After that there was a good deal of seesawing for four innings, and without any results so far as scoring was concerned. Longley made four hits, and so did the Colby boys. But no runner got further than second base.
Of course the catching of the red-hot liner had done Jack's pitching hand no good. It was a little swollen in the palm, and this prevented the fingers from working quite as freely as would otherwise have been the case.
"Now listen, Jack," said Gif, taking him to one side after Jack had pitched through the fifth inning. "If your hand hurts you, say so, and I'll put another fellow in the box."
"Never mind my hand, Gif, as long as I can treat them to goose eggs," answered the young pitcher.
"But I don't want you to ruin your hand."
"That's all right. When I feel I can't do any more pitching I'll let you know."
In the sixth inning there came a break. But this could not be called Jack's fault. The first Longley player up, a chap named Mason, managed to dribble the ball toward third, and before either the baseman or the shortstop could send it over he had reached first. Then, on a wild throw to second, the runner not only covered that bag, but went on and slid in to third.
"Now we've got 'em a-going, fellows!" was the Longley yell.
"Right you are!"
"Nobody out, and a man on third! This is the time we wipe up the diamond with them! Everybody on the job!"