprang a surprise by bunting the first ball pitched.
The ball rolled down toward third, and Bart was off like a dart for first. The third-baseman was too far away to get it, and the pitcher was too astonished. By the time the catcher got the ball Bart was too near first for a throw to do any good.
“Well! well! well!” cried Ready, as he trotted down to coach. “Why didn’t I think of that? It’s just as easy!”
Batch growled like a dog with a sore ear.
“Couldn’t get a hit any other way,” he said.
Now, Gamp was another heavy hitter, and surely there was no danger that he would bunt. At least, everybody thought so.
Joe, however, was up to snuff, and he saw the Stars were expecting him to swing hard. Thus it happened that, as the ball was pitched, Gamp suddenly shortened his hold on the bat, bunted handsomely, and went prancing down to first, while Hodge raced to second.
Hanson was swearing as he dove after the ball. This time Batch went for it, too, and they collided, the ball rolling off to one side as one of them kicked it.